Spark Social House

Spark Social House is a daytime cafe and evening cocktail bar in DC's U Street Corridor (2009 14th St NW, in the former Gibson space), co-founded by Nick Tsusaki and Shua Goodwin and billed by the Washington Post as the nation's first non-alcoholic LGBTQ+ bar and cafe when it opened on March 8, 2025. It transitions through the day from a bright, productive cafe pouring locally roasted Lost Sock coffee, matcha, and wellness drinks into an intimate lounge, positioning itself as "DC's LGBTQ+ third place, open to everyone." Its original cocktail program was developed by Shakers alum Salina Flores and Mindful Drinking Fest co-founder Maria Bastasch, and in December 2025 the bar added a full liquor license and adopted a "1-for-1" menu where every handmade cocktail exists in both an alcoholic and a zero-proof version, so it is NA-forward rather than fully dry. Current signature drinks include the Jalapeño Business (with zero-proof tequila, orange juice, cayenne, and Tajín), It's That Me Espresso, Side Eye, Ultra Violet, Venetian Sunset, The Spice Boy, and Executive Orchard. The zero-proof bar is stocked with non-alcoholic spirits from Lyre's, Ritual, and Seedlip, plus NA beer and cider from Athletic Brewing and Best Day, and NA wines including Giesen, Oddbird, and TÖST. Tsusaki, a former bartender, framed the concept around inclusion, noting that DC has "over 20 gay bars" but many people "staying home because there's no place for them." The venue was also voted Best Coffee Shop in 2025 by LGBTQ+ Readers Choice.