Once home to the subterranean retail of the neighborhood Castle Megastore sex shop, Queertique is now growing below E Pike as a place for queer creativity, commerce, and community.

Owner Tyler Huang tells CHS he hopes the newly debuted Queertique will grow as a gallery, store, and community hub on the block home to the Wildrose, Bimbos, Big Marios, and Cafe Vita. Built out by Huang and brought to life with art and design from friends and collaborators, the old sex shop space is a reclamation for “independent queer artisans and beyond.”

“First place I bought a bottle of lube,” Huang reminisces. “I’m really happy to be back and keeping it in the community.”

Queertique was born in the desert. Huang said his move to Palm Springs where the lifestyle business was first created involved him bringing a little of the Pacific Northwest’s green spirit to the dry region known as a queer citadel through history and into the present day.

Queertique grew up in Palm Springs where “people come from all over the world” to visit, Huang said. He returns to Seattle ready to grow the business into something larger — along with “bringing a little bit of the desert vibes to Seattle.”

Huang has a major boost in the effort, partnering with gay culture impresario Kevin Kauer to bring Queertique to Capitol Hill.

Artist Ali Alassadi (Image: Queertique)

(Image: Queertique)

(Image: Queertique)

(Image: Queertique)

Screenshot

The artist, promoter, producer, and entrepreneur known as Nark has also been busy ushering in the next generation of Capitol Hill queer nightlife with the opening a year ago of Massive in the former R Place.

“He’s a big part of the creative mind, comes up with a lot of creative ideas,” Huang says of the partnership. “I bring them into reality.”

Queertique’s below-the-sidewalk space has been empty since last fall when the sex store chain quietly shuttered after eight years on the block. It was formerly home to Supergenius Tattoo.

Much of the current Queertique experience is dedicated to art and fashion. Huang calls the store a “gift, clothing, and art shop” and says a large part of the merchandise is clothing centered on “party looks.” You will also find queer magazines, and, maybe someday, lube and poppers.

Some of the art is undoubtedly risque. “You may see some nudity or some suggestive material,” Huang says, “but it is artistic.”

But Queertique is not a sex shop. It is something else. Huang is excited about working with artists like Ali Alassadi and taking part in the Capitol Hill Art Walk, hosting book clubs, and community discussions. There will also be art shows. And parties.

Huang says he is creating Queertique as a center for the neighborhood.

“Especially now that online censorship is set to again increase, we need a physical place.”

Queertique is now open at 1017 E Pike. Learn more at queertique.com.

HELP KEEP CHS PAYWALL-FREE
Subscribe to CHS to help us hire writers and photographers to cover the neighborhood. CHS is a pay what you can community news site with no required sign-in or paywall. To stay that way, we need you.

Become a subscriber to help us cover the neighborhood for as little as $5 a month.