Armando Vasquez, the owner of Anchor Island Coffee, expresses his gratitude through this gesture.
When the coffee shop opened its doors in March 2020, it encountered various challenges as a small business. However, to Vasquez’s surprise, the corner shop at 41st and Troost quickly became a popular spot for the LGBTQ community to gather.
Vasquez expressed his elation, stating that it feels amazing to know that their heart is not just his dream but also the dreams and space of other people.
Anchor Island Coffee is gearing up to celebrate Pride Month by hosting a series of pop-ups featuring local small businesses and artists. One of the artists, Erika Sakata, will be showcasing her work during the event.
Sakata shares her identity with others through her art. She is a queer individual who is half Black and half Japanese. For Sakata, having the opportunity to connect with others through her art is a truly meaningful experience.
Sakata shared her thoughts on pop-ups, stating that she finds them to be a great way to showcase her art and connect with others. For her, displaying her art is like revealing a part of herself to the world. When people come to her table and appreciate her work, it feels like a personal connection is formed. She believes that her art resonates with her as a person, and when others appreciate it, it’s like they’re appreciating her on a deeper level.
According to Sakata, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of queer-friendly spaces like Anchor Island Coffee. However, she believes that there is still room for improvement and more such spaces could be created.
