LGBTQ shop brings the rainbow to Old Town

A new shop in Old Town sells gay pride treasures made by LGBTQ artists.

Rainbow Riot: Queer Art & Treasures opened last June inside of the Dark Art Market. Tiesha King opened Rainbow Riot with her friends and co-owners Ryan Cooke and Eden Behr. King owns the Dark Art Market and Thrift Witch, which is next door to the market. 

Being on the queer spectrum, King knows the importance of LGBTQ representation. She said it’s “always been a dream” of hers to open a gay pride store.

“We’re hoping to spread pride and give people a place to go where they can feel welcome,” King said. 

Behr, who works at the Dark Art Market, has been able to contribute artwork to sell in the Rainbow Riot shop. Her art ranges from paintings to sewings. Behr has worked at the shop since Rainbow Riot opened last June.

“It’s important, because it’s a place where queer people can be visible,” she said. “It’s nice to have that little pocket where we’ll have people coming in and shopping. You see a person go into that corner and they light up, like, ‘Yeah, this is for me.’” 

King still considers the shop to be “a beginner project still in the works.” Eventually, she would like to include the work of more local LGBTQ artists to sell in Rainbow Riot. Behr shared a similar sentiment, and said that she would like to see queer artists throughout the state be a part of Rainbow Riot.

The walls of the shop are decked out in artwork made by queer artists. A display case holds pride stickers and jewelry. Shelves are stocked with rainbow candles of various shapes, including a purple penis candle. There’s also a rack full of pride T-shirts.

Aside from hopefully connecting with LGBTQ artists, King added that Rainbow Riot may be a good place for people to go if they’re new to being LGBTQ and need camaradie. 

“Being able to buy something that represents you close to home is huge,” King said. 

Rainbow Riot: Queer Art & Treasures

Inside the Dark Art Market

110 E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Lansing

12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday

12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday

Facebook.com/RainbowRiotLansing