At a Glance
Last checked: November 2026. Each shop’s and market’s own page read November 1
How we checked: A shop is here only if its own website says it’s queer-owned or run for queer people. We didn’t visit or buy anything
Covers: Three shops, two holiday markets, and where to find queer books, binders and food
How we check every guide, and what we won’t list: How We Choose
Three Austin shops say on their own websites that they’re queer-owned or made for queer people: The Little Gay Shop on East 12th Street, Birdhouse Books on Burnet Road, and MARYJAE, a cannabis shop on South Lamar. Two queer markets come right after Thanksgiving and in mid-December, if you’re shopping for the holidays.
It’s a short list on purpose. Plenty of shops turn up on other people’s lists of queer-owned businesses, but we only list one when its own site says so.
The Short List
| Shop | Where | What it sells |
|---|---|---|
| The Little Gay Shop | 1902 E 12th St | Queer art, apparel, flags and books |
| Birdhouse Books | 5925 Burnet Rd | Books and gifts |
| MARYJAE | 2110 S Lamar Blvd | THCa flower, THC edibles and CBD, 21 and up |
The Shops
The Little Gay Shop
The business states
The Little Gay Shop calls itself “an unapologetically queer marketplace and community organizer in the heart of Texas that amplifies the voices and artistry of queer creatives from around the world.” The shelves run from shirts, hats, candles and pride flags to a bookshop with sections for LGBTQ studies, YA and queer self-discovery. It also runs book clubs and its own markets, including the HoliGAY Market below.
- Where: 1902 E 12th Street, Austin 78702
- Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 6 PM, Friday noon to 7 PM, Saturday 11 AM to 7 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM
- More: The Little Gay Shop
Is this your shop? Update this listing
Birdhouse Books
The business states
Birdhouse Books describes itself as “a queer- woman- veteran-owned independent book and gifts store serving Brentwood, Crestview, Allandale, and the surrounding neighborhoods in central Austin.” Besides book clubs and author events, it hosts a Queer Poetry Open Mic, with dates on its home page, and it held a Queer Tarot Meetup in October.
- Where: 5925 Burnet Rd, Austin
- Phone: 512-215-2539
- Hours: Every day, 10 AM to 6 PM
- More: Birdhouse Books
Is this your shop? Update this listing
MARYJAE
The business states
MARYJAE calls itself “an award-winning, women-, BIPOC-, and LGBTQIA+-owned cannabis dispensary.” It sells THCa flower, THC edibles, concentrates and CBD, and online orders can be picked up free at the store. Its website asks you to confirm you’re 21 or older before you can browse.
- Where: 2110 S Lamar Blvd, Suite E, Austin 78704
- Phone: 512-731-0076
- Hours: Sunday 12 PM to 6 PM, Monday to Thursday 11 AM to 7 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 8 PM
- More: MARYJAE
Is this your shop? Update this listing
Queer Holiday Markets
Big Ole Queer Market
The Big Ole Queer Market fills a hall at the Palmer Events Center twice a year with LGBTQIA+ owned small businesses and artists, up to 130 of them, according to its listing. The holiday edition, which the organizers call “Holiday Villians,” is Saturday, November 28, from noon to 6 PM, and Sunday, November 29, from noon to 5 PM.
The listing says tickets are $10 and that anyone 17 or younger gets in free. Its ticket page also sells a $15 weekend pass, plus tax and fees. The Palmer garage charges $12 per entry, and the listing says there are all-gender restrooms.
- Where: Palmer Events Center, Hall 1, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin 78704
- More: Big Ole Queer Market: Holiday Villians on Eventeny
HoliGAY Market
The Little Gay Shop’s HoliGAY Market is Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, from 11 AM to 5 PM, at Distribution Hall, 1500 E 4th St. The shop describes its markets as “intersectional, community-focused events for artists, makers, small businesses, and more,” with nonprofits, food and drink. The market page is written for vendors, so check the shop’s event calendar for entry details.
- Where: Distribution Hall, 1500 E 4th St, Austin
- More: Markets by The Little Gay Shop
More Queer-Owned and Queer-Run Places
For more bookstores, including BookWoman, and the book clubs at Birdhouse and The Little Gay Shop, see our guide to LGBTQ+ book clubs and bookstores in Austin. Trans-owned binder and clothing makers are in our guide to binders and gender-affirming clothing, and food is in our list of queer-owned restaurants.
Before You Go
- Check the shop’s own website or Instagram the day you go. Holiday hours change.
- Buy market tickets on the organizer’s own page, and check there for any change of date or hall.
- Bring an ID to MARYJAE. Its site asks you to confirm you’re 21 or older.
- Driving to the Palmer Events Center? The garage is $12 per entry, and the market’s listing also mentions metered street parking and an overflow lot.
What We Couldn’t Check
Several shops on other Austin lists of queer-owned businesses don’t say anything about who owns them on their own sites, or have no site we could load, so they aren’t here. We didn’t visit or buy from any shop or market. If you own an Austin shop that says it on its own site, tell us through our contact page.
Last checked: November 2026. Each shop’s and market’s own website, read November 1, 2026. See a mistake? Use our contact page.
How We Check
We check every business and group we name against what it publishes about itself: its own site, its booking page, or its state license. No business pays to be in a guide, and we don’t earn a commission when you book.
The full method is on How We Choose. If something here is wrong or out of date, send a correction.