LGBTQ+ Business Week celebrates the entrepreneurs, small businesses and community partners helping Memphis grow.
By Ray Rico
Memphis is changing, and local businesses are helping shape what comes next.
From neighborhood coffee shops and restaurants to wellness studios, creative businesses and professional services, entrepreneurs across the Mid-South are building businesses that reflect the diversity, creativity and character of our community.
For LGBTQ+ business owners and their allies, those businesses represent more than places to shop or spend money. They create jobs, support neighborhoods, bring people together and contribute to a stronger local economy.
October 11 through 17, 2026, the MidSouth LGBT Chamber of Commerce is celebrating those contributions through its second annual LGBTQ+ Business Week. The weeklong initiative encourages residents to discover, visit and support LGBTQ+-owned and allied businesses throughout Memphis.
With special offers, community activities and a business passport program, LGBTQ+ Business Week provides an opportunity to explore the many ways local entrepreneurs contribute to the city’s economic and cultural life.
Celebrating the Businesses Behind Our Community
When people think about LGBTQ+ businesses, nightlife and entertainment establishments may come to mind first. While those spaces have long played an important role in LGBTQ+ culture, the community’s business landscape extends far beyond bars and clubs.
LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and allies are part of nearly every industry, from hospitality and personal care to technology, law, education, arts and professional services.
This year’s participating businesses reflect that range.
Residents can enjoy a cup of coffee at Java Cabana, grab something sweet from Butteriffic Bakery & Cafe or The Ginger’s Bread & Co., discover neighborhood gathering spots such as Cameo and Fawn, or explore personal care services at POSE Aesthetics & Functional Wellness, Outer Fades and Coyote Soul Massage.
Professional businesses, including Big River Digital, Housemaster Home Inspections and John D Smith Law Offices, are also participating, demonstrating the importance of LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion across the broader business community.
Arts and community organizations such as Dixon Gallery and Gardens and Mid-South Pride Foundation are joining the celebration, connecting local commerce with culture and community involvement.
Together, these businesses demonstrate how LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and allies contribute to the everyday experiences that make Memphis unique.
Supporting Local Businesses in a Changing Economy
Operating a small business comes with challenges. Rising expenses, competition, changing customer habits and the cost of maintaining physical spaces all influence how independent businesses operate.
Across Memphis, business owners are adapting to these pressures while finding new opportunities to reach customers and strengthen their connections with the community.
Some businesses have closed after decades of serving Memphis, while others have opened, relocated or expanded their services. These changes are part of a larger conversation about the future of small businesses and the neighborhoods they serve.
For LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, visibility and community support can be especially important. Being recognized as a welcoming business can help establish trust, create customer relationships and introduce a business to people who may not have otherwise discovered it.
LGBTQ+ Business Week provides a platform for those connections.
Rather than focusing only on the challenges facing businesses, the celebration highlights the people who continue to invest in Memphis and the customers who help them succeed.
Building Connections Through the Chamber
Founded in 2021, the MidSouth LGBT Chamber of Commerce serves LGBTQ+ businesses, professionals and allies across a 22-county region in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Through networking, education, advocacy and community partnerships, the Chamber works to strengthen business opportunities and create a more inclusive regional economy.
LGBTQ+ Business Week is one example of that mission in action.
Now in its second year, the initiative brings together businesses from different industries and neighborhoods while encouraging consumers to make intentional choices about where they spend their money.
“We are excited to see businesses extend offers during LGBTQ+ Business Week. This is our second year, and we are excited about the participation and support from our business community. Make sure you take advantage of these deals, folks! They are for you!” said Erin Swinney, President of the MidSouth LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
The event also creates opportunities for participating businesses to introduce themselves to new audiences, collaborate with other Chamber members and build relationships that can continue throughout the year.
Explore the Businesses Participating in LGBTQ+ Business Week
This year’s celebration features participating businesses and organizations offering special promotions, discounts and experiences from October 11 through 17, 2026.
Whether you’re looking for a new favorite restaurant, a wellness appointment, professional services or a cultural experience, the Chamber’s participating businesses offer plenty of ways to get involved.
Participating businesses and offers listed as of October 13, 2026, at 12 noon Central Time (CDT). Additional businesses and offers may be added or updated throughout the week. Visit midsouthlgbtchamber.org for the latest information.
Food, Drinks and Neighborhood Favorites
Butteriffic Bakery & Cafe
Satisfy your sweet tooth with the Love Is Love Cookie Deal. Enjoy eight cookies for $15, with the option to mix and match available flavors. The bakery also offers its daily special of four cookies for $9.01.
488 S. Second St., Memphis
butterifficbakery.com
Cameo
Enjoy $5 Rage Quits throughout Business Week. Cameo will also host Music City PrEP’s Happy Hour Takeover on Thursday, October 15, from 5 to 7 p.m.
1835 Union Ave., Unit 3, Memphis
cameomemphis.com
Fawn
Stop by this Cooper Street establishment for extended happy hour from 5 to 8 p.m.
937 S. Cooper St., Memphis
fawnmemphis.com
Java Cabana
Enjoy 10% off build-your-own beverages at this longtime Cooper-Young coffee shop.
2170 Young Ave., Memphis
901javacabana.com
Mary’s BOTE
Enjoy half off Zombies, limited to one per guest.
588 S. Cooper St., Memphis
marysbote.com
The Ginger’s Bread & Co.
Receive 20% off any order of $20 or more. Ask for the LGBTQ+ Business Week discount.
1613 Union Ave., Memphis
thegingersbread.com
Wellness, Beauty and Personal Care
Coyote Soul Massage
Receive $20 off your first massage when booked during LGBTQ+ Business Week. Mention the promotion when scheduling your appointment.
4515 Poplar Ave., Suite 425, Memphis
coyotesoulmassage.com
Outer Fades
Receive 25% off your service when you mention LGBTQ+ Business Week at booking.
4699 Poplar Ave., Memphis
POSE Aesthetics & Functional Wellness
Enjoy 50% off a Hydrafacial treatment and receive a complimentary skin consultation when booking during Business Week.
481 High Point Terrace, Memphis
posememphis.com
Underground Art
Receive 10% off all services at Underground Art, a woman- and queer-owned Memphis business since 1993.
2287 Young Ave., Memphis
tattoomemphis.com
901-272-1864
Professional Services
Big River Digital
Receive 25% off any service, including website development. Mention the Chamber to redeem the offer.
bigriverdigital.ai
901-708-7844
Housemaster Home Inspections (East Memphis–Collierville)
Book a sewer scope inspection for $99, regularly $175, during Business Week.
housemaster.com
901-567-7400
John D Smith Law Offices
Receive free notary services during LGBTQ+ Business Week.
36 N. Cooper St., Memphis
Marry Me, Robin
Book a custom-built wedding ceremony for 2027 or 2028 before the end of 2026 and lock in 2026 pricing. Services are available by appointment.
marrymerobin.com
Arts, Culture and Community
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Enjoy free admission during regular public hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
4339 Park Ave., Memphis
dixon.org
Mid-South Pride
Receive 50% off a VIP Pass for the 2027 Memphis Pride Fest using promotional code CHAMBER.
midsouthpride.org
Make It an Adventure With the Business Week Passport
One of the highlights of LGBTQ+ Business Week is the Chamber’s passport program, designed to encourage residents to explore multiple participating businesses throughout the celebration.
Participants can pick up or download a passport, visit businesses between October 11 and 17, enjoy their special offers and collect stamps along the way.
Completed passports can be submitted by October 20 for entry into a prize drawing.
Passports may be dropped off at the Chamber’s office at 36 N. Cooper St. or submitted by emailing a photograph to the Chamber.
The program offers a way to discover businesses outside your usual routine, explore different Memphis neighborhoods and meet the people behind the businesses.
Visitors are also encouraged to share their experiences on social media, tag participating businesses and use #LGBTQBusinessWeekMemphis.
The Power of Shopping Local
While LGBTQ+ Business Week lasts seven days, the impact of supporting local businesses can extend throughout the year.
A visit to a neighborhood bakery, a referral to a local service provider or a positive online review can introduce a business to new customers. Choosing a locally owned business for everyday purchases can also help keep more economic activity within the community.
For LGBTQ+ consumers, patronizing businesses that actively welcome and support the community can carry additional meaning.
These establishments can provide places where people feel comfortable, respected and represented. They also help create a local business environment where inclusion is part of everyday life.
And for business owners, being connected to organizations like the MidSouth LGBT Chamber of Commerce can provide access to relationships, resources and opportunities that may otherwise be difficult to find.
As Memphis continues to grow and change, the strength of its small business community will depend in part on the relationships between entrepreneurs and the people they serve.
LGBTQ+ Business Week is an invitation to strengthen those relationships, discover something new and celebrate the businesses investing in the Mid-South.
The next time you’re deciding where to eat, shop, book an appointment or find a professional service, consider one of the businesses participating in this year’s celebration.
You may discover a new favorite, reconnect with an old one or meet someone whose business is helping shape the future of Memphis.
Learn More
Visit midsouthlgbtchamber.org for the complete LGBTQ+ Business Week schedule, participating businesses, passport information and upcoming Chamber events.
Business offers and details are based on the MidSouth LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s published 2026 LGBTQ+ Business Week information. Offers may be subject to availability and individual business terms.
