Part of the Gay Des Moines Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Des Moines, Iowa
Queer boutique with handcrafted goods and local art in Des Moines
Thistle's Summit is a queer-owned shop and gluten-free, vegan bakery in downtown Des Moines, on the SW 5th Street strip near the Court Avenue district. Owner Marti Payseur started the business in 2019 as a queer bed-and-breakfast in Mount Vernon, then rebuilt it as one of Iowa's first fully gluten-free and vegan bakeries after the pandemic, opening the Des Moines storefront in 2022. The case runs to vegan and gluten-free baked goods — the oatmeal cream pies have a small cult following — alongside snacks, pantry goods, and gifts. The vibe is unapologetically queer and a little witchy, an inclusive small shop that doubles as a community gathering spot rather than a tourist stop. Upstairs, the loft houses Olio Oddities, a curiosities shop, so a visit tends to cover more ground than the bakery counter suggests. It's a good anchor for supporting queer-owned small business while you're downtown.
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