Sex shops: There are few spaces more taboo.
Parents might feel inclined to cover their children’s eyes as they walk by these shops, and most stores are filled with content traditionally considered worthy of those aged 18 and up.
In reality, the unmentionable “sex shop” has been stigmatized to a point where people fail to understand that sex shops have a lot more to offer than just porn videos and raunchy toys. Each store is different, and they have the potential to do a lot more for people than some might imagine.
If you’ve never felt uncomfortable entering a sex shop, but have the urge to do so this Valentine’s Day — with or without a partner — here’s a list of nearby sex shops that provide a niche for every body.
Babeland, 707 East Pike St.:
Babeland, originally opened in 1993, was created with the intention to provide women with a sex shop specifically for them. The goal was not just to create a sex shop with woman-friendly toys, but to also create a shop that would hire personnel who could inform female consumers about the toys they were buying and how this could help them in their sex lives.
When I walked into Babeland, I immediately felt comfortable. There was no barrier between me and the people working at the store, who were incredibly inviting and asked me if there was anything I had questions about or needed assistance.
Although I didn’t need help finding anything specific, I was given a tour of the store and the products they sell. I was impressed by the different price points throughout the store, making it accommodating for people of all economic backgrounds to buy products there. And on top of this, the range of products was extensive.
Everything from medical-grade sex toys — including vibrators and dildos — to a BDSM section, an erotica section, and a condom and lubrication section was represented in the little store on Capitol Hill. While there are a few toys targeted to male clientele, the majority of the store was female-centric.
One of their most popular sections is the bachelorette section full of fun gag-gifts. The most unique section of the store is their gender expression section, which caters to people transitioning from female to male.
This store is great if you’re a woman and you’re looking for a sex shop with knowledgeable sales associates to help you discover which products will be right for you, your body, and your individual experience.
Castle Megastore, 1017 East Pike St.:
Unlike Babeland, Castle Megastore is the more “classic” type of sex shop people tend to imagine. While Babeland specializes in sex toys for women, this store doesn’t seem to specialize in pleasing one sex or gender. Instead, this megastore has the whole ballpark of sex objects: sexual clothing, DVDs, and specialty niche products (i.e. chastity cages).
Some of the products overlapped with those in Babeland: There were plenty of vibrators, dildos, and other sex toys, in addition to the specialty fetish objects they carried. The personnel there were very kind, but I didn’t necessarily get the sense they were trying to find an object that was best for my body and my sexual experiences the way I did in Babeland.
Although I didn’t feel this store was the best for me, I do think this store is the place to go if you’re in search of having a fun experience. You could get lost in this store’s inventory between all of the quirky, kinky, and novelty objects without even slipping into the store’s more serious sex toys — unless, of course, you want to.
Doghouse Leathers, 1312 East Pike St.:
While, again, Doghouse Leathers was not the one for me, it was by far the most interesting sex shop I attended.
The shop opened specifically to provide leather products for the gay male community. It still maintains this reputation, but since opening about 10 years ago it has expanded its clientele base, as well as the range of products carried.
The shop’s supply was starkly different than the other shops on Cap Hill, and it seemed to mainly focus on clothing in a way the other sex shops had not. Much of the leather clothing sold at Doghouse — shirts and vests, pants and chaps, straps and harnesses, and puppy play masks — are actually made right in-store.
The other clothes, while not made in-store, are often locally sourced, including some of the high quality fetish products like floggers and ropes.
Unique among the other sex shops on the Hill, Doghouse Leathers carries extra-large dildos for size queens.
So get yourself out of your doghouse and check out Doghouse Leathers if you’re at all curious about the products you might find here. The owners of the store as well as the employees there are not only incredibly friendly, but are also willing to give tours and help you find what it is you want out of your Doghouse experience.
Whichever store is your preference, help break the taboo associated with entering a sex shop and check one out for yourself. You might be surprised at how empowering and liberating it can feel, especially if you find the right one for you.
Reach Opinion Editor Rebecca Gross at specials@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @becsgross
