PORTLAND, Ore. — On Sunday, a line of fans had formed by 10:30 a.m. outside a sports bar waiting to watch March Madness. The bar goers, dressed in Patagonia fleeces, beanies and rain jackets, were undeterred by the rain that drenched them.
When the doors opened 30 minutes later, they walked in to claim their seats. The TVs displayed soccer and lacrosse; jerseys and sports equipment hung on the walls; and classic “Jock Jams,” like “Whoomp! (There It Is),” blasted from the speakers — an indistinguishable scene from almost any other sports bar in America.
Except for one major difference: Women comprised approximately three quarters of the people who entered the bar. Only women’s sports were playing on each of the bar’s five TVs. And only pictures of female athletes — Brittney Griner, Allyson Felix and Naomi Osaka — adorned the walls.
A cocktail named “Title IX” appeared on the menu, and coffee mugs read “Just Women’s Sports.” The two all-gender bathrooms housed a baby changing table and free organic pads and tampons.
Welcome to the Sports Bra, where the slogan is “We support women.” The 43-year-old owner, Jenny Nguyen, a longtime chef and former basketball player, said “the Bra,” as she calls it, is dedicated exclusively to women’s sports.
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