The Sports Bra Explained

The Sports Bra
Current-Owner:Jenny Nguyen
Street-Address:2512 Northeast Broadway
City:Portland
County:Multnomah
State:Oregon
Zip:97232
Country:United States
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Mapframe-Zoom:13
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The Sports Bra is a women's sports-focused bar in Portland, Oregon. The bar opened for business on April 1, 2022.[1]

Description

Located at 25th Avenue and Broadway in northeast Portland's Sullivan's Gulch neighborhood, The Sports Bra is an LGBT-owned bar focused on women's sports.[2] The menu includes burgers, buffalo wings, and Vietnamese-style baby back ribs.[3] The all-ages bar hosts official Portland Thorns FC viewing parties.

Jaylon Thompson of USA Today has called the business "a unique concept" with an owner who "aims to build community, empower and promote women in sports".[4] According to Erin Rook of LGBTQ Nation, The Sports Bra "may be the world's first women's sports bar".[5] Similarly, Lizzy Acker of The Oregonian said the business at the time "might be the only women's sports bar in the world".[6]

History

Local chef and former basketball player[2] Jenny Nguyen opened the bar in April 2022.[7] [8] She conceived the idea after watching the 2018 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament in a crowded sports bar on mute.[3] Inspired by her girlfriend, the United States women's national soccer team's fight for equal pay,[3] and the success of the MeToo movement, Nguyen started the business with her life savings of about $27,000, $40,000 in loans,[9] and support from a Kickstarter campaign,[4] which raised $105,135 by its conclusion in March 2022.[2] [9] She also partnered with female-owned breweries in the Portland metropolitan area,[2] including Freeland Spirits, Herbucha, and Migration.[3]

In January 2023, the bar hosted a Lunar New Year celebration and benefit for the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon featuring a performance by White Lotus Lion Dance.[10] In February, the bar hosted an event with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to demonstrate support for the WNBA's return to Portland. The league's Portland Fire folded after the 2002 WNBA season.[11] Nguyen said the business had generated $944,000 in revenue in its first eight months and turned a profit in its first year.

In April 2024, The Sports Bra announced its plans to franchise thanks to an investment from the 776 Foundation and founder Alexis Ohanian. Returns from the investment will be invested back into the 776 Foundation to advance girls' and women's sports.[12] [13]

Reception

In 2023, Nguyen was one of 18 Portland industry professionals deemed "rising stars" by the restaurant resource and trade publication StarChefs.[14] [15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jackson-Glidden . Brooke . 2022-03-29 . The People Behind Lose Yr Mind Fest and Tulip Shop Tavern Are Taking Over Dig a Pony . 2022-03-29 . Eater Portland . en . 2022-03-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220329164124/https://pdx.eater.com/2022/3/29/23000793/dig-a-pony-ownership-change-sports-bra-opening-date-kettle-chips-lawsuit . live .
  2. News: Macias . TJ . The Sports Bra: Women's sports will dominate screens at Oregon's new LGBTQ-owned bar . March 19, 2022 . . March 8, 2022 . March 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320005454/https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article259188953.html . live .
  3. News: Schultz . Ken . March 7, 2022 . Portland gets LGBTQ-owned women's sports bar opening in April . . live . March 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220308232026/https://www.outsports.com/2022/3/7/22964644/sports-bra-portland-queer-women-bar-lgbtq-nwsl-wnba . March 8, 2022.
  4. News: Thompson . Jaylon . Daily Sports Smile: Sports bar dedicated to women's sports to open in Portland . March 19, 2022 . . March 8, 2022 . March 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220308123340/https://www.usatodaysportsplus.com/story/local/2022/03/08/the-sports-bra-bar-adds-new-spin-exclusively-featuring-womens-sports/9415294002/ . live .
  5. Web site: Rook . Erin . This queer-owned bar is putting women's sports front and center . . March 1, 2022 . March 19, 2022 . March 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220309090114/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/03/queer-owned-bar-putting-womens-sports-front-center/ . live .
  6. News: Acker . Lizzy . When The Sports Bra opens in Portland in April, it might be the only women's sports bar in the world . March 19, 2022 . . February 23, 2022 . March 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220318203349/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2022/02/when-the-sports-bra-opens-in-portland-in-april-it-might-be-the-only-womens-sports-bar-in-the-world.html . live .
  7. News: This Portland chef is opening The Sports Bra — a pub that will only show women's sports . March 19, 2022 . . March 14, 2022 . March 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220318071447/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-monday-edition-1.6384517/this-portland-chef-is-opening-the-sports-bra-a-pub-that-will-only-show-women-s-sports-1.6384519 . live .
  8. News: Branigin . Anne . A bar of their own: A new Portland spot will only show women's sports . March 19, 2022 . . March 9, 2022 . March 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220315174537/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/03/09/portland-sports-bra-jenny-nguyen/ . live .
  9. News: 43-year-old used her life savings to open a bar that only plays women's sports—it brought in almost $1 million in 8 months . April 27, 2023 . May 3, 2023 . Make It . . Tom . Huddleston Jr. . May 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230502171542/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/27/jenny-nguyen-how-the-sports-bra-became-haven-for-womens-sports-fans.html . live .
  10. Web site: Wong . Janey . January 12, 2023 . Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Portland . 2023-01-13 . Eater Portland . en . 2023-01-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112220534/https://pdx.eater.com/2023/1/12/23552509/lunar-new-year-portland-2023 . live .
  11. News: Portland makes its pitch for expansion WNBA franchise . February 6, 2023 . May 3, 2023 . . Annie M. . Peterson . May 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503215148/https://apnews.com/article/portland-trail-blazers-nba-sports-pilots-ron-wyden-8a914e4aec40a5d060cd2f6aa704c23e . live .
  12. Web site: Clarke . Ryan . 2024-04-22 . The Sports Bra announces plans to franchise with investment from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian . 2024-04-22 . The Oregonian . en.
  13. Web site: Jackson-Glidden . Brooke . 2024-04-23 . Portland-Born Women's Sports Bar the Sports Bra Is Going National . 2024-04-23 . Eater Portland . en.
  14. Web site: Wong . Janey . 2023-07-14 . A Guide to Portland's StarChefs Rising Stars Award Winners for 2023 . 2023-07-15 . Eater Portland . en . 2023-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230715132141/https://pdx.eater.com/2023/7/14/23794693/portland-starchefs-award-winners-2023 . live .
  15. Web site: StarChefs - Profile - Chef Jenny Nguyen of The Sports Bra . 2023-07-15 . StarChefs . en-US . 2023-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230715132554/https://www.starchefs.com/profiles/jenny-nguyen . live .

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