St. Louis fans of women’s sports will soon have a dedicated place to cheer on their favorite teams. The Sports Bra, a sports bar that exclusively televises women’s sports, will open its first franchise location on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7344 Manchester Road in Maplewood.
Owned by lifelong friends and former college softball teammates Heather Hill and Sara Pilsner, the 2,950-square-foot restaurant will occupy the former Boogaloo space. The Portland, Oregon-based concept opened its original location in April 2022 and announced plans to expand to St. Louis and other cities in 2025.
“We’ve been counting down the months, weeks, and days until we could open our doors to this incredible community,” Hill said. “St. Louis has a vibrant sports culture, but dedicated spaces that specifically center and celebrate women athletes have been missing for far too long.”
The Maplewood location will have 13 screens showing women’s sports, including local teams such as St. Louis SLAM women’s tackle football and Arch Rival Roller Derby. Fans can also catch collegiate teams from Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri, along with professional leagues such as the National Women’s Soccer League, Women’s National Basketball Association, Professional Women’s Hockey League and Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
Hill previously told Sauce that the former Boogaloo space had good bones, and the owners planned to preserve its original wood floors and double-sided bar. The new bar top would be made from reclaimed wood from a basketball court, while the patio would get its own TVs, rain guards and heaters.
The family-friendly venue will seat up to 120 guests indoors, with outdoor seating for about 30. The menu will include vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options, along with food and drinks sourced from local producers and women-owned businesses whenever possible.
“The ultimate goal of The Sports Bra is to empower women, across any aspect,” Hill told Sauce previously. “Anytime we can hire women, promote women, have women do construction, get women-owned breweries, distilleries, [that’s] what we’re going to go with.”
Hill also told Sauce she hoped the restaurant would become a gathering place for young athletes and their families.
“There would be nothing better than to have a little 9U softball team put in a reservation after they won a game,” she said.
In addition to televising games, The Sports Bra plans to host watch parties and community fundraisers. The concept’s founder and CEO, Jenny Nguyen, said the St. Louis opening marks a milestone in the brand’s expansion.
“Watching Heather and Sara bring the very first franchise of The Sports Bra to life is an incredible milestone,” Nguyen said in a statement.
The Sports Bra St. Louis will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
