A father walks into a new restaurant in Portland, Oregon. On the televisions, only women’s sports. He is with his two daughters of 5 or 6 years old. At this precise moment, a national gymnastics championship is presented. The eyes of the little girls are riveted on the screens. The father is emotional to see his children so fascinated. Finally, they had the chance to see women in action.
Posted at 7:00 a.m.
This story is told by Jenny Nguyen.
Her story begins on 1er April 2018. Jenny Nguyen and her friends want to watch the women’s college basketball final between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. They are desperately looking for a bar that shows the game.
However, since women’s sports represent only 4% of global sports television broadcasting, they found nothing. They finally watched the match on a small mobile television, without sound, in the back of a local bar.
PHOTO DOROTHY WANG, SUPPLIED BY THE SPORTS BRA
Jenny Nguyen in front of Sports Bra in Portland
It was following this event that Jenny, who categorically refuses to be called Mme Nguyen, begins to think of the idea of creating a restaurant-bar which would broadcast only female disciplines. As a chef and former basketball player, this was an opportunity to bring her two passions together.
She told herself that the concept must already exist. Well, no. It was his idea. So she launched a crowdfunding campaign, which reached $105,000 in 30 days. More than twice the original goal.
In April 2022, The Sports Bra opened its doors. Since then, its success has been resounding.
Tucked away, but necessary
A native of Portland, Jenny is a former basketball player turned chef and entrepreneur.
His best recipe is the one that allowed him to make the Sports Bra a model of success. This innovative concept promotes female athletes from all walks of life by broadcasting only women’s sports.
Jenny showed up in front of her computer, Zoom, in full preparation for the evening service. A gray t-shirt, tattoos covering the entire surface of his arms and a caustic smile, despite the rush hour.
PHOTO DOROTHY WANG, SUPPLIED BY THE SPORTS BRA
The walls are loaded with feminine sports elements.
Behind her, a collector’s item, a huge ship to no doubt recall the sea air of the West Coast. Above is a University of Oregon soccer team jersey.
“I had the intuition that my idea would be able to resonate with the female public, and in particular with athletes. I knew I was addressing a niche market. It was a risk, I had no guarantee that it would work, but in the end the idea joined a lot of people, ”she explained.
The dazzling success achieved far exceeded his expectations. “I was in shock. She was amazed to see all the support received, from across the country, from the launch of the crowdfunding campaign. For the past two months, the restaurant has always been crowded, but it has also caused a lot of talk about it and about women’s sport.
“I thought maybe I just touched something that resonated with a ton of people from different backgrounds. »
The decor of the place is reminiscent of a neighborhood pub. The benches, the touches of wood, the comfortable and narrow space at the same time.
Jenny argues that people actually care very little about the gender of the athlete when watching a sporting event. Sport takes precedence, the gender of the athletes does not change anything.
“With more sports on television and better access to women’s disciplines, more people are going to be interested in it. It’s logic. »
She thinks that’s probably why her project is a hit. That, and the fact that she is the only one to present such a concept. In an industry that is already saturated and where it is difficult to stand out, the Sports Bra has nevertheless been able to do it. “I have come to the conclusion that the trajectory for women’s sport has taken a dramatic turn in recent years. […] I get a lot of thanks, especially from athletes, for showcasing women and for taking the risk. Everyone wonders why it took so long for someone to do something like this. »
An international reach
Now that she has confirmation that the concept can survive, Jenny does not hide her intentions. “I think this concept could survive anywhere else. My goal with the Sports Bra is to open them in other cities in the country. »
PHOTO DOROTHY WANG, SUPPLIED BY THE SPORTS BRA
Jenny Nguyen
It would even like to open branches abroad. In Canada, she has Toronto in her sights. She even received offers from England, France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and the Philippines. The reason for this interest is simple: “There are really people everywhere who think that women’s sport is important and that it is a market that is too inaccessible for so many people. »
People like this father who takes his two little girls to watch gymnastics. A father who could, in a few years, see his children flourish through sport because they will have seen, at a young age, that it was possible. “The father stopped me to tell me how much of an immediate impact it could have. He was almost in tears watching his daughters watch other women succeed at a high level. »
It was Jenny’s wish. This entrepreneur and athlete from Portland who decided to open a resto-bar dedicated to women’s sports. A resto-bar that should exist.