Plans are in the works to open a franchise location in Portland for the Sports Bra, a sports bar dedicated exclusively to televising women’s sports.
The business was founded and is led by Jenny Nguyen, who opened the inaugural restaurant in Portland, Ore., in 2022.
A location is being sought.
In addition to Portland, Maine, other franchises are slated to open in Boston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and St. Louis, according to a news release.
Lawyer and professor
The Sports Bra Maine franchise is owned by Ann Freeman and Emily Lesher, who met in 2017 during their daughters’ soccer game. In 2018, they formed a team for the local women’s soccer league and have been playing at the Gorham Sports Complex since then.
Freeman grew up in Bowdoinham and attended Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham, where she played soccer and was a diver on the swim team. She is an employment lawyer at a Portland law firm.
Lesher is a chemistry professor who has lived in Portland since 2013. She volunteers in Portland’s youth sports scene.
At the Sports Bra, Freeman will manage operations and lead investor relations, public relations and human resources. Lesher will manage suppliers and community partnerships while leading operations with Freeman.
“Portland brings together a renowned culinary scene with thriving youth, collegiate and semi-pro women’s sports,” said Freeman. “We want to build a space that fosters and supports this incredible energy.”
Location search
Freeman and Lesher are working with Bryan Plourde of the Dunham Group to find a location for the franchise, which will televise local and national teams, including a campaign by Portland Hearts of Pine to establish a women’s squad, the Women’s National Basketball Association, National Women’s Soccer League and Professional Women’s Hockey League.
It will also televise events like the Boston Marathon, Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The timing of the opening depends on how quickly they find a location and how much time it will take to renovate the space.
The search is on for a second-generation restaurant space that is relatively turnkey. The ideal location would be 2,500 to 3,000 square feet with an existing kitchen infrastructure, a spokesperson told Mainebiz.
Other needed attributes would be to have a space big enough room for hosting team and community events and a layout that supports a family-friendly environment and fans of all ages.
The partners are exploring several areas, including the Old Port, East End and Bayside, although they aren’t opposed to looking off the peninsula. Ultimately, the spokesperson said, they want to be where the community already gathers, making it easy for people to stop in for a game and a meal.
Build-out
The build-out process would be a collaborative effort between the local team and the Sports Bra headquarters, which provides a blueprint and an operations manual designed to capture the same standards and vibe as the Oregon location. A pre-opening checklist includes franchise owner training and vendor partnerships.
Based on general information provided by the Sport Bra franchise website, the estimated initial investment for a single unit typically ranges from $310,233 to $951,758. That includes an initial franchise fee of $55,000.
Financing could include third-party lending, although details of Sports Bra Maine’s financial structure and funding partners were not disclosed.
The restaurant will source products from local women-owned businesses whenever possible and will display autographed shoes and a bobblehead from Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, a marathon champion who hails from Maine.
“Portland has a vibrant sports scene, but dedicated spaces that specifically center and celebrate women’s sports are noticeably absent,” said Lesher.
