Meet our Franchisees: Ann & Emily from The Sports Bra Maine
As The Sports Bra expands across the country, we’re committed to extending our supportive, celebratory vibe from coast to coast, and even from Portland to Portland! Our franchise owners are passionate about serving great food and drinks while making sure women’s sports are always the main event.
For The Sports Bra Maine co-owners, Ann Freeman and Emily Lesher, are bringing The Sports Bra to the original Portland in the heart of the Deering Center neighborhood. They are excited for their city to have a place where no one has to ask to put the game on. It will already be on, not as an afterthought, but on and given the celebration and respect it deserves.
Give us an update on your location's progress!
We are moving along and are working with a fantastic team! Woodhull is coordinating the renovation. So far, we've worked on new electrical for the AV system and improving lighting, insulation to lower our energy usage, and framing out some small reconfigurations of space. Next up is a new ceiling to improve acoustics, drywall, and a fresh look with some new upholstery, custom millwork, and furniture!
The Sports Bra places a huge emphasis on supporting women not only on the screens, but also behind the scenes. How are you bringing local, women-owned and operated businesses into your location?
We are working with as many women owned businesses as possible. From the trades to food and beverage vendors, we want to not only have them do work for us but we also want to highlight their success and talent. We'll be showing some of them off on our social media as the projects move along. You may have already seen some photos of our electrician MJ Reed who owns MJR Electrical and our woodworker Jesse Hutchins who owns Nest Carpentry.
We have contracted with Peerless Painting: owner Sue Strasenburgh and site supervisor Kait Fernald have been excellent and have already done the exterior. After their base coat was on, local muralist Rachel Adams came in and created a BEAUTIFUL piece right on the corner of our exterior wall. Come check it out! And keep an eye out as we highlight more local businesses as our progress continues.
What is your absolute favorite sport to watch?
Emily: It's so hard to choose. For me right now, it's in between soccer, basketball, and running/track.
Ann: Soccer is my favorite sport to play and watch, but I really love watching all sports. I love gymnastics, ice hockey, skiing, track and even curling – those games get intense!
We welcome fans of all ages, including kids! Why is it important to you that the next generation grows up seeing women's sports on the big screens?
As the recent rescheduling of the WNBA Finals Game 6 shows, women's sports are too often afterthoughts. It's a huge shame that most kids in the country will not be able to watch what could potentially be the championship-winning game since they will all be in school!
We are building this space so no one has to ask to put the game on. It will already be on, not as an afterthought, but given the celebration and respect it deserves. I, Emily, have a daughter and a son, and while it's critical that my daughter sees the greatness women can achieve in sport, it's almost more important to me that my son sees that too. He will be able to look around a bar full of people of all backgrounds who are just as invested in women's sports as he is.
If you see it, you can be it! We had a 9-year-old girl contribute $25 to our Crowdfundr campaign. How cool is that! I, Ann, have three girls, and it is so important that they know involvement in sports doesn't have to end when they graduate high school or college. There are so many opportunities for women at all levels of sports, whether they are playing, coaching, marketing, or even owning a sports bar that only shows women's sports!
If you could have a front-row seat to any historic women's sports moment, which one would you pick?
Emily: Tennis was my first love. I would say probably the moments that led to the start of the WTA. Like the conversations Billie Jean King was having with other players about doing their own thing separate from the men's professional circuit (where they were getting paid 10x less than the men) and some of those early games. Additionally, Joanie's 1984 Olympic marathon championship (to have sat in the LA Coliseum that day!!), and of course, the 99ers.
Ann: Probably the 1999 World Cup when the USWNT beat China in the PK shoot out. That game and the moment Brandi Chastain removed her jersey is absolutely iconic. Having grown up playing soccer at the same time as many of these women, it was pretty impactful to me. I would also have loved to be at the Battle of the Sexes match between BJK and Bobby Riggs in 1973.
Once the doors are officially open, who is on your dream guest list to walk in and sit at the bar?
Emily: Billie Jean King, Michelle Akers, Joanie, Emma Hayes, Ilona Maher, Sifan Hassan.
Ann: Emily and I have a lot of the same! But, I’d go with Julie Foudy, BJK, Emma Hayes, Abby Wambach, Ilona Maher, Lindsey Vonn, Flavor Flav and so many more!
Picture this: You're sitting at the bar on a packed game night. What is your go-to food and drink order?
Emily: It's a tough choice between local seafood (a good old New England fried fish sandwich and oysters are my favorites), pizza, or a really good salad. For drinks, I'm definitely a beer person and will almost always go with a local beer. I mix it up between styles, but one of my favorite under-appreciated beer categories is traditional English Bitters. And as a little sneak peek, stay tuned for a fun collaboration we are working on, that helps me achieve my personal side quest of making this the next trending beer category.
Ann: I love a good burger, medium rare, with a side of fries. I am not a huge red meat person, but a good burger is worth it. I would probably pair it with a good IPA (Maine Beer Co. Lunch is my go-to) or a Belgian style wheat (like Allagash White a/k/a mommy lemonade).