Meet our Franchisees: Eve Keller, owner of The Sports Bra Indianapolis

As The Sports Bra expands across the country, we’re committed to extending our supportive, celebratory vibe from coast to coast. 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 Indianapolis co-owner, Eve Keller, bringing The Sports Bra to Naptown was driven by a bold vision to build a true third place. A spot right in the heart of downtown at 15 E. Maryland Street where fans can belong, connect, and turn up the volume for women's sports. Having dreamed of seeing a space like this in Indy, Eve stepped up with what she calls "delusional audacity" to make it a reality. 

Q: Give us an update on your location's progress!

We finally got our permit for the windows on our historic building, which feels like a huge milestone. We're waiting on the SBA inspection to close on our loan, and then it's full speed ahead. We hired our Kitchen Manager and actually took her to Portland for training with The Sports Bra corporate team, so she's got the playbook. Right now we're lining up all of our vendors so we're ready to go the second we get the go from our GM. Things shifted to a fall/winter opening, but we're locked in and ready for whenever the franchise approves us to open.

Q: 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?

Community is everything to me, so this was non-negotiable from day one. I've been building relationships with local women-owned businesses since we started planning, hosting watch parties at District Tap, working with breweries like Kismetic and Guggman Haus Brewing Co. on events, and partnering with restaurants like Yazsh Indy and Little India as well as organizations like Indy Maven, Be Iconic Indy, and the ACLU. My wife, and co-owner, Jenni, runs Trinity Haven, and our commitment to community is woven into everything we do. 

At The Sports Bra Indy, we'll be sourcing locally whenever we can, and our 1% charitable-giving commitment through the franchise is about making sure women-led nonprofits benefit directly from our success. We're not just opening a bar. We're opening a gathering place, and that only works if we're lifting up the women around us. 

Q: What is your absolute favorite sport to watch?

Basketball, hands down. Watching The Fever’s, Kelsey Mitchell, play is electric, and I'm obsessed with what she brings to the game. But I also played football in college, so women's tackle football holds a special place in my heart. We have a local women's tackle football team, and I love that this is finally happening in our city. That's the kind of game I want on our screens.

Q: 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?

I was selected for the Natural Helpers peer-support program as a freshman in high school. The whole point was teaching kids that some people are going through bigger problems, and helping them become better listeners to their friends, know how to ask the right questions, and direct people to actual resources. Mental health is a giant need right now for teenagers, and peer community support in schools is one of the most powerful tools we have. When kids see women's sports on big screens everywhere they go, they see that women belong in every space. And when they're struggling with something their friends are going through, they know they can show up for each other. That's what this is really about.

Q: If you could have a front-row seat to any historic women's sports moment, which one would you pick?

I would pick Kerri Strug landing her second vault on a severely injured ankle at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to secure the first-ever team gold medal for the U.S. women's gymnastics team. That's delusional audacity in its rawest form. She was hurt, she could have stopped, and she did it anyway because her team needed her. Kerri showed us what that belief looks like when you're bleeding for your sport and your teammates. That's the kind of grit and commitment that changes everything. That's the moment I want kids to see. That moment sits on the shoulders of Billie Jean King's Battle of the Sexes in 1973, which proved women belonged on the biggest stages.

Q: Once the doors are officially open, who is on your dream guest list to walk in and sit at the bar?

Kelsey Mitchell. Ilona Maher, who's bringing visibility and authenticity to women's sports like nobody else. And Cheryl Swoopes, so she can see her jersey on the wall and know she's part of what we're building here.

Q: Picture this: You're sitting at the bar on a packed game night. What is your go-to food and drink order?

Whiskey and Ginger, and the Baby Back Ribs without question. If I'm just catching a quick bite between things, cheese curds. Simple, good, done.