PRESS RELEASE | The Sports Bra Maine Scores Coveted Neighborhood Location in the Heart of Deering Center
PORTLAND, Ore. and PORTLAND, Maine (June 23, 2026) — The Sports Bra, the world’s first sports bar dedicated exclusively to showing women’s sports, has officially announced the location for its highly anticipated expansion into the original Portland in Portland, Maine. Situated at 476 Stevens Avenue, the new venue is in the vibrant, tight-knit Deering Center neighborhood. Led by franchise co-owners Ann Freeman and Emily Lesher of Watch Women’s Sports ME, LLC, the 118-seat location transitions from the beloved Noble Pizzeria & Barbecue into a community hub celebrating women’s sports.
The path to securing the 476 Stevens Avenue location was shaped by years of local history and perfect timing. When the building was first listed for rent in 2022, following the closure of Elsmere BBQ, Freeman immediately recognized its potential and emailed The Sports Bra founder and CEO, Jenny Nguyen, about expanding to Maine. At the time, Nguyen wasn’t ready to expand from Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine. Now, four years later, when Freeman and Lesher’s real estate broker connected with Noble's owner, Ryan Carey, about a nearby property, Carey suggested his own space might be the perfect, unlisted match.
“Securing this fantastic location for The Sports Bra feels like fate,” said Freeman. “I knew instantly back then that this layout was perfect for a sports bar and the surrounding neighborhood would embrace this concept. Deering Center is an incredible, family-friendly neighborhood, and it has always been an ideal spot to bring my own family for dinner and a drink. It was meant to be!”
Stevens Avenue is home to Longfellow Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, Deering High School, and the University of New England’s Health Sciences Campus, and is celebrated as the only street in the nation where a person can go from Pre-K to a PhD. Deering High School was the first high school in the nation to provide athletic hijabs to student athletes.
“It’s an impressive yet humble neighborhood with an incredible density of acclaimed women-owned businesses,” added Lesher. “People here are committed to a thriving and inclusive community. There is a backdrop of trails, sports fields, and playgrounds, and it's right along the 9A/9B Metro route, making it the perfect home base for what we represent.”
The Sports Bra Maine is deeply committed to maintaining neighborhood traditions. Understanding the local love for a classic Deering Center staple, the venue will continue to serve Noble-style pizza for both in-house dining and takeout, alongside a creative, Pine Tree State twist on traditional pub fare.
The concept marks a natural evolution for the space, which is being passed forward by local restaurateur Ryan Carey, who is stepping back to prioritize family time with his three children.
“I am thrilled to be passing along the Deering Center baton to The Sports Bra,” said Carey. “Before opening Noble, this location sat vacant for years. One of the main reasons I opened the restaurant was to prove that this neighborhood could support a business here, and residents did just that from day one. Knowing that Emily and Ann are active community members and share the values and mission of the original Sports Bra makes me incredibly proud. I know our regulars will continue to support this space, and I’ll be there with my own family on the regular.”
On the screens, the bar will champion local and regional powerhouses. While broadcasting national leagues such as the WNBA, NWSL, PWHL, and NCAA sports, the venue will shine a bright spotlight on homegrown talent, including the Maine Mayhem, the women’s tackle football team, the Portland Women’s Rugby Club, and local Roller Derby leagues. It will also broadcast United Women’s Soccer teams such as Maine Footy and the Maine Mystics, as well as the highly anticipated Hearts of Pine women’s pre-professional team in the USL-W. Even high school sports will grace the big screens as events like the high school basketball playoffs have a special place in the Maine sports landscape.
Jenny Nguyen, founder and CEO of The Sports Bra, shared her enthusiasm for the location. "The Sports Bra centers women’s sports and builds community around them. Ann and Emily’s deep roots in Portland, paired with their understanding of what a welcoming, neighborhood space needs, make them the perfect stewards for this location. We’re thrilled to watch this team take over this beautiful space on Stevens Avenue. It’s three times the size of our founding location in Portland, Oregon, and we love seeing The Sports Bra movement grow in a city with so much pride, history, and community spirit. "
The momentum behind the expansion has been fueled heavily by the local community. Freeman and Lesher recently attended Portland Pride, where they received an overwhelmingly enthusiastic reception from attendees. The LGBTQ+ community has been a foundational pillar of the venture's early success, turning out in massive numbers for the brand's local pop-up watch parties.
“The energy at Pride was absolutely electric, and it completely validated why we are doing this,” said Lesher. “From day one, the LGBTQ+ community has shown up for our watch parties with so much passion and joy. The Sports Bra Maine is built on the idea that everyone deserves a place where they feel seen and celebrated. To feel that love returned so fiercely at Pride shows just how ready Portland is for this space.”
True to the original Portland, Oregon model, the Maine location will be entirely family-friendly and feature an inclusive menu with inclusive dietary options (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free). Aligned with the brand’s mission and Maine's status as a national leader in women-led enterprises, the bar will prioritize sourcing products from local, women-owned and -operated businesses.
Freeman and Lesher are working closely with Carey during the transition, offering current Noble staff members the opportunity to interview for potential rehire. The space will undergo some updates to prepare for its grand opening later this year.
For more information, menu sneak peeks, and timeline updates, follow @TheSportsBraMaine on Instagram and Facebook and sign up for their email newsletter. For information on franchising, visit thesportsbrafranchise.com.