Let's Sit in a Bar Together!

If you’re reading this, it’s because you signed up to follow along as I work to start a sports bar in SF centered on women’s sports. Thanks for being on the ride.

If you’ve been getting these newsletters for a while, you may notice things look a little different around here.

For one thing, we’ve got a name. If you’ve been with me from the “SF Women’s Sports Bar” days, then allow me to formally introduce you to The Changeup — a sports bar with a different pitch. (We’re also on Instagram - please give that account a follow if you haven’t already!)

For another, we’ve got a logo, designed by my favorite food artist Alyson Thomas, truly a dream collab.

And: we’ve got the first of what I hope will be many chances to actually watch some sports together. Newsletter hears it first: Save the date for September 7 at 7 PM at Barebottle Brewing in Bernal Heights (1525 Cortland Ave in San Francisco). We’ll be watching Bay FC take on Racing Louisville in (what I hope will still be…) a key match in the race for the final NWSL playoff spot. Women’s sports, big screens, sound on, kids welcome. (Mine will be there!) Please come on over; I’d love to cheer with you.

Now, a moment for the state of the bar. I spent the summer diving deep into what The Changeup needs and wants to be (short version: a bar and restaurant for women’s sports fans of all ages that oozes joy and color, and that has a menu with a lot of dips and dippers; I feel strongly about the dip component here). Then I started building approximately eleventy dozen spreadsheets — OK, probably actually eight spreadsheets — to reflect that vision into an actual working restaurant model under the incomparable guidance of Courtney Blake at Pilot Light. The Changeup also got a cool shout from The 19th along with a bunch of our favorite sports bar friends, whose milestones have been an absolute joy to celebrate this summer. No space to announce yet, though there are some really strong possibilities — but if you see a great, light-filled, could-be-all-ages space with a leasing sign in the window, smash that reply button, OK?

I can’t wait to tell you more IRL. September 7, 7 PM, Barebottle on Cortland. There will be stickers! Well, there might be stickers. (That’s between me and USPS, frankly.) But probably there will be stickers. And there will definitely be good beer, good vibes, and the sheer collective joy of watching women’s sports together. I hope to see you there!

To Sports!

-Kimra