Meet Jenny Nguyen, the owner of The Sports Bra in Portland, OR. Tired of not seeing any women’s sports at sports bars, Jenny opened The Sports Bra showing exclusively women’s sports to empower women on and off the field. Additionally, Jenny’s bar is kid-friendly because she believes all kids should be able to see equity in sports (and in life).
Get to know more about Jenny and The Sports Bra in this Business Spotlight Q&A.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Fun-fact: Jenny let us know that there’s an Easter egg of sorts hiding in plain sight at The Sports Bra. Her hint? Think Easter animal.
What’s your favorite part about the community your business is in & why?
We have received tremendous support from folks near and far! Particularly from women, folks from the LGBTQIA+ community, and the sports world. My favorite thing about being a part of this wide world of women’s sports is the amount of love, generosity, support and inspiration that this community brings. Knowing how far we’ve come and knowing how much further we have to go; it gives me great joy and hope to see so many folks ready and willing to pick up the baton and keep striving towards equity both on and off the field.
As a business owner, what’s the strangest or craziest idea you’ve ever tried? This entire business! It was a huge risk. It’s still scary every day and sometimes I look around and wonder how I even got here! But this is just one example of taking a leap of faith and stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
What are some of your favorite local businesses and why?
Our wonderful neighbors Steeplejack and The Realm Refillery! Steeplejack Brewing has been so incredibly supportive from day one. They come and visit often, bring us beers when we run out, and are just generally the best neighbors a small business could hope for! The Realm Refillery is just a beautiful and special place that is such a unique concept: everything in bulk and sourced thoughtfully. They’re taking the steps necessary to help reduce plastic waste and customers’ carbon footprint. All the things we love to see!