Jillian Hiscock’s sports bar in Minneapolis is rewriting the playbook, and it’s not just about the games on the screens—it’s about representation, inclusivity, and elevating the traditional sports bar industry. Nestled in Minneapolis’ Seward neighborhood, A Bar of Their Own isn’t your typical neighborhood watering hole. It’s a revolutionary space that centers women’s sports and fosters community for all fans, regardless of gender.
A Bar of Their Own is the brainchild born from a simple but frustrating experience. Hiscock, a lifelong women’s sports fan, found herself time and time again sitting in sports bars with her wife, watching men’s games dominate every screen. In contrast, significant women’s sporting events were neglected. Despite the success and growing popularity of teams like the Minnesota Lynx and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, women’s sports often remained an afterthought.
In April 2022, Jenny Nguyen opened The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, the nation’s first women’s sports bar. When Hiscock learned about this groundbreaking venue she couldn’t resist the chance to experience a space dedicated to women in sports. After flying out to visit, she met with Nguyen and left the conversation inspired to bring a similar vision to Minnesota.
Making the jump to turn her dream into reality was scary. The idea was completely new to the Midwest, so she began reaching out to see if others shared her desire for a women’s sports bar. When she received an outpouring of community support and encouragement, Hiscock leaped despite having no experience in the bar or restaurant industry.
Hiscock’s professional background is rooted in system disruption and social advocacy. For years, she worked in “nonprofits advocating for educational access for marginalized youth and diversifying workforces in the tech sector.” She credits her former students for teaching her the importance of representation and how to diversify a space properly. Her career has centered on dismantling barriers, a skill set that seamlessly transferred into building A Bar of Their Own.
Hiscock believes in hiring people who embody the values of inclusivity, authenticity, and creating a safe space. “This bar doesn’t need to be a space where we agree all the time, but it does need to be a place where people feel safe. That’s first and foremost.”
From employing a diverse staff to working with women-owned businesses like Wonder Woman Construction and exclusively serving beers brewed by women, non-binary, and trans folks, Hiscock ensured that her bar uplifted voices and companies that are often sidelined in the industry. “We asked ourselves every step of the way, is there a different voice we could prioritize that normally isn’t?”
Despite Hiscock’s clear vision and impeccable work ethic, opening Minnesota’s first women’s sports bar was challenging. While logistical hurdles like staffing and food ordering are standard for any new business, she faced a more significant challenge: clarifying what A Bar of Their Own stands for.
Hiscock said, “I kept hearing, ‘It’s a women’s sports bar, so only women are invited,’ which couldn’t be further from the truth.”
The misconception was so widespread that she fielded five to seven weekly questions from well-meaning men asking if they could visit the bar. It took many intentional conversations and compassionate social media posts to clarify that Hiscock welcomed men, non-binary folk, families, and non-queer people to visit her bar.
“Anyone curious about, or loves, women’s sports is welcome here.”
Ultimately, the community that A Bar of Their Own has built makes it unique. It’s where women can watch sports without having the rules ‘mansplained’ to them and where men can enjoy women’s sports without feeling emasculated. “We have built a community of supporters who wanted a space like this.”
Representation isn’t just a buzzword for Hiscock—it’s a guiding principle. Throughout her career, she witnessed how often marginalized voices were left out of meaningful conversations, and she made it a priority to ensure A Bar of Their Own fosters inclusion at every level.
“I’ve been taught by others—especially by the students I worked with—that people need to be seen as the unique individuals they are,” Hiscock says. Whether it’s asking her staff how to make the space more inclusive or consulting with disabled community members to improve accessibility, she is constantly working to ensure her bar reflects its core values.
One example of this responsiveness came early on when a non-binary employee pointed out that the bar’s sign on the bathroom door offering “feminine products” could be more inclusive. The sign was quickly updated to “period products” to better reflect the experiences of non-feminine uterus-having people. “Our awareness is changing, and that’s progress. We want that to happen.”
As A Bar of Their Own approaches its first anniversary, Hiscock remains focused on continually evolving. “The goal is to keep pushing forward and putting women’s sports front and center,” she says.
Other local bars are already reaching out for advice on how to incorporate more women’s sports into their programming, a change Hiscock welcomes. “I need other places to play women’s sports and see its value, not just from a monetary standpoint but from a community perspective.”
While the journey hasn’t always been easy, Hiscock is optimistic about the future of A Bar of Their Own and its impact on Minnesota’s sports bar culture. “We’re creating a space where everyone feels comfortable, and that’s a win in my book.”