Philly’s first women’s sports bar goes all out for U.S. Open

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s first women’s sports bar went all out for the women’s final at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

Marsha’s, a queer-owned bar located on the corner of South Street and Passyunk Avenue in South Philly, was packed with tennis fans Saturday.

For fans like Maggie Grehlinger, having a dedicated place to watch women’s sports is a game changer.

“Usually we have to watch it at home, which is fun,” she said. “But it’s much more fun to be here with our community in Philadelphia.”

The bar is named for LGBTQ activist Marsha P. Johnson, whose portrait hangs above the bar.

Founder Chivonn Anderson, who opened the bar nearly a year ago, thinks Johnson would be blown away if she saw such a huge turnout for women’s sports.

“Because all women are women. Trans women are women,” Anderson said. “They belong in women’s sports whether it’s at the professional level or the junior level.”

With the overall growth in women’s sports — and Philly getting a W.N.B.A. team in 2030 (Marsha’s even has a countdown clock on their website) — she said the timing is just right.

“It’s an exciting moment to be part of women’s sports, and I’m just really glad we’re able to be here.”