Women want and need a place where their dreams and their teams are center stage.
Just ask Jillian Hiscock. She created a business after noticing women’s sports were getting benched at local bars.
It started back in 2023 when Hiscock and a group of friends went into a bar to watch the University of Minnesota Gophers softball team play in the national tournament.
“There were 20 televisions in the place and not one of them playing the game.” Hiscock wondered what it would be like to go to a bar where women’s sports was on the screens, with the sound on.
“At the time, there was only one other in the country like it, ‘A Sports Bra’ in Portland, Oregon,” said Hiscock. “I reached out to the founder and said, ‘Tell me what I need to know’ and she was so wonderful and willing to share information.”
Hiscock opened “A Bar of Their Own,” in Minneapolis in 2024. It is the Midwest’s first sports bar to exclusively show women’s sports. Hiscock says collaboration and community were key to building her business, the same type of team spirit taking center field at the Feminist Future Festival, happening April 30 at The Whim in Minneapolis.
The event is designed to connect women for everything from holistic healing to business advice for BIPOC women and gender-expansive entrepreneurs.
“Even if you don’t have that idea yet or that next step perfectly defined, it can be a great moment to be around other women who are excited about doing something.”
Hiscock, who will be at the event, says it’s an opportunity to feel the joy and inspiration of other women.
Hiscock knows what it’s like to need support when an idea you’re passionate about seemingly strikes out. That’s what happened when she first started going after funding for her business “A Bar of Their Own.”
“I had to go to the bank and prove I had a valid business concept and they said I didn’t and wouldn’t fund me,” Hiscock recalled. “But I had women standing up and ready to support me regardless of where I was on my journey and that level of support is hard to find.”
Today, one year after opening, Hiscock says the response to “A Bar of Their Own” has been overwhelmingly popular. She’s even taken calls from more than 40 other women across the country interested in replicating the concept. She’s happy to help. Hiscock says it’s the reason why she will be at the Feminist Future Festival ready to cheer on other bold women.
“I’m excited about the event because it’s another great way for women to be surrounded by like-minded folks that want to help other women and get to know other women,” Hiscock added.
The Feminist Future Festival from the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota is described as an opportunity to “build the feminist future we want to see by sparking new ideas and connecting with bold women and gender-expansive leaders.”
Guests will learn directly from a diverse group of leaders and entrepreneurs to “dream, imagine and feel inspired together” through themed stations focusing on four areas, holistic well-being, safety, leadership and economic justice.
The Feminist Future Festival is Wednesday, April 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Whim, located at 655 19th Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis.
Learn more and register at: https://www.wfmn.org/events/feminist-future-festival/.
Check out “A Bar of Their Own” at 2207 Franklin Avenue East in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. Learn more here.