San Francisco is marking a new chapter in its vibrant history with the opening of its first women’s sports bar, Rikki’s, a space dedicated to celebrating women’s sports and the legacy of local LGBTQ activism. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, co-founders Danielle Thoe and Sara Yergovich are set to open the new venue on Wednesday. The bar is located at 2223 Market St., previously occupied by Copas and other short-lived restaurants.
The opening reflects a passion project turned reality for Thoe and Yergovich, who are both involved with the San Francisco Spikes, an LGBTQ+ soccer team. After their frustration in finding local bars that would screen NWSL and WNBA games, they realized their dream. The Rikki’s Bar Instagram account announced the grand opening with a simple message: “We are so excited to officially open our doors this Wednesday, June 11th at 3:30pm and welcome you all to Rikki’s!”
Rikki’s promises a space where women’s sports can be enjoyed and honors the memory of Rikki Streicher, a co-founder of the Gay Games Federation and former owner of San Francisco institutions, Maud’s and Amelia’s. In an interview with Hoodline, Thoe highlighted the importance of reflecting the city’s rich history. “There’s a lot of history in San Francisco of women’s sports, of queer women, and activism,” she said, stating their preference to name the bar after someone “who was responsible for creating community and safe spaces.”
The founders of Rikki’s have had to navigate what Thoe described as “city hiccups” to get the bar off the ground. The sports venue is intended to offer a supportive and inclusive environment, with a design that will imbue a strong sense of local and sports history. Wendy Trotter, the interior designer, has visually captured the essence of women’s sports within the bar, while ensuring the presence of at least 15 televisions to cater to the sporting audience. The San Francisco Chronicle detailed the venue’s decor, which is adorned with memorabilia from local teams and a homage to Streicher herself.
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