Iowa is Getting Its First Sports Bar Dedicated to Women’s Sports

What better place to have a women's sports bar than the home state of Caitlin Clark?!

The popularity of women's sports has grown significantly over that past few years, but it's still not very common to find a bar that prioritizes showing women's games. That's where Heroics Sports Lounge comes in! A new article from the Des Moines Register reports that Heroics Sports Lounge will be Iowa's first bar dedicated to showing all women's sports.

About Heroics Sports Lounge

The idea for Heroics Sports Lounge was born after Jami Behun, who was having difficulty finding a local bar that would put on a WNBA game, visited a bar in Portland. After her trip to The Sports Bra a few years ago, a successful bar & restaurant that's dedicated entirely to women's sports, she knew she wanted to bring that concept to Iowa. She reached out about having a franchise location in Des Moines, but, unfortunately, the company decided against it (they are opening a St. Louis location, though!). That's when Jami took matters into her own hands.

Jami and her business partner Laquita Lucas have taken over the former home of Juniper Moon at 2005 Ingersoll Ave in Des Moines, and are preparing to open Heroics Sports Lounge. The main focus is to showcase all women's sports and create a "first-of-its-kind space that celebrates women’s athletics and inclusivity." A statement from Jami on the Heroics Lounge Instagram reads:

"...it’s about more than just a bar—it’s about empowering female athletes and creating a safe, welcoming place to celebrate them."

According to the Des Moines Register, Heroics Sports Lounge will have a similar layout to Juniper Moon, but they plan to brighten it up a bit. It will look more like a lounge than a typical sports bar, with plenty of couches and coffee tables, and it will feature more vibrant colors than the building's previous tenant.

Food & Drink Options

As a sports lounge, Heroics will obviously offer a variety of different beers, but the owners want to appeal to different tastes, too. They will also serve wine and specialty cocktails, and have Prosecco on tap!

Unfortunately, the space doesn't have a kitchen to prepare food, but Jami and Laquita are exploring other options to keep customers happy while they watch the game. The Register reports that they're considering partnering with other neighboring restaurants for delivery, as well as having food trucks stop by during big events.

When Will it Open?

As of right now, there is no official opening date for Heroics Lounge, but the hope is that it can open by Thanksgiving. To learn more about the new business, you can attend a pop-up event at Exile Brewing Co. in Des Moines on November 4th from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Check out the official event page HERE.

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