Jen Barnes

Jen Barnes courtesy Rough & Tumble

ON WHAT REGULARS LOVE ABOUT THE PUB

Number one is the sense of community. I’m so honored that the community has made us succeed. Because this was a new concept, I was able to design it in a way that reimagined how we watch sports together. I wanted to show that women get space to take up—we can have a sports pub with high ceilings, a deck, and great TV viewing but also tall windows that open.

ON WOMEN’S SPORTS IN SEATTLE

This is genuinely the greatest women’s sports city in the world. We have founded and built two of the best franchises, with the WNBA Storm and the NWSL Reign FC—and we have the brand-new PWHL Seattle Torrent team. We’ve been growing women’s sports here for 25 years. Young kids now see this as the norm, so we have this incredible fan base.

ON SALMON BAY FC

I’m one of the owners in a group that’s also behind the men’s Ballard FC, and Salmon Bay FC, Seattle’s first pre-professional women’s soccer team. The season is May through July, and tickets sell out fast—try to get them early. We also air every game at Rough & Tumble.

ON BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT WOMEN’S SPORTS

There are a bunch that have been adopted by and support the women athletes in town, including Café Flora and Hood Famous Bakeshop. If you’re in town when Vino FC is doing a tasting (usually the second or third Sunday of the month), it’s definitely worth hitting—it’s owned by former Sounders FC player Kelyn Rowe, who’s a great supporter of the women’s teams. Stoup Brewing and Yonder Cider are two of my women-owned mainstays for fantastic beer and cider.

ON WHAT TO DO IN TOWN

As a fourth-generation Seattleite who grew up on Bainbridge Island, my favorite thing is catching the ferry there from downtown. It’s stunning any time of year, and it’s the cutest beach town for wine tasting, shopping, a meal, or a beach picnic. Pro tip: The ride back gives you a gorgeous view of the skyline and Mount Rainier. Also, rent a kayak on Lake Union, go to the Ballard Sunday farmers market, and get tickets to a Reign FC, Storm, or PWHL Seattle Torrent game!