A popular women’s sports bar is expanding, scoring a second location in Columbia City’s historic district this fall.
Rough & Tumble Pub, owned by Jen Barnes, will take over the former Columbia City Ale House at 4914 Rainier Ave.
According to the sports bar’s website, Rough & Tumble’s expansion comes as women’s sports gain global momentum. Since the bar opened in 2022, coverage of women athletes has risen from 3-5.5% to 16%, with projections reaching 21% by year’s end. Midway through 2025, the industry has already surpassed Deloitte’s $2.35 billion annual revenue forecast.
“When I launched Rough & Tumble less than three years ago, there wasn’t a single place dedicated to showing women’s and men’s sports equally. Opening a second location isn’t about ambition; it’s about meeting a clear demand. We’ve proven that women’s sports fans are a viable market and far more than a movement or a moment. Prioritizing gender equality isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart, sustainable business that redefines how women are valued far beyond sports,” Barnes said in a statement on the website.
Rough & Tumble offers a menu blending classic comfort food with inventive twists. Burgers, like the Reignstorm Burger and Celly Burger, showcase bold flavors. Sandwiches, including The Bird Chicken Sandwich and the OG B.L.A.T., feature fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Brunch at Rough & Tumble features dishes like the Shredder’s Ranchera Waffle, a potato waffle topped with cheddar and jack cheese, carnitas, queso, salsa roja, a sunny-side-up egg and lime crema. The menu also includes classic breakfast items such as sandwiches, waffles, pancakes and French toast.
The sports bar has a curated cocktail menu featuring drinks like the Fast Pitch Spritzer, made with vodka, rhubarb giffard, lemon and Timber City ginger beer; Play Like a Girl, with rye, Fast Penny Americano, Gran Classico and bitters; and Let Her Rip, a blend of gin, raspberries, Cointreau, lemon and simple syrup.
The bar highlights women-owned brewers with 17 draft options and offers bottled and canned beer, wine, nonalcoholic beer and cider.
The space will showcase a legendary gallery of women’s sports memorabilia.
“The success of Rough & Tumble belongs entirely to the fans who show up every day to celebrate the strength and power of incredible athletes. More than a sports bar, Rough & Tumble is a flywheel in the women’s sports ecosystem. We don’t just air the games, we amplify them generating hype, driving visibility and creating spaces where inclusive fandom thrives,” Barnes said.
Rough & Tumble Pub is set to open in October, though the exact date hasn’t been announced. For updates, visit the sports bar’s website and follow on Instagram and Facebook.
What Now Seattle reached out to the team, however, they have not yet responded. This article may be updated.
