W Sports Bar, Cleveland's First Women's Sports Bar, to Open in Gordon Square This Spring

by Douglas Trattner, Cleveland Scene

Cleveland might have lost its bid to Denver for the National Women's Soccer League expansion team, but reports say we are getting a new WNBA team, and the timing couldn't be better as Cleveland will also soon become home to the W Sports Bar, the city’s first women-owned sports bar.

It will open this spring in the former Banter spot in Detroit-Shoreway.

“With the growing demand for women’s sports and Cleveland’s sports culture thriving more than ever, it’s about time we have a spot dedicated to supporting and celebrating the athletes and fans who’ve longed for a place to call their own,” says management.

The ownership team consists of Cassy Kopp and Ally Eclarin of State Champs, a streetwear brand, and Shelley Pippin of Brewnuts. And while we’ve known of the team’s plans to open such a bar in town, we did not know until today where that bar would be located.

"We're officially getting this show on the road," Pippin said in an Instagram video this morning.

When it opens, W will offer a dedicated space for fans to watch women’s sporting events while providing a welcoming, vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for fans of all sports.

"Yes, we'll be showing all sorts of sports here," Pippin said in today's video. But the emphasis, of course, will be on making sure there's a dedicated showcase for women's sports.

"Cleveland women’s sports fans do not have a consistent space to call home to rally with other fans and show their love of the game," states management. "We plan to change that."