Women’s sports bar finds location, sets sights on opening ahead of March Madness

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a first for Texas, a sports bar dedicated to women’s sports will open soon in Austin.

Co-founders Debra Hallum and Marlene Du Plessis have been working for about a year to bring the concept to life, and the finish line is now in sight.

Finding a location was the biggest obstacle to opening the bar, which was initially referred to ATX Women’s Sports Pub but was recently rebranded to 1972: ATX Women’s Sports Pub.

The hunt for its home is finally over, and the keys were handed over Thursday.

1972 found its future home at 2530 Guadalupe Street, formerly Moody’s Kitchen and Bar. The space is currently under renovation, but the sports pub hopes to open in time for March Madness.

As for Moody’s, the restaurant posted a story on Instagram Thursday stating it was closing due to a change in ownership.

“We love you guys and it was a good run,” the post said in part. “Don’t be down and stay in the mood ;)”

Moody’s addressed the ownership change in an email to KXAN Friday morning. “It was an extremely amicable process and change of ownership. Congrats and best luck to them, we are excited to see what they do with the place,” the email stated.

Hallum said their realtor reached out about the space and said the owners of Moody’s were pursuing other business endeavors, leaving the space up for grabs.

“So we, of course, started talking to them and making deals, and we’re very excited that they were willing to include us in that and sell it,” Hallum said.

A press release about 1972’s location said the pub will feature big screens showcasing women’s sports year-round, an extensive menu, and a welcoming vibe for all fans — that includes “men, the LGBTQ+ community, and allies.”

1972 will get to keep what Moody’s leaves behind, including furniture, TVs, projectors, etc. Hallum said the renovation of the space will focus on branding and doing some work on the bathrooms, but that picking up where Moody’s left off made the sports pub’s next steps much easier.

“That was one of our concerns going into this project, to go start brand new takes a lot of money,” Hallum said. “And if you find something like this where it’s a turnkey fee and we can do a quick turnaround, we get to open quicker. We get to start building the community quicker. So it was a real, a wonderful opportunity for us.”

The only thing that’s left is waiting for liquor licensing, and hiring staff. Hallum will be the general manager, and she already has a culinary director and bar manager/social media manager. Du Plessis is a teacher, and she’ll remain in the classroom for now, but she’s actively involved with the business and may eventually shift the focus of her career to the pub.

Hallum and Du Plessis previously told KXAN that opening a women’s sports bar was a “purpose project” for them, and it comes at optimal timing, with the popularity and viewership of women’s sports increasing over the last couple of years, the University of Texas at Austin recently entering the Southeastern Conference, and the city of Austin being a growing hub for professional sports.

“We’re excited to be at the campus because, let’s be honest, right? I mean, Austin has LOVB Volleyball now for professional women’s sports, and we have professional softball, but UT women’s sports is a huge focus in Austin, and it’s one of the reasons that Austin has such a great women’s sports fan base. So being here at the university and for the students is amazing to us,” Hallum said. “Now, we want to be clear, this space is for all, no matter your age, anything like that, whether you’re at UT or not, it’s for everyone. But yes, being at the campus will be a nice plus, and we’re excited about that.”

Professional women athletes have also reached out to 1972 asking how they can support it, and Hallum said a lot of athletes have donated signed jerseys, sneakers, balls, and other memorabilia, which will be incorporated into the pub’s decorations.

The pub was initially invested in by Hallum and Du Plessis personally, but they also have a crowdfunding campaign that will go toward helping the process of opening. It’ll be used on things like cleaning, painting, completing the remodel, etc., Hallum said.

The spotlight at 1972 is on women’s sports, and the name reflects that. It was named to commemorate the year Title IX was signed into law, which protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance, and ultimately allowed girls to participate in sports at school.

1972’s mission is equality and creating a “home” for women’s sports. Regardless of people’s gender identity, Hallum ensured the space will be for everyone.

“1972 is about women’s equality. It is about inclusion. It will be a space for everyone. While we are lifting female athletes up on our televisions and lifting women’s sports, it is a place for all women’s sports fans. So no matter who you are, how you identify, what gender, that doesn’t matter to us,” Hallum said. “Inside these doors. This is a safe, inclusive space to leave everything else out and come have some fun to watch a women’s sporting event. That’s what it’s all about for us, and having that community and that space.”

“At 1972, we’re not just building a pub—we’re building a movement. This is a space where women’s sports take center stage, and every fan, regardless of gender or identity, feels at home. Our goal is to celebrate the achievements of women athletes and foster a community where inclusion, equity, and the love of the game thrive,” Hallum said in a press release.