
We now know the home of San Francisco's first women's sports bar. Rikki's, a new sports bar celebrating women's sports will open in the Castro at 2223 Market Street, formerly Copas.
Rikki's is co-founded and owned by Danielle Thoe and Sara Yergovich. Thoe and Yergovich met while on the soccer pitch playing with the queer soccer club San Francisco Spikes.
Thoe and Yergovich tell Hoodline that Rikki's will open by May or June 2025.
Rikki's will open at 2223 Market St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
In recent years, women's sports bars have seen a surge in popularity across the country at places like The Sports Bra (Portland) and A Bar of Their Own (Minneapolis). In opening Rikki's, Thoe tells Hoodline "We wanted to open a women's sports bar to have a place to watch women's sports," said Thoe.
Rikki's is named after the late Rikki Streicher, the well-known political activist, LGBTQ leader, San Francisco bar owner (Maud's and Amelia's), and founder of the Federation of Gay Games.
"There's a lot of history in San Francisco of women's sports, of queer women, and activism," said Thoe.
While they could have named the bar after a sports term, Thoe explained, "we wanted the name to reflect the history that's here in the city."
Rikki's co-founders and owners Danielle Thoe and Sara Yergovich. | Photo courtesy of Rikki's
After researching and coming across Streicher's history, Thoe and Yergovich said they wanted to name it after someone "who was responsible for creating community and safe spaces."
While not exclusively a lesbian or queer woman's bar, Rikki's will be open to everyone while focusing its programming on women's sports. "Rikki's will be an inclusive place and anyone is welcome," said Thoe.
In choosing the Castro, Yergovich noted, "There haven't been any spaces in the Castro for women's sports."
Since announcing their plans to open Rikki's last August, Yergovich and Thoe have hosted about a dozen women's sports watch parties around the city at venues like Standard Deviant, Richmond Republic, and Patriot House.
The WNBA and NWSL watch parties have been packed, with over 200 people in attendance. "Having watch parties helped figure out what size space we needed," said Thoe.
While women's sports are broadcast nightly, Yergovich explained that it can often be difficult to find a bar that will actually show the games. "We decided it was the best moment to open a women's sports bar."
And Rikki's will be opening just in time for the inaugural season of San Francisco's WNBA Golden State Valkyries.
Rikki's watch party at Standard Deviant. | Photo: Rikki's/Instagram
Professional, collegiate, or international women's sports will be on the screens on any given night. Games featuring local teams like the 49ers, Giants, and Warriors will also be available. "We want to prioritize women's sports, but not exclusively show them," said Thoe.
Rikki's will open just five doors away from popular gay sports bar Hi Tops (co-owned by Dana Gleim) and nearby Bar49, Detour, and Lookout. Thoe and Yergovich see that as an advantage for the area. "It's exciting to have a collection of businesses that can support each other," said Thoe.
Thoe said they've already reached out to Hi Tops and Bar49, and "They have been excited and supportive."
Capacity for the space sits around 170 people. Thoe and Yergovich are not planning to make any big changes inside the space besides some minor aesthetic and seating changes.
Carole Migden (left), Rikki Streicher (center), and Louise Renne (right) at a dinner honoring Streicher (1994). | Photo courtesy of SFPL
Customers can expect a minimum of 15 televisions dedicated to sports, along with a variety of memorabilia devoted to Streicher and other Bay Area women's sports leaders.
A large landscaping rock installed by Nomica in 2016 has remained throughout all the changes at the space. The rock stirred up a bit of controversy in 2019 and has gained a cult following. Thoe and Yergovich tell Hoodline they have "no design plans for the rock."
A full food menu is currently being developed but you can expect "small, but delicious elevated bar food with made-from-scratch items," said Thoe. Thoe and Yergovich have partner with JD Voss, former owner of SoMa gastropub Jamber, to develop the menu.
Rikki's will offer a full bar with draft beers and cocktails. Transferring the liquor license from the landlord is underway.
Amelia's bar at 647 Valencia St. (1988), one of SF's lost lesbian bars. | Photo: Max Kirkeberg (SFSU)
While Rikki's prepares to open, Yergovich and Thoe continue to fundraise through Wefunder. They have raised approximately $246,000 of a $425,000 goal.
Hoodline readers will recall Copas closed last year after less than three years.
The space at 2223 Market has seen a great deal of turnover in the 12 years since neighborhood favorite 2223 Restaurant closed in 2012. Since then, it’s housed five restaurants, none lasting longer than a few years: Jake’s on Market, Pesce, Nomica, Izakaya Sushi Ran, and Copas.