The Ballard women’s sports bar Rough & Tumble is getting ready to open its second location in Columbia City.
Owner Jen Barnes opened Rough & Tumble in Ballard in December 2022, at 5309 22nd Ave NW in the former Sawyer Space. The new location will occupy the longtime home of Columbia City Ale House, on Rainier Avenue South, the The Washington Beer Blog reports.
Barnes announced the expansion on the Rough & Tumble website, saying that women’s sports is getting far more airtime in recent years—even since opening in Ballard.
Rough & Tumble’s expansion comes as women’s sports surge globally. When it opened in 2022, just 3-5.5% of global sports media coverage was dedicated to women athletes. In less than three years, that number has climbed to 16% today – a number projected to reach 21% before year end. And, just six months into 2025, the global women’s sports industry surpassed Deloitte’s initial annual revenue projection for the year of $2.35 billion.
“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,” Barnes said about the expansion. “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.”
The Columbia City Ale House closed on Wednesday after 25 years. Rough & Tumble plans to open there in October.
Photo: Rough & Tumble in Ballard (courtesy Rough & Tumble)