Marsha’s Sports Bar
430 South St.
Philadelphia
Sept. 19, 2025
The opening of Marsha’s Sports Bar marks only the 18th bar of its kind dedicated to women’s sports in this country. It was important for owner and founder Chivonne Anderson to open a space in her native Philadelphia because, as she puts it: “We as a community, as a city, needed a space for professional female athletes to be highlighted and honored; a space that brings people together to support them and watch them play.” So when the universe presented Anderson with the opportunity to not just open a bar committed to women's sports and queer community, but to own the space outright, she jumped on it.
The day finally arrived for Marsha’s to open with all the pomp and circumstance that the first of its kind bar in the state of Pennsylvania deserved. On Friday, Sept. 19th, Anderson was joined by not only her staff, but a representative from the mayor’s office, a representative from the governor’s office, the local head of the South Street business districts, and Philadelphia’s first out city council member, Rue Landau for the official ribbon cutting to christen the new establishment.
Carmen Daley and her wife Caitlin Daley arrived an hour before the ribbon cutting on Friday, camping out in lawn chairs by the growing line for entry to the bar. Joining them were upwards of 70 other patrons itching to get into Marsha’s. Carmen talked about their travels to the other women's sports bars in the country: “We’ve gone to Portland just to check out the “Sports Bra” and to Cleveland to visit “The W." We are so excited for one to open here in Philly.” They had packed their chairs in backpacks in preparation for the XPN Music festival taking place across the river that they planned to check out after grabbing a quick drink at Marsha's. “We’ll be back after the festival to watch the Liberty v Mercury WNBA playoff game with some friends tonight,” Caitlin said. I don’t know if they ever made it back in to the bar, as reports from other patrons mentioned a line remaining around the block until well after 10 p.m. Friday night. The line stretched down the block all weekend long.
The space is a smaller spot located in the heart of the South Street district with warm vibes; it's loaded with memorabilia from Philadelphia sports franchises and with artifacts of LGBTQAI+ history, including a larger-than-life painting behind the bar of the venue's namesake Marsha P. Johnson, the gay liberation activist from the 1960’s. The interior design makes space for everyone interested in cheering on their favorite athletes to find a front row seat: Beyond bar stools are high top tables, a lounge in back with a row of stadium seating, and a standing corridor with windows that open up onto Passyunk Avenue.
I returned on Sunday to check out the vibes during the first Eagles football game of the bar’s tenure. I arrived no more than 10 minutes after opening to a fully packed bar decked with mostly female fans dressed in classic Eagles green, ready to tipsily celebrate in the comfort of their community. I found my way to the back lounge area where I encountered Martha McCloud sitting with her friends Stefani Williams and Tess Fellows as they nursed their first drinks of the day. “I was a stan before I got here, but I stan even harder now that I’m inside,” Martha told me. “There are so many cuties here. This isn't technically a lesbian bar, but it is the closest we’ve got here in Philadelphia, so this is our spot now... I can’t wait to be a regular. All my going-out money will be poured into Marsha’s.” Next to us another patron, Adam, chimed in: “ Why would we go anywhere else? I’m excited for a queer community that's not centered around cis men. Going to Woody’s [a gay bar in Center City] these days is basically like going to a gay themed straight bar.”
As the Eagles game finally kicked off, I found my way to Anderson, who was putting in the work clearing tables and laminating the new food and drink menus. I asked her how she felt now that the bar has opened: “It’s been incredible! I’m blown away by the amount of positivity and the amount of ‘thank you's’ I’ve received for opening this bar,” she said. Right now, her focus is making sure the bar runs smoothly and safely, ensuring a familiar and protected space for the queer community to gather. Lastly, I asked her what she recommended to eat: “Get the fried bologna sandwich, it’s so delicious," she responded without hesitation. I ordered that along with a Diet Coke that came in a custom green Eagles cup with a Marsha’s “M” logo emblazoned on the side. A reasonably priced $11 sandwich arrived quickly with a side of tots, and it did not disappoint. Paired with pickled onions, some lettuce, and a cheese sauce, the sammy hit the spot and reinvigorated me to cheer loudly throughout the first half of the football game.
Before I headed out, I met patrons Gianna Puleo and Alyssa Beebe, both of whom came in from South Jersey, sitting at the end of the bar. “We just love sports, and especially women’s sports, so we had to come check out Marsha’s,” Puleo said. Beebe added: "We love being able to patron and support black, queer owned businesses whenever we can, the community needs to support the community. It’s such a power move to open this bar, It really sets the tone for the [queer] community... and it’s wonderful to not be constantly hit on by men while we enjoy our drinks and watch sports." Emily Haymen, a new friend of theirs, stopped by and asked if they wanted another shot of tequila.
She contributed to the conversation: “This is one of the best things that’s ever happened to Philly,” she says, “And I was here when the Eagles won the Superbowl!”
