Before opening Bush League Sports Tavern in Northpark Mall, Jimmy “J” Mays and Chris Kana looked at a cross-section of metro restaurants and, according to Mays, “…realized there is a massive gap where locally owned sports bars are concerned, especially family friendly sports bars.” As Oklahoma City continues to expand its sports offerings, the opportunities for local operators to offer gathering places for hungry fans should increase proportionately, and Bush League is one of the first to move into that dining space.
“We thought Oklahoma City had a need for a family friendly sports bar,” Kana said. “But more than that, we wanted to focus on improving the quality of food you typically find in a sports bar, so we designed Bush League to be a place you can come watch the game with friends or family and still get a great meal.”
Kana and Mays are two of the owners of Killer Squid Hospitality (Cafe 7, Dado’s, The Hamilton), and in addition to creating a relatively large, 6800-square-foot restaurant with 42 televisions, two golf simulators, pinball, claw machines, and a live sports ticker, they also leaned into the explosion of interest in women’s sports.
“We have been here with The Hamilton for several years already,” Mays said, “and seeing the demographics of the people who matriculate around Northpark, we knew we had to be intentional in creating a space that appealed to women, and I have to admit I’m still shocked at the number of women’s friend groups who come in to watch a game and drink wine. We’re thrilled to have created a space for everyone.”…