Key Takeaways
- Bernell’s, a women’s sports bar, has opened in Madison with a mission to provide a space centered around women’s sports and blues music.
- The bar honors the legacy of Bernell Hooker, a women’s sports advocate and collegiate basketball coach, and the building’s deep blues music history.
- Bernell’s offers a unique blend of live music, women’s sports, and soul food, with plans to expand its menu and events.
- The bar faces a balancing act in maintaining its multiple identities, including scheduling conflicts between live music and sports events.
- Despite challenges, Bernell’s has seen a positive response from the community, with a diverse intersection of blues fans, women’s sports enthusiasts, and foodies.
Introduction to Bernell’s
Jodene Ruiz de Chavez twirled on the small dance floor at Bernell’s on a recent Thursday evening, letting the saxophone and electric guitar carry her away. The energy is strong inside Bernell’s, which opened in November with a mission of offering a space in Madison centered around women’s sports. Bernell’s owner, Rita Adair, sought to honor the legacy of her late wife, Bernell Hooker, a longtime women’s sports advocate and collegiate basketball coach. The bar is a testament to the growing movement to elevate women’s athletics and ensure equitable visibility and opportunities.
Honoring the Blues Legacy
The building that houses Bernell’s has a deep blues music history, having previously been home to the Knuckle Down Saloon, a staple blues venue known for its Thursday night jam sessions. Dan Resnick, the current building owner, began frequenting the saloon even before he purchased the property and was determined to keep the blues alive after the pandemic forced the saloon to close. When Adair discovered the vacancy, she promised to keep the blues, and Resnick agreed to rent the property to her. The two have since developed a strong partnership in running Bernell’s, with Resnick describing Adair as "unbelievably dedicated" and committed to preserving the blues legacy.
A Unique Blend of Music and Sports
Bernell’s offers a unique blend of live music, women’s sports, and soul food, with plans to expand its menu and events. The bar hosts live blues music on Thursday and Saturday nights, with a monthly Lesbian Pop Up Bar and a weekend brunch featuring soul food classics. The evening menu includes staples such as hamburgers, chicken wings, and onion rings, and the bar also hosts a Friday fish fry. While women’s sports anchor the TVs, the bar also shows major men’s games, positioning Bernell’s as both a space where women’s sports are guaranteed and an all-purpose gathering spot for the city’s big sporting moments.
The Blues Community
Thursday jam nights at Bernell’s kick off with a band playing for an hour, then the floor opens to anyone who wants to join. Musicians sign up on a simple list at the door, split into two columns for name and instrument. The bar fills a vital role in Madison’s music scene, providing a space where both longtime blues fans and aspiring musicians can connect and play music together. Steve Malin, who helped organize jam sessions at Red Rooster and now continues the tradition at Bernell’s, said the bar is a vital part of the city’s blues community. Bob Hjort, a longtime blues enthusiast, described the Madison blues community as family, and said that Bernell’s is a place where people can come together to enjoy music and socialize.
Navigating Competing Priorities
The central challenge for Bernell’s lies in maintaining its multiple identities, including scheduling conflicts between live music and sports events. Adair said that while some patrons enjoy both music and sports, some may skip a big game night if music is playing. Despite these challenges, Adair said the bar has seen an overwhelmingly positive response in its first six weeks, with strong energy and a diverse intersection of the Madison community. The bar continues to work to ensure women’s sports remain well represented, and Adair said that it takes a lot of planning to balance music, sports, and food. However, she is committed to making it work, saying that "if you know the blues, you know it’s a powerful genre of music that really leans into the soul of people and human experience."