Introduction to Level Sporting Club
It’s been nearly 25 years since Clarissa Flores was a standout basketball player at Northwestern University. Since then, the Chicago native has been building a lengthy resume in the hospitality industry. And since 2022, she’s been the director of operations at Tao Nightclub. But she’s going back to her roots with a goal of “leveling the playing field,” by prioritizing women’s sports with the launch of Level Sporting Club.
Concept and Objective
“We’re a Chicago sports bar where women’s sports takes center stage,” Flores said. “Just as we would walk into any regular Chicago sports bar and men’s sports is a priority… that’s going to be flipped here.” The 5,632-square-foot space at 3343 N. Clark St. is expected to open at the end of April. The bar will be near the heart of sports bars crowding around Wrigley Field.
The Venue
On Monday, Flores got the keys to her new space, which was previously home to the seafood boil restaurant Lowcountry. Remnants of the restaurant are everywhere — menu items are still etched into a chalkboard and Lowcountry’s checkered tables and chairs remain. But Flores, with a team of six female investors, is ready to start building out Level Sporting Club.
The basement of the old Lowcountry seafood restaurant will be renovated, as part of plans to turn the space into Level Sporting Club.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Background and Inspiration
It was a few years ago when Flores, 46, got the idea to open a bar dedicated to women’s sports. “Everything I’ve done in hospitality has… always been for the general market,” Flores said. “I wanted to do what I love and am passionate about but also do it for the community I love, like women’s sports.” She noticed other bars focusing on women’s sports were opening on the West Coast.
Investors and Support
The company gauged interest for their concept through pop-up events at bars like She-nannigans in Gold Coast. But it wasn’t until last year that her plans took off. Within a couple of months, she had a group of influential investors. Investors include Jennifer King, the first Black woman to become a full-time assistant coach in the NFL; University of Illinois Chicago head women’s basketball coach Ashleen Bracey; retired professional basketball player Janae Smith; former University of Chicago soccer player Patricia Dull; former Illinois State University basketball player Tiffany Hudson and former Massachusetts Institute of Technology basketball player Trinity Gao.
Growing Interest in Women’s Sports
Flores said in the last few years, more people have been supporting women’s sports than any other time. Though while at Whitney Young High School, a crowd of thousands came to watch her play the team’s 1997 championship game. “The interest has always been there,” she said. “Now all the media and everyone is starting to support it.”
Level Sporting Club’s Place in the Market
Level Sporting Club will soon join other bars that focus on showing women’s sports, such as Babes in Logan Square, which opened in 2025, and Edgewater’s Whiskey Tavern Girl that opened in 2022. “I’ve been to Babes. I go there to support,” she said. “So to me, that’s not competition. For me, [if] I had another Babes open up across the street, that would be amazing.”
The Space and Amenities
Flores found Level Sporting Club’s Lake View space — in the heart of an “entertainment corridor,” she said — towards the end of 2025. “I looked around on this first floor, and in my head, I already knew. I was like, ‘This is it,’” she said. The space can seat 188 people. The upstairs will have 10 TVs and a “homey” vintage aesthetic, she said. Downstairs will feature several more TVs and be designed to give a lounge vibe. There’s also plans to host events, including a piano singalong night.
Inclusivity and Menu
“Anyone that supports women’s sports [is welcome]. It doesn’t matter, male or female,” she said. “Do you support women’s sports? We want you in here.” Flores said she plans to show all Chicago sports during the season, even though women’s sports will take center stage. Chicago chef Amanda Barnes is also crafting the menu, including an item dubbed “shewich,” a play on the “manwich.”
Clarissa Flores, founder and CEO of Level Sporting Club
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Conclusion
Level Sporting Club is set to become a unique addition to Chicago’s sports bar scene, focusing on women’s sports and providing a welcoming space for fans of all genders. With its vintage aesthetic, lounge vibe, and inclusive atmosphere, it promises to be a hub for those passionate about women’s sports.
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