SPORTS PUBS

In Salt Lake City, a place where bar culture was largely a man’s game, one woman dared to rewrite the rules. Bridget Gordon, a veteran bartender, found herself at a crossroads in 2009 when Port O’ Call, the iconic Salt Lake nightclub where she had worked for years, was forced to close. For Gordon, nearing fifty and aware that most bars were looking for young, trendy faces, the future seemed uncertain. It was her husband who sparked an idea that would soon change her life and the local bar scene. “Why don’t you open your own place?” he asked. And with that, the vision for Green Pig Pub began to take shape.

Building her own bar was far from simple, particularly in Utah, where the bar industry has long been dominated by men. Gordon faced roadblocks at every turn, starting with financing. “Getting a small business loan was nearly impossible,” she recalls. In a state where certain financial processes still required a husband’s name on official forms, Gordon found herself unwilling to risk her husband’s business to achieve her dreams. But rather than giving up, she took matters into her own hands — literally. She mortgaged her house and, when that money ran out, sold both her car and her motorcycle. Her determination was unwavering, and within a mere ten weeks of starting construction, the Green Pig Pub was ready to open its doors.

The 2009 grand opening drew crowds of Salt Lake’s downtown community, fueled by both Gordon’s long-standing clientele and the buzz around her ambitious leap into ownership. “I called in every favor I had,” she says, laughing about the friends and patrons who showed up to support her. The pub’s name, Green Pig, was more than just a catchy title — it represented her commitment to sustainability and environmental consciousness. Gordon had carefully chosen recycled materials for construction, installed low-flow water systems, and set up a waste management plan focused on recycling. Even former Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker praised the pub’s green initiatives, further cementing the Green Pig as a community staple with a conscience.

But Gordon’s journey was more than just building a pub; it was about breaking into an industry known for being a “boy’s club.” Most of Salt Lake’s bars were male-owned, and Gordon initially felt like an outsider. She put in the time to build relationships with other bar owners, navigating a network that was tight-knit and sometimes exclusive. “The state of Utah isn’t an easy place to own a bar due to all the fun rules and restrictions they put on us,” she explains, referring to Utah’s unique liquor laws that require bar owners to follow complex rules around serving and selling alcohol. The relationships she built with other bar owners proved invaluable, helping her find camaraderie in a challenging business landscape.

Despite her ground-breaking emergence into this male-dominated world, Gordon acknowledges why few women own bars or restaurants in Utah, citing the demanding hours as a major factor. “Not to stereotype us, but we are still the caretakers, especially in Utah,” she explains. “In the beginning, I was pulling eighteen-hour shifts, seven days a week. I went nine months without a single day off.” For Gordon, the timing was right— her children were grown, and her husband was supportive — but she understands the toll that long hours can take on families and relationships. Her grit was the key to establishing the Green Pig, but she admits her path is one she wouldn’t necessarily recommend to others.

The pub’s success didn’t mean her challenges were over, though. Once Gordon was out of debt, she made a promise to herself: never again would she take out a loan for a business project. Every renovation and improvement she’s made to the Green Pig since has been paid for in cash, a decision she stands by, especially after witnessing the financial strain that events like the pandemic and subsequent labor shortages have placed on small businesses. “You don’t know what the future is going to bring,” she says, noting that staffing has become increasingly difficult in recent years. By keeping her finances as self-sustaining as possible, Gordon has positioned the Green Pig to withstand the ebb and flow of an unpredictable industry.

Today, Green Pig Pub stands as a testament to Gordon’s resilience and her unwillingness to let the odds stacked against her. Situated in the heart of Salt Lake City, the pub is more than just a place for drinks — it’s a hub for community gatherings, live music, and sports fans. The rooftop patio, a cherished feature of the pub, offers stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains and Salt Lake’s skyline, drawing patrons who want to unwind while overlooking the city. With every detail carefully curated, from eco-friendly practices to community-oriented events, Green Pig Pub embodies Gordon’s values of sustainability, inclusivity, and community.

Gordon’s story resonates with locals not just because she built a successful pub, but because she represents something rare: a female entrepreneur who made it in a tough, male-dominated industry through sheer determination and sacrifice. She didn’t just open a bar — she created a space that reflects her unique vision and values. “It was difficult as a woman,” she admits, reflecting on her journey. Yet, that difficulty is precisely what has made Green Pig a special place in Salt Lake’s downtown scene. As Gordon looks to the future, she remains grateful for the patrons who keep coming back and the friendships she’s built along the way.

Today, the Green Pig Pub isn’t just about food, drinks, or even the environment. It’s about resilience, a refusal to conform to traditional barriers, and the spirit of community that Gordon has fostered through her pub. In an industry known for its challenges, Gordon’s Green Pig stands tall, a reminder that with passion, hard work, and a little bit of audacity, one woman can truly make a mark — even in a “boy’s club.”