New owners are waiting at the plate to purchase Gym Sportsbar and Grill in West Hollywood. But they aren’t ordinary sports fans. Erik Braverman, the gay senior vice president of the Los Angeles Dodgers, right, and husband Jonathan Cottrell, left, along with an investor group, are poised to purchase the watering hole. Photo: Erik Braverman
New owners are waiting at the plate to purchase Gym Sportsbar and Grill in West Hollywood.
But they aren’t ordinary sports fans.
Erik Braverman, the gay senior vice president of marketing, communications, community relations, and broadcasting with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and husband Jonathan Cottrell, along with an investor group, are poised to purchase the watering hole.
As of Friday, the California Alcoholic Beverage Control said the prospective new owners’ license application to transfer the necessary licenses is still pending.
“Jonathan and I are excited to share this news publicly,” Braverman wrote on an Instagram post Wednesday. “We would also like to take a moment to recognize and thank our incredible partners, without whom this would not be possible. They all share the same enthusiasm and passion that we do for GYM Sportsbar and Grill West Hollywood.”
Gym Sportsbar is the first bar in the Los Angeles area dedicated specifically to gay sports fans and the LGBTQ community.
Braverman has worked with Gym Sportsbar to elevate LGBTQ sports fandom, as well as sports teams and leagues, in West Hollywood and Los Angeles, according to Outsports, which broke the story Wednesday.
Braverman and Cottrell, who married at Dodgers Stadium on Jan. 21, 2022, are regular patrons of Gym Bar.
“As stewards of Gym Sportsbar & Grill, our commitment is not just to preserve its legacy, but to enhance it, ensuring it remains a beacon of community, diversity, and excellence in West Hollywood,” Braverman and Cottrell, who live in West Hollywood, said in a statement to Outsports.
“Our vision is clear: to create an inclusive space that honors the past while embracing the future. Our goal is to elevate the experience for all who walk through our doors, fostering connections, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. We believe in the power of sports to bring people together, transcending differences and forging bonds that last a lifetime. At Gym Sportsbar & Grill, everyone is not just a patron, but a valued member of our vibrant community, where each visit feels like coming home.”
The Gym Sportsbar brand started as Gym Bar in New York in 2005.
The West Hollywood location opened on Oct. 2, 2009. The company closed the location shortly after celebrating 10 years in 2020.
In 2021, it reopened just down the street at the current location as Gym Sportsbar and Grill.
Rick Schmutzler, one of the founders of Gym Sportsbar, expressed confidence in Braverman and Cottrell, saying they are well-positioned to lead Gym Sportsbar into the future with new partnerships and opportunities, Outsports reported.
