New team for Sports Junction. From left, bar manager Alex Martin, Matt Cantrell and Rick Haygood, both managing partners, and Tony Westmoreland, an owner-operator. (By Thomas Bailey/The Commercial Appeal)



SHARE Artists Birdcap, right, and Gina Sposto, left, finish their mural behind Sports Junction. They call it "The Awkward Midtown Make-Out.''

By Thomas Bailey Jr. of The Commercial Appeal

Change is in the air, literally, for the relatively new sports bar/hookah lounge across from Overton Park's main entrance.

Sports Junction at 1911 Poplar changed hands this week. The new owners plan to eliminate the smoking and cigars, change the look and make the place a more traditional sports bar.

Better known as the building that once housed the Hi-Tone bar and before that Elvis Presley's martial arts instruction, the bar will remain open as it undergoes a renovation and rebranding over the next 45 to 60 days.

"It's going to be an all-ages location,'' said Tony Westmoreland, the new co-owner with Layne Featherngill. Westmoreland is also part-owner of Cooper-Young's Alchemy restaurant.

"We're taking out smoking. It's across from the zoo and Levitt Shell, we want to cater more to a family atmosphere and sports,'' he said.

Westmoreland had been consulting for the previous Sports Junction owner, Aman Devji, who became too busy with his convenience stores to devote enough time to Sports Junction, Westmoreland said.

"He gave me a good deal on the business,'' Westmoreland said. "He's a good guy to work with. An easy deal.''

The rebranded bar will put more focus on draft beers, may feature a front patio with views of the park, and offer valet parking.

"We love the area,'' Westmoreland said. "Centrally located. I love what Hi-Tone used to be and want to bring back bands.''

Westmoreland, his managing partners Rick Haygood and Matt Cantrell, and bar manager Alex Martin spent much of Wednesday taking inventory and cleaning up the place.

While they worked inside, artists Birdcap and Gina "Felipe'' Sposto applied the finishing touches to their spray-painted mural on the smooth retaining wall of the back parking lot.

In honor of Sports Junction, the pair painted a colorful bar scene they titled "The Awkward Midtown Make-Out.''

Wanting to depict a typical bar scene, the artists decided to show a man and woman kissing. The woman in the scene appears to be enjoying herself, but the male character clearly appears to be nervous.

"Anxiety ridden,'' Sposto said with a laugh. "My spirit animal,'' the self-deprecating Birdcap added.

Commercial real estate agent Tucker Beck of Crye-Leike Commercial was the sole broker involved in the long-term lease transaction. The landlord is Kang Rhee, who taught martial arts in the building to Elvis Presley.