INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. ” Patrons sat spaced across Rookies Bar and Grill Tuesday morning, listening as President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech sounded in unison through more than 10 televisions.

Obama’s speech ended on those words and those gathered around the televisions began to break off into conversation about his first speech as president.

“That last 30 seconds, the power of that, it was powerful ” it gave me hope,” said Sara Hanson, as her eyes still with tears.

The televisions at Rookies showed scenes of people praying, crying and nodding as the nation’s fourth youngest and first African-American president spoke about choosing “hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”

“It felt real,” Hanson’s husband Steve Hanson said. The couple has lived in Incline Village for 20 years. “It felt empowering. It was a call to action, to basic American values ” fairness, the pursuit of happiness and freedom.”

As the crowd at the National Mall broke into applause, tears and flag waving, so did patrons and employees at Rookies.

“I had tears in my eyes,” said Diego Galindo, Rookies general manager. “It was outstanding. It was a sign of hope on all levels.”