Still think pickleball’s a fad?
The number of eatertainment restaurant concepts built around pickleball is growing by the day. These new complexes are popping up all over the country, in addition to the early players that have attracted serious funding, such as Camp Pickle, which is being created by Punch Bowl Social founder Robert Thompson; Electric Pickle, from Eureka Restaurant Group; and Smash Park, which has private-equity funding behind it. Perhaps furthest along is Chicken N Pickle, of course, which plans to have 15 units by next year.
And in a first, a Sonic Drive-In in Canton, Texas, has reportedly opened with three pickleball courts, and a playground for kids.
Pickleball is said to be the nation’s fastest growing sport, and it’s one that appeals to all ages. It’s a particularly social activity that can bring together two or four players, as well as larger groups, leagues and round-robin play, offering opportunities for drinking and eating before, during and after games, from early morning through the dinner hour.
Here's a look at the growing number of players in this rapidly growing niche:
Aces Pickleball + Kitchen
This concept opened in Cincinnati earlier this year with five indoor and six outdoor courts, a full-service restaurant and bar, live music on weekends and a dog park. They plan to franchise.
On the menu are pickle- and jalapeno-stuffed hushpuppies (“Pickleballs”) , along with salads, sandwiches, plate meals (herb-roasted salmon with spinach, goat cheese and polenta) and desserts from local Fat Ben’s Bakery.
Rally in Charlotte, N.C. opened in June. |Photo courtesy of Rally.
Rally
In Charlotte, N.C., the flagship location of Rally opened in June. It’s 27,650-square-feet with four indoor and four outdoor courts with a dedicated players’ lounge served by two bars, a full-service restaurant and a coffee bar. There’s a pizza oven and a menu designed by executive chef Cory Chunn. The beverage program was created by mixologist Jackson Cannon.
This concept was founded by Meg Charity and Barrett Worthington, who plan more across the U.S. “We always envisioned Rally as a place where active Millennials like us could play pickleball in a vibrant, elevated social environment, all while enjoying premium cocktails and cuisine,” said Charity in a statement.
A rendering of Painted Pickle in Atlanta. |Rendering courtesy of Painted Pickle.
Painted Pickle
Atlanta-based Painted Hospitality is known for its eatertainment concepts The Painted Pin (bowling) and The Painted Duck (duckpin bowling and gaming). Now comes Painted Pickle, which they call a “pickleball compeatery,” scheduled to open in December.
The 32,500-square-foot indoor/outdoor venue is being built from a former armoury with eight courts and other games, like ping pong, bucketball and darts. There’s a full bar and a menu of small plates, salads, bowls, sushi, charcuterie boards and paninis.
Crush Yard in Charleston, S.C. |Photo courtesy of Crush Yard.
Crush Yard
Scheduled to open this month in Charleston, S.C., Crush Yard is first a 40,000-square-foot sports club with “pickleball coach to the stars” Matt “McNasty” Manassee leading classes and tournaments planned there. (He apparently coached Emma Watson and Larry David.) There’s also a menu of food, coffee and beer and members can order via app.
A second location is planned for Orlando, Fla., and scheduled to open in November in a former Bed Bath and Beyond.
“It’s a competitive advantage for us to use existing locations,” said Andrew Ladden, Crush Yard’s CMO in a statement. “We can get a Crush Yard operational in 10 months, instead of the typical two years it takes to build from the ground up. It costs us, and our communities, far less in the end.”
At Fault is scheduled to open next year. |Rendering courtesy of At Fault.
At Fault
Coming next spring to Dallas is At Fault, a 40,000-square-foot facility with six indoor and four outdoor courts, three bars with “elevated cocktails,” and a 3,600-square-foot restaurant with a menu created by Dallas chef John Franke, including shareable plates, sandwiches, burgers, salads and brunch offerings.
Partners include Chris Kostoulas, Bo Oh and Mario Simic, who are planning at least three more locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Pints & Paddle has a restaurant called Malone's. |Rendering courtesy of Pints & Paddle
Pints & Paddle
This 41,000-square-foot indoor complex opened in Maple Grove, Minn., this month with 10 courts, pour-your-own beverages and a restaurant called Malone’s Bar & Grill, offering appetizers (cheese curds with a side of hot honey for dipping) smashburgers, salads, wraps and bowls. There’s also a kid’s menu and ice cream treats.
Pickle Haus has plans for five in Chicagoland. |Rendering courtesy of Pickle Haus.
Pickle Haus
This is a joint venture between real estate developer Hubbard Street Group and athletic club owner/operator College Park Athletic Club, and at least three locations are planned for the Chicago area.
The first is scheduled to open in November in the suburb of Algonquin, in a 41,000-square-foot former furniture store. There will be 12 courts, two golf simulators, and a bar and restaurant with a menu designed by Sheamus Feeley of Family Is Food.
Smash Park has private-equity funding. |Rendering courtesy of Smash Park.
Smash Park
This concept by Smash Park Entertainment Group won a significant minority growth investment from private-equity firm DCA Partners earlier this year. Venues are open in West Des Moines and Pella, Iowa, and coming soon to Minnesota and Nebraska.
The first Camp Pickle will open in Colorado. |Rendering courtesy of Camp Pickle.
Camp Pickle
Scheduled to debut next year in Centennial, Colo., this concept was created by Punch Bowl Social founder Robert Thompson, who is also planning a second eatertainment concept called Jaguar Bolera (bowling), which will also have a pickleball component. The first Camp Pickle will be about 70,000-square-feet with indoor/outdoor courts, but it will also grow with a smaller-footprint variation.
Camp Pickle has influential investors, including The Simon Property Group, which is planning to open a Camp Pickle at a mall in Tulsa, Okla., in 2025.
A rendering of Electric Pickle. |Rendering courtesy of Knighthood Capital Management.
Electric Pickle
Eureka Restaurant Group is involved with this concept, along with Knighthead Capital Management LLC. Locations have broken ground in Las Vegas and Tempe, Ariz., and the concept is planning growth into markets that include Roseville, Calif., Katy, Texas, and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., so far.
These will be designed for 10 courts and private cabanas, as well as a 10,000-square-foot restaurant with a food-and-beverage program designed by the team that operates the 30-unit casual-dining Eureka concept.
Knighthead has also partnered with football champion Tom Brady and Tennis star Kim Clijsters to buy a Major League Pickleball team.
Chicken N Pickle
One of the first to this race, Chicken N Pickle was founded in Kansas City, Mo., in 2016 and has roughly 15 locations open or under development across seven states. This concept made the Restaurant Business Future 50 list this year, reporting systemwide sales of $21 million in 2022, with only seven units.
The indoor/outdoor complexes include a restaurant with a casual-dining menu featuring dishes like wood-fired chicken, burgers, salads, tiki drinks and beer.
UPDATE: This article was updated with new information from Pickle Haus.