The transformation of one of downtown Los Angeles’ biggest retail vacancies is finally taking shape as Ballers prepares a 101,000‑square‑foot flagship at The Bloc mixed-use development.
The deal, which backfills part of the four‑story hole left after Macy’s closed its 250,000‑square‑foot store in early 2025, has won a 2026 CoStar Impact Award, as voted on by judges with knowledge of the market.
The lease has become one of the most ambitious adaptive‑reuse efforts in DTLA. Ballers, already operating in Philadelphia and Boston, is using the project to establish its first West Coast location.
The new club brings a mix of racquet sports, wellness amenities and social spaces to the former department store. Plans call for 18 pickleball courts, four padel courts, five golf simulators, two small‑sided soccer pitches, retail, two bars, a restaurant and a dedicated recovery zone.
Ballers will occupy the third level of the old Macy’s and convert the building’s rooftop parking deck into additional athletic space. The property’s large floorplates and sturdy rooftop made it unusually well‑suited for this kind of operator.
By replacing traditional retail with an activity‑rich environment, the project aims to inject daily foot traffic and anchor a district evolving alongside thousands of nearby residents.
About the project: The city of Los Angeles granted a change of use to repurpose the building’s rooftop parking deck into sports courts — an unusual regulatory undertaking that enabled Ballers to expand its athletic programming across multiple levels.
What the judges said: "Losing a large tenant like Macy's is never easy. It has the potential to undermine the viability of the entire property. Just filling the space is a tremendous accomplishment. But finding a tenant that represents a different kind of use that points to the future of DTLA is just incredible," said DTLA Alliance Director of Economic Development Elan Shore.
They made it happen: KWP Real Estate Executive Vice President and Director of Brokerage Lee Shapiro; Vice President Justin Weiss; and Vice President Jack Nathan represented the landlord in the deal. RUE's Founder/Managing Partner Jeremy Zidell and Managing Director, National Strategy, John Mears represented the tenants in the deal.