The racket sport that's helped get countless Americans off their couches with just a paddle, a plastic ball and a fun name is also helping to reinvigorate suburban shopping malls.
The Picklr, a nationwide chain, is opening its second Northern California location next month in Fairfield, a town about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento.
The brand has inked an 18,500-square-foot lease at 1574 Gateway Blvd. in the Gateway Courtyard shopping center, across from the Solano Mall. The space previously housed a Party City until the brand shuttered in late 2024.
The Picklr is a membership-based indoor pickleball club chain that was started by former software executive Jorge Barragan and his friend Austin Wood in Utah in early 2021. The franchise chain has rapidly multiplied to more than 100 locations nationwide. The chain announced last year that it was planning an imminent expansion to Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada.
The Fairfield facility is set to feature seven pickleball courts, including a championship court, along with coaching technology powered by artificial intelligence, league play, tournaments and drop-in play opportunities.
“Our vision is to deliver a premium, year-round pickleball experience while creating a welcoming environment where players of all levels can connect," said Andy Eliopoulos, the owner of The Picklr Fairfield, in a statement.
The space has become increasingly crowded as companies offering indoor venues have multiplied for the sport that combines tennis, badminton and table tennis. Chains such as Picklemall, Pickleball America, Pickleball Kingdom, ACE Pickleball Club and PickleRage are expanding their reach across the nation. Meanwhile, Pickleball-anchored entertainment venues like Chicken N Pickle and Pickled seek to combine the sport with drinks, food and social spaces.
The new Fairfield Picklr outlet will feature a pro shop, grab-and-go food and beverage options as well as private event spaces, locker rooms and showers "for recreational and competitive players alike."
The chain's chief development officer, Chris Walker, said Fairfield "stood out to us for its strong demand for year-round recreational activities and its central location between Sacramento and the Bay Area, making it an ideal place to grow our community and expand access to indoor pickleball.”
For the record
JLL Senior Vice President John Brecher represented The Picklr in the lease deal.