Pickleball is sweeping through Central Ohio. A second dedicated pickleball facility has announced its intentions for Columbus, with the first phase of Pickle & Chill opening this October at 880 W. Henderson Rd.
Created by David Kass, Continental Real Estate president & founder and chairman of Continental Hospitality Group, and his wife Cari, Pickle & Chill will include 11 indoor and outdoor pickleball courts and other outdoor games, as well as a bar and restaurant. The address is also home to Tennis Ohio, which David opened in 2020 as a coaching facility, and it will continue operations.
“We have always been a tennis family but in the past few years we have become really excited about pickleball as well, ” David said. “For one reason – unlike tennis or many other racquet sports – it’s so easy to jump right in and, inside of an afternoon, you can master the basics and play a fun, competitive game with your friends.”
Pickle & Chill will open in two phases. A 25,000 square foot venue housing six courts will open this October. Phase two will see the build out of five outdoor courts, Pickle & Chill’s bar and lounge area and additional outdoor spaces.
The indoor and outdoor courts will be connected via garage doors and windows. Multiple food offerings will be available throughout the space, with indoor seating for 150-200 guests and additional space to take in the action outdoors.
Construction is slated to wrap up on phase two in summer 2023.
“There is currently no place in Columbus – or Ohio – to casually hang out and play pickleball, combined with a fun eating and drinking experience,” David said. “That’s where Pickle & Chill comes in.”
While it may be the first, it won’t be the only. The Real Dill Pickleball Club announced its plans for a Polaris facility in April. Offering video games, wiffle ball, ping pong, shuffleboard and more in addition to pickleball courts, The Real Dill is aiming for a late 2023 opening. It will also have an on-site bar and restaurant.
Pickle & Chill shares that pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S., describing it as a combination of tennis, ping-pong and badminton. The sport requires a variation of a ping-pong paddle and a wiffle ball, with tennis courts easily retrofitted to pickleball standards.
Columbus will see some of the best of the best in Pickleball as Pickle & Chill plans to host the Major League Pickleball Tournament following its opening in mid-October. The facility will also host leagues and tournaments and offer court rentals and parties.
For more information, visit pickleandchill.org.