HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Mall will be getting a new addition that is not a new food spot or shopping store, but instead a popular activity: pickleball.
Pickleball Kingdom will be bringing a 15-court premium facility to the Holyoke Mall, 50 Holyoke St., moving into the former Bob’s Store space on the lower level near JCPenney.
Pickleball Kingdom currently has locations in several states but this is the first location in Massachusetts.
In May 2022, the first Pickleball Kingdom opened in Chandler, Arizona, with raving reviews from fans. It had the outdoor surfaces that everyone knows and loves, but with all the indoor benefits.
The idea of the business came from the founder to attempt to use the popularity of pickleball and elevate it by eliminating the outdoor variables like the sun, the wind, the rain, the heat, the cold and the waiting.
Founder Ace Rodrigues loved the sport, especially the spirit of it, but wanted to eliminate the downsides of playing outdoors. Since no ball in any sport is more affected by the wind, he thought it made sense to play indoors.
Pickleball X President Sheehan Lake talked about his excitement for expanding the business to Holyoke.
“We’re really excited,” Lake said. “It’s going to have a large mezzanine/viewing platform as well as the largest pro shop that Pickleball Kingdom has within our portfolio.”
Since the Pickleball Kingdom will be in a mall, Lake said, “We’re trying to mix the retail environment of the mall with the recreational side.”
The complex will have a dedicated space to ensure pickleball paddles, pickleball balls, Tapparel and anything pickleball will be for sale.
Over the last several years, the popularity of pickleball has increased across the country. Lake talked about the rising popularity and the reason for opening another location in Holyoke.
“One of the reasons we’re targeting the Massachusetts market is that we know not only will the weather support it, but the surge in pickleball popularity is only increasing day to day, and in Holyoke, there’s only going to be a certain amount of time you can play outdoors,” Lake said.
The new Pickleball Kingdom complex will attempt to bring a year-round pickleball facility to the region.
According to Lake, the target audience of pickleball used to be viewed as the “elderly realm” but since the popularity of the sport has only increased, he said, “that’s no longer the case and it’s now shifted to between the 20s and the 40s as the main players of the game.”
Lake said the hope is that the construction is completed in the middle or end of summer.
“We’re going to beat the cold weather,” Lake stated.
With the new Pickleball Kingdom set to open its first location in Massachusetts, Lake shared a message to Holyoke and neighboring communities.
He said, “I just know that we’re going to have readily available courts for all ages, talent level and we’re really excited to lead one of the top tier facilities in that area.”
Pickleball X is also actively looking for partners and franchisees in the Holyoke and Massachusetts area. More information can be found at pickleballkingdom.com/holyoke.
