An indoor pickleball operator, Blaze Pickle LLC, has received zoning approval to open seven courts in the former Local Market in Newington.
Blaze Pickle applied for a special permit to change the use of the 33,000-square-foot space at 175 Lowrey Place from retail to recreational.
On Wednesday night, the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the application.
The 9.8-acre property, owned by Lowrey Place Realty LLC of Plainview, New York, contains a commercial plaza with a footprint of 64,000 square feet. Blaze Pickle will occupy the anchor space; the rest of the plaza contains a variety of small retail stores.
Newington will be the business’ second location. Last year, Blaze Pickle launched its first location in a former Walmart in Guilford.
Blaze Pickle, whose principal is Jim Burda of Glastonbury, has an agreement with the landlord to lease the space, according to a project narrative submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The planned hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Private parties could be booked in advance on weekends between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Blaze Pickle said it expects to hire up to 20 part-time service desk workers and certified pickleball professionals.
Construction will entail laying seven pickleball courts over the existing floor, which means as many as 28 people could play at a time. The landlord has also made improvements to the parking lot, which contains about 300 spaces.
