The former Babies ‘R’ Us store in Manchester is being converted into pickleball courts, amid a national trend of retail space conversions into pickleball facilities in an effort to meet surging demand for the fast-growing sport.
Pickleball Kingdom, a national indoor pickleball court operator, is transforming the 30,681-square-foot store space into 10 professional-grade indoor pickleball courts. It will be the Arizona-based company’s first location in Connecticut.
The facility, located at 169 Hale Road, is expected to open in late 2025.
This new location is led by franchisees from the group Pickleball X Equity.
“Manchester is a thriving and dynamic community, and we are excited to bring Pickleball Kingdom to the area,” said Ace Rodrigues, founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom. “The leadership of Pickleball X Equity reflects our commitment to partnering with exceptional operators who share our vision of providing the ultimate pickleball experience.”
There will be professional coaching and clinics available to help players learn the game and improve their skills. Youth programs will be available.
Organized leagues and tournaments will provide opportunities for players seeking casual and competitive play.
Also, the facility will be used to host community and corporate events.
The expansion was spearheaded by Pickleball X Equity’s Mike Patel and Sanjay Patel, who have experience owning and managing diverse service businesses and franchises in New York City and Cincinnati.
“Pickleball’s rapid rise is truly inspiring, and our goal is to make this amazing sport accessible to as many people as possible,” Mike Patel said. “We believe that life is better with pickleball, and we’re excited to bring that vision to Manchester.”
Pickleball Kingdom says it is “the largest indoor pickleball entity in the world” with more than 350 franchises and a total of more than 5,250 courts.
Anyone interested in franchise opportunities can visit https://pickleballkingdom.com/franchise.
