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PickleMall Propose Facility At Vernon Hills, IL

Adam HowarthBy Updated:3 Mins Read
Image courtesy of picklemall.com
Image courtesy of picklemall.com

An ex-toy store in Vernon Hills, a suburb north of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, could be converted to an indoor pickleball facility by the end of the year.

Cutting Edge-Pickleball Facility

In an exciting venture, the former Toys R Us outlet is set to be reborn as a cutting-edge indoor pickleball facility by the year’s end. 

PickleMall Inc., spearheaded by Steve Kuhn, founder of Major League Pickleball, is propelling this transformation with plans to establish its inaugural Midwest center within the Townline Commons shopping center.

Courts in a PickleMall facility - image courtesy of Vernon Hills
Courts in a PickleMall facility – image courtesy of Vernon Hills

Building on the success of the 24-court facility in Tempe, Arizona, we reported on back in August, PickleMall is determined to seize the booming pickleball trend. The startup has formed an ambitious plan to launch 50 PickleMalls across the nation over the next two years.

This innovative approach integrates repurposed mall spaces, innovative technology for player enhancement, and an unwavering passion for the sport.

Riding The Pickleball Wave

With pickleball’s continuing rise, private ventures are stepping up to meet the demand that public agencies and park districts traditionally cater to. Sure Shot Pickleball is readying 11 indoor courts in Naperville, while Algonquin is set to welcome Pickle Haus, a unique pickleball-themed restaurant boasting 12 indoor courts.

The projected PickleMall usage won’t be limited to casual play. Alongside drop-in options, memberships will offer various perks, and both in-person training and online coaching/analysis of gameplay videos will be available.

The connection with Steve Kuhn raises expectations of hosting professional competitions within this pickleball haven.

Enthusiastic Support

Despite the pending approvals, Vernon Hills’ village board has shown enthusiastic support for this groundbreaking initiative. CEO West Shaw sees Vernon Hills as PickleMall’s flagship location, aiming to create a premier facility that caters to the soaring demand for pickleball courts. As Shaw points out, the sport’s rapid growth has resulted in a significant gap between supply and demand.

Concept drawing of the Vernon Hills facility - image courtesy of Vernon Hills
Concept drawing of the Vernon Hills facility – image courtesy of Vernon Hills

The village’s advisory planning commission is set to convene a public hearing on PickleMall’s special-use request and architectural plans at the village hall. This event marks a crucial step toward realizing the vision of transforming a retail space into a thriving hub for pickleball enthusiasts.

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When I first started writing about pickleball, I hadn't appreciated the huge range of related features it encompasses: from building communities and players fighting against court closures to overcoming health challenges and raising money for charity, it's a whole new world! I love the stories about the smaller towns from the farthest-flung corners of the U.S. and how those residents have adopted pickleball to create friendships and community spirit.

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