Pickleball UnionPickleball Union
  • Pro Community
  • News
    • Recent Posts
    • Interviews
  • 101
    • Pickleball 101
    • Where To Play
    • Rating Quiz
  • Training
    • All Training Posts
    • Injury Prevention & Recovery
    • Pickleball Ratings
    • Strategic Stretching for Pickleball
  • Gear
    • All Reviews & Guides
    • Beginner Paddles
    • Intermediate Paddles
    • Advanced Paddles
    • Aesthetic Paddles
    • Pickleball Nets
    • Pickleball Eyewear
    • Pickleball Machines
  • Newsletter

Staying in the pickleball loop just got easier

Get the 5-minute newsletter over 40,000+ of your pickleball friends read every week.

By subscribing you agree to the Pickleball Union's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions
Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook X (Twitter)
Pickleball UnionPickleball Union
  • Pro Community
  • News
    • Recent Posts
    • Interviews
  • 101
    • Pickleball 101
    • Where To Play
    • Rating Quiz
  • Training
    • All Training Posts
    • Injury Prevention & Recovery
    • Pickleball Ratings
    • Strategic Stretching for Pickleball
  • Gear
    • All Reviews & Guides
    • Beginner Paddles
    • Intermediate Paddles
    • Advanced Paddles
    • Aesthetic Paddles
    • Pickleball Nets
    • Pickleball Eyewear
    • Pickleball Machines
  • Newsletter
Instagram TikTok YouTube Facebook X (Twitter)
Pickleball UnionPickleball Union
Home»Pickleball News»The Pickleball Eatertainment Concept Continues To Attract Investment

The Pickleball Eatertainment Concept Continues To Attract Investment

Adam HowarthBy Adam Howarth08/27/2023Updated:08/29/20233 Mins Read
Image courtesy of 303magazine.com
Image courtesy of 303magazine.com
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

An innovative concept envisioned by Robert Thompson, the founder of Punch Bowl Social, is poised to make its debut next year, creating huge interest and investment from notable players in the restaurant and pickleball worlds.

Major Players

Camp Pickle, a unique eatertainment space, has successfully secured $200 million in growth capital from some major players, including Simon Property Group, a leading mall operator, along with pickleball-focused venture capital firms Good Alpha and Align Capital Partners.

Image courtesy of playcamppickle.com
Image courtesy of playcamppickle.com

The infusion of capital, garnered at the parent company and unit level has paved the way for additional development and expansion opportunities.

Camp Pickle stands out as a flagship brand under Thompson’s platform company. According to Restaurant Business, the concept will materialize in Centennial, Colorado, in the fall of 2024, showcasing two distinct formats for expansion:

A larger campus spanning 70,000 square feet will encompass indoor and outdoor courts, while a more compact 40,000- to 48,000-square-foot variant aims to penetrate urban markets.

A Scratch Kitchen

A significant emphasis on a comprehensive food-and-beverage operation, comprising a scratch kitchen, is projected to constitute around 80% of total sales.

Coming in 2024: Camp Pickle 🏢

➖ 55,000+ sq. ft.
➖ Indoor, outdoor courts
➖ Scratch kitchens
➖ Duckpin bowling, darts
➖ 1940s rustic “summer camp vibe”

The first locations are planned for Huntsville, AL and Denver, CO. pic.twitter.com/cUpXBD0iWr

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 21, 2022

Camp Pickle’s offerings will extend beyond pickleball, potentially integrating elements from Jaguar Bolera, another of Thompson’s eatertainment concepts. This pairing will provide such diverse recreational experiences as bowling, darts, and karaoke to complement the pickleball angle. Likewise, Jaguar Bolera may incorporate pickleball courts into its locations.

Simon Property Group’s involvement encompasses a forthcoming Camp Pickle establishment adjacent to a mall in Tulsa, Oklahoma, slated to open in the second quarter of 2025. 

Strategic Positioning

Further prospects for Camp Pickle locations within Simon malls are being explored, accompanied by Simon’s equity investment in the parent company.

The participation of Good Alpha, an investor with a strong foothold in the pickleball domain, adds to the concept’s strategic positioning. Good Alpha’s portfolio demonstrates their substantial interest in the sport, with entities like Major League Pickleball and the Mad Drops Pickleball Club among their interests.

The success of Camp Pickle’s funding, paired with the synergistic relationship with Simon Property Group, indicates a dynamic future for this pioneering eatertainment concept. With anticipated locations spanning Centennial, Tulsa, Denver, Huntsville, Alabama, and Charlotte, North Carolina, Thompson envisions a robust expansion trajectory with aspirations for 10 locations in development by 2027.

Concept Drawing courtesy of playcamppickle.com
Concept Drawing courtesy of playcamppickle.com

Recent Growth

The convergence of pickleball’s sociable nature, rising demand for venues, and the fusion of recreation and dining have triggered this recent growth of innovative eatertainment concepts. 

As the Camp Pickle venture evolves and the concept prepares for its much-anticipated launch, it shows how entertainment, sports, and hospitality can intersect in a pioneering, engaging, and, of course, profitable way.

Click here to read more of our articles featuring the Camp Pickle story.

smart mag child\assets\img\YouTube Thumbnail Featured Image.jpg

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Camp Pickle Eatertainment Robert Thompson
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn
Previous ArticleVlogger David Dobrik Holds Charity Pickleball Tournament
Next Article The Home Of White Chocolate And The Birth-Control Pill Getting Full Use From Its New Courts!
Adam Howarth

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.

Improve your game and stay connected to the sport you love.
Get the 5-minute newsletter over 40,000+ pickleball fanatics swear by.
By subscribing you agree to the Pickleball Union's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions
profile

"Y'all have one of the best newsletters in the game!"
- Jack Munro

image
profile

"Y'all have one of the best newsletters in the game!" - Jack Munro

Related Posts

PKL Social - image courtesy of Becca Wright

Serve, Smash, Socialize: Inside Houston’s Newest Pickleball Hotspot

Image courtesy of crushyard.com on instagram.com

Former NFL Players Invest In New Charleston-Area Pickleball Attraction

Tranquility Park Athletic Complex - image courtesy of Nebraska Examiner

Major New Development In Omaha, NE, Will Feature Chicken N Pickle Franchise

Staying in the pickleball loop just got easier

Get the 5-minute newsletter over 40,000+ of your pickleball friends read every week.

By subscribing you agree to the Pickleball Union's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Access more inside Pickleball Union Pro

Join over 40,000+ pickleball fanatics!
Tips, drills, and strategies turning 3.0's into 4.0's

Unsubscribe at any time.

YouTube TikTok Instagram Facebook X (Twitter)
  • Pro Community
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 Pickleball Union
A Legion Media brand - powered by Digital Authority Group
N28W23000 Roundy Dr.
Pewaukee, WI 53072

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.