A 22,000-square-foot indoor pickleball club has opened at 1019 Central Park Ave. in Greenburgh, filling a former Buy Buy Baby store with eight dedicated courts.
The Picklr Scarsdale opened Oct. 17 and will hold a grand opening celebration Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1:30 p.m., Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner announced Wednesday, Oct. 28, as Daily Voice reported.
The facility is owned and operated by Westchester residents Heather Rhyu and Noah Allen, according to Feiner. Rhyu owns four Club Pilates studios and a Rumble Boxing studio in Westchester. Allen has more than 25 years of experience as a tennis professional and coach.
The club includes a championship-sized court, professional-grade playing surfaces, a pro shop and space for private events, according to Daily Voice. Both members and non-members can play.
Co-owner Rhyu told Daily Voice, "Having spent years building fitness businesses in this community, I know firsthand how much people value spaces that bring them together."
Co-owner Allen told Daily Voice their "goal is to create more than just a place to play pickleball."
The facility offers open play, competitive matches, private lessons, clinics, leagues, tournaments and youth programs for ages 5 to 17, according to The Picklr's website.
Family memberships cover up to two adults and four juniors. A free introductory class requires no experience or equipment. Hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
The grand opening will feature a live DJ, food truck, raffle giveaways and short open-play games. Visitors can tour the facility, meet staff and learn about memberships.
The opening comes as The Picklr's parent company, Picklr Inc., navigates a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Founder and CEO Jorge Barragan told Sports Business Journal the filing stemmed from the company agreeing to guarantee facility lease payments for about 40 locations.
The company said its clubs and independently owned franchise locations remain open during the reorganization, as Fox Business reported.
The company said an investor group committed $4.5 million in financing, subject to court approval. Sports Business Journal reported the commitment at $4.8 million.
Whether the Scarsdale location carries one of those corporate lease guarantees is not clear from public filings.
The Picklr has 95 locations across 30 states, according to its website. No locations will close as a direct result of the bankruptcy filing, though Barragan told Sports Business Journal he anticipates some contraction.
