The retail apocalypse left dead malls and shuttered big-box stores scattered across the US — now, pickleball is coming to the rescue
and, more recently, dedicated pickleball facilities.
One such facility, The Picklr, operates six venues in Utah and Colorado. Jorge Barragan, The Picklr's CEO, told Insider that he's planning to open 25 more locations this year and 150 in the next three years via a franchise model. The Picklr's prime real estate target? Former big-box stores. "We all have 'em in our neighborhoods, we have those eyesores that you drive by and say, 'ah, I wish something would go there,'" Barragan said."There's not too many people raising their hand and saying, 'hey, I'm willing to take 25 to 40,000 square feet.'" by chains like Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, and Party City as an opportunity and hopes to work directly with liquidators to snap up some of the empty spaces.
Of course, it's not always easy transforming a former bedding and bath emporium into a sports complex. Barragan said that there's often asbestos under the floor tiles, the bathrooms are outdated and, frankly,"pretty gross," and the buildings from the 1980s and '90s often have drop ceilings, which usually means the sprinkler systems are too low and need to be raised up. Plus, the type of overhead fluorescent lighting common in department stores isn't ideal for pickleball — it can be so bright that the ball is almost impossible to see when it's flying toward you.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pickleball courts are replacing vacant stores inside mallsConsumer spending has shifted from goods to experiences, such as recreational sports, theaters, amusement parks and arcades
Read more »
The dress that went viral: BuzzFeed's editor shares the inside storyInsider tells the global tech, finance, markets, media, healthcare, and strategy stories you want to know.
Read more »
5 tips for entrepreneurs looking to start a successful food businessInsider is a global news publication that tells the stories you want to know.
Read more »
How to use ChatGPT to work better, earn more moneyInsider tells the global tech, finance, markets, media, healthcare, and strategy stories you want to know.
Read more »
Montana's TikTok ban shows how US ban could unfold: a messInsider tells the global tech, finance, markets, media, healthcare, and strategy stories you want to know.
Read more »
Buttigieg: 'real concern' over driver interaction with Tesla AutopilotPete Buttigieg says there's 'real concern' about the way drivers interact with systems like Tesla's Autopilot
Read more »