New Indoor Pickleball Hub to Hit San Angelo: A San Angelo couple is transforming their passion for pickleball into a community asset by building an indoor pickleball complex, inspired by their first tournament experience. J.C. Gallagher and his wife, Amber, discovered their love for the sport last October at Bentwood Country Club, igniting a vision for indoor facilities in their hometown.
“We were hooked on pickleball after that first time playing and started playing with friends until it got too cold to play.” – (J.C. Gallagher)
The couple recognized a gap in local facilities, leading them to vocalize the need for indoor courts. This prompted several friends to take matters into their own hands.
From Idea to Reality
Motivated by their enthusiasm, J.C. Gallagher began drafting a business plan for what would become Smashers.
“I started working on a business plan and putting together financial projections, and Smashers was born.” – (J.C. Gallagher)
“Most of the people I sent the plan to said they wanted to be apart of this venture. Within in a couple of weeks, we had the initial funding put together to get everything going with design and land procurement. The investors are all local and dedicated to the success of Smashers and San Angelo.” – (J.C. Gallagher)
After sharing his plan with friends, they quickly rallied support, with many eager to invest in the venture. Within weeks, initial funding was secured, all sourced from local investors committed to the project’s success. The group approached The Bank & Trust, which expressed enthusiasm in funding the endeavor.
A New Hub for Food and Fun
J.C. Gallagher purchased a lot at 2521 Southwest Boulevard, conveniently located near Cavender’s and multiple hotels. Smashers will not only cater to pickleball players but will also feature a fast-casual restaurant.
“Smashers will provide a much needed restaurant option at this location. The restaurant is planned to be a fast casual style restaurant with multiple appetizers, smash burgers, power bowls, salads, other handheld sandwiches, and personal size pizzas.” – (J.C. Gallagher)
The complex will include a full bar and a playground area for kids, along with outdoor seating and yard games like cornhole.
Looking Ahead
Dirt work is slated to commence around late October to early November, with a projected opening in mid- to late summer of 2025. The City of San Angelo’s building permit website indicates that the commercial project has a budget of $5 million.
J.C. Gallagher and Amber, married for 25 years with two children, are excited to return to San Angelo, where they have resided since 2021. With roots in Midland and Kerrville, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the community.
“We are both really excited to provide this facility to San Angelo and are praying for great success.” – (J.C. Gallagher)
With Smashers on the horizon, the Gallagher family aims to create a vibrant hub for pickleball and community engagement, ensuring that San Angelo becomes a destination for sports and leisure.
News in Brief: New Indoor Pickleball Hub to Hit San Angelo
J.C. Gallagher and Amber Gallagher are set to build an indoor pickleball complex, Smashers, in San Angelo, inspired by their first tournament experience last October. The facility, located at 2521 Southwest Boulevard, will include 14 pickleball courts and a fast-casual restaurant offering burgers, salads, and more.
With a budget of $5 million, construction is scheduled to begin by early November 2024, aiming for a mid- to late summer 2025 opening. The couple hopes to enhance the local sports scene while supporting the community, having returned to San Angelo in 2021 after years away.
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