Pickleball Clubhouse Chicago: A former Thillens warehouse at 4200 North Elston Avenue in Chicago has been turned into a pickleball facility. Chris Sears opened the Pickleball Clubhouse in February, creating a space for players of all levels in a city where indoor pickleball options were limited.
A New Chapter in a Familiar Space
The 19,000-square-foot warehouse once owned by the Thillens armored car company now welcomes pickleball players instead of trucks.
“Everybody knows Thillens,” said Chris Sears, the founder of the Clubhouse.
Sears spent years looking for the right place to start a pickleball club in Chicago. He saw a growing demand for places to play but few options in the city.
“One day, a couple years ago, I said to myself, someone needs to solve problem, why is there nowhere to play in city?” Sears said. “Plenty of people want it. There’s got to be a way.”
He found that way when he bought the building from the Thillens family and turned it into a new home for pickleball.
A Community Gathers Around the Game
The transformation was not easy. The building needed major changes, but Sears had a vision.
“Watching him construct it from the beginning has been so cool because it’s totally different,” said Amie Zander, executive director of the Pulaski Elston Business Association. “There were walls in the middle, cement. He had a vision and went with [it]. It’s so cool.”
Players are now enjoying high-quality courts made just for pickleball.
“This is clearly, specifically for pickleball so the court’s surface is exactly what you want. At other places, it’s a little more fabricated,” said Clubhouse member Kristy Gibbs. “Here you don’t worry about dead spots. I think people coming here want to be here. All levels are excited about playing.”
Sears was also drawn to the building’s history. Thillens Stadium, built by the same family in 1938, was a free baseball field for city residents.
“It’s an incredible story,” Sears said. “[The Thillens family] paid for it, they laid out their own money, purchased the land, constructed the field and operated it for free for the residents of the city.”
Inside the Clubhouse, old photos and memorabilia from Thillens remain on display.
A Third Place for the Pickleball Community
Sears hopes the Clubhouse becomes more than just a sports venue.
“I want this to be their home away from home, where they come and it’s their third place,” Sears said. “Their community is here; their friends are here, and they are comfortable. They don’t just come and play and leave.”
Players seem to agree.
“I’ve been here every day I’ve been in town,” said Gibbs. “If I’m in town, I’m usually here once or twice a day.”
“I think Chris had a great vision to create a space where people can come together and connect through pickleball,” said Clubhouse member Jesus Farfan. “I think they hit a home run.”
Looking Ahead
The Pickleball Clubhouse is filling a major gap in the city’s sports scene. It brings people together, connects them through shared activity, and honors the legacy of a well-known local name.
Sears has no plans to slow down. He sees the Clubhouse as a long-term hub for Chicago’s growing pickleball community.
News in Brief: Pickleball Clubhouse Chicago
A Chicago warehouse once owned by Thillens is now home to the Pickleball Clubhouse. Chris Sears opened the space in February to meet growing demand. The facility features pro-level courts and preserves the legacy of the Thillens family. Members say it’s become their favorite place to play.
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