Pickleball City Proposed for Newington: A new indoor pickleball facility could be coming to Newington, with a proposal to transform a former Bob’s Stores location into a dedicated pickleball court space. The application for Pickleball City, submitted last month, outlines plans to accommodate up to 80 players daily at the Newington Commons site.
Plans for Pickleball City Move Forward
Bob’s Stores closed its Newington Commons location in June 2024 following a bankruptcy. The shopping center had been sold a few months earlier for $17 million. Now, entrepreneur Jun Zhang has applied with the town of Newington to convert the vacant space into Pickleball City.
The proposed operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except for Sundays, when it would close at 4 p.m. Few additional details have been disclosed about the project.
Newington’s Growing Indoor Pickleball Scene
If approved, Pickleball City would join other indoor pickleball venues in Newington. Blaze Pickleball, located at 175 Lowry Place, operates in a former Local Market space, while NewGen Pickleball opened in July 2024 at 77 Pane Road. The town’s Parks and Recreation department also provides pickleball at the Mortensen Community Center on Garfield Street.
Across Connecticut, former retail spaces have been repurposed for pickleball facilities. Blaze Pickleball previously operated in a former Walmart in Guilford, and other vacant storefronts and mall locations have attracted interest from pickleball entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the sport’s rising popularity.
A Trend of Retail Conversions
The proposal for Pickleball City reflects a broader trend of repurposing empty retail spaces into sports facilities. If approved, the new venue would provide another option for Newington’s growing pickleball community. Additional updates on the project are expected as the town reviews the application.
News in Brief: Pickleball City Proposed for Newington
A proposal has been submitted to convert a former Bob’s Stores in Newington into Pickleball City, an indoor venue for up to 80 players. The town is reviewing the application, with few details available. If approved, it would join other indoor pickleball locations in Newington, reflecting a trend of repurposing retail spaces.
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