The Picklr Expands to Birmingham: A new Picklr indoor pickleball club is set to open in Birmingham, Alabama, in March 2025, offering memberships for children and adults. The club, co-founded by Shannon Denney, combines her passion for fostering community engagement with the growing popularity of pickleball. Plans include adding a restaurant to enhance the experience for players.
From Dance to Pickleball: A Surprising Connection
Shannon Denney, owner of The Pointe Dance Arts for 20 years, never expected pickleball to be her next venture. However, her dedication to providing creative outlets for people of all ages made the transition feel natural.
“I’ve always been passionate about people having an outlet. It’s important that people have a hobby and a way to express themselves. And as we get older, it’s harder to find those things. Pickleball has become a way for people of all ages to find that. You can be a super athlete and play pickleball, but the average Joe can also find that sense of community and be active.” – (Shannon Denney)
Why The Picklr Stood Out
When exploring franchise options, Denney and her husband chose The Picklr, a brand known for its high-quality facilities and attention to detail.
“It’s like the Saks Fifth Avenue of pickleball franchises. every wall is painted black. That’s so players can see the ball better. They also have this special sound bath over every single court to help cut down on noise as you’re playing.” – (Shannon Denney)
A Family’s Journey to Pickleball
Denney’s husband, a tennis player, initially resisted the sport.
“My husband is a tennis player. My daughter and husband play basketball together, and we are members of Lifetime Fitness. Every time my husband would play basketball with my daughter or try to play tennis at Lifetime, the courts were always taken with pickleball players. He would get so mad.” – (Shannon Denney)
However, after giving pickleball a try, he quickly became hooked. As entrepreneurs, the couple saw the business potential in the sport’s rapid growth.
“he came to me and said, “We’ve got to get on this train.” – (Shannon Denney)
Lessons from the Dance Studio to Pickleball
Denney’s success in running The Pointe Dance Arts has given her valuable business experience that she plans to bring to The Picklr.
“The biggest mistake any business owner can make is to have that mentality of “this is the way we’ve always done it, so that’s the way we’re going to always do it.” I’m not that person. I’m constantly learning and changing.” – (Shannon Denney)
Customer service will be a top priority at The Picklr, just as it is at her dance studio.
“It’s about making every single person feel that we see them, value them, and that they are not just numbers to us. They’re not dollar signs to us. They’re human beings, and that’s the way we intend to treat everybody at The Picklr.” – (Shannon Denney)
Looking Ahead
The Birmingham Picklr location will provide a welcoming space for players of all levels, from beginners to competitive athletes. The planned restaurant addition aims to make the club a social hub for the community.
Denney’s approach to business reflects the advice she once received from a former boss: “Your best can always be better.” She applies this philosophy to dance and pickleball, striving for excellence in every endeavor.
News in Brief: The Picklr Expands to Birmingham
A Picklr indoor pickleball club is set to open in Birmingham, Alabama, in March 2025. Co-founder Shannon Denney, owner of The Pointe Dance Arts, saw an opportunity to combine her passion for community engagement with the sport’s rising popularity. The club will offer memberships for all ages, with plans to add a restaurant.
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