The Picklr’s Indoor Pickleball Paradise: The Picklr, a Utah-based indoor pickleball chain, may open a new location in Tacoma. The site is the former Big Lots store at 2401 N. Pearl St., which closed last year. The Tacoma Picklr franchise launched social media in March and now has a live website for member sign-ups.
The new facility is planned to feature 12 indoor courts, one “skinny” court, a pro shop, and a private event area. While plans have been initiated, the City of Tacoma permit portal shows an application started on April 8 but has not yet been submitted. No opening date has been confirmed.
Big Lots Closes, Picklr Moves In
The Big Lots location at Westgate South shopping center was the last store to close in Pierce County. Big Lots had operated 26 stores in Washington and around 900 nationwide. The Tacoma closure followed company-wide struggles that led to bankruptcy and major store closures.
Though the building now appears to be in transition, The Picklr has not publicly confirmed an opening date. The business email listed on its website did not respond to a request for comment earlier this week.
More Growth for The Picklr
If the Tacoma site opens, it will be The Picklr’s second location in Washington. Another site is planned for Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, though its opening is also marked “TBD” online.
In 2024, The Picklr said it had sold 276 franchise units to 36 franchising groups. That would create about 2,760 indoor courts nationwide, showing the company’s fast expansion.
What’s Next for Big Lots Nationwide?
In a separate development, Variety Wholesalers bought 219 Big Lots locations across the U.S. after Big Lots filed for bankruptcy. It recently reopened nine of those stores on April 10 in six states: Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
A media representative for Variety Wholesalers told The News Tribune on Tuesday, “We have not acquired any Big Lots locations in Washington state.”
What It Means for Tacoma
The planned Picklr facility could bring a new recreation option to the area and help reuse a vacant commercial space. While the opening is not confirmed, activity around permits and promotion suggests progress. If completed, it may boost the region’s growing interest in indoor pickleball.
News in Brief: The Picklr’s Indoor Pickleball Paradise
A former Big Lots in Tacoma may become home to The Picklr, an indoor pickleball chain. The site would include 12 courts and a pro shop. Though permits aren’t final, the franchise’s local website is live. The location would mark The Picklr’s second Washington facility, joining another planned for Seattle.
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