Wicked Pickle Pickleball Center Westland: Wicked Pickle, a new Jewish-owned pickleball center, officially opened in Westland, Michigan, with 10 professional indoor courts. Co-owners Ron Stern and Bill Shapiro launched the 33,000-square-foot facility in May 2025 to create a welcoming space for players of all skill levels to enjoy the sport together.
From Old Retail Space to Pickleball Hub
Ron Stern, a builder from West Bloomfield, was inspired to open Wicked Pickle after visiting a packed pickleball facility inside a nearly empty mall in Stamford, Connecticut. After falling in love with the sport, he called his old friend Bill Shapiro in Boston. Coincidentally, Bill Shapiro had also been thinking about starting a pickleball business.
The two searched for months until they found an old Value City Furniture building on Warren Road in Westland. It had been empty for 10 years. They signed the lease in September 2024.
“We did a huge renovation on this old retail place,”. “It was unbelievable. We had 27 dumpsters full of building materials that we got rid of.”(Ron Stern)
After months of work, Wicked Pickle soft-launched in April 2025, followed by a grand opening and ribbon-cutting on May 7.
Features and Community Response
The center now has 10 air-conditioned courts with a clean gray and baby blue design. Ron Stern said air-conditioning is rare in many pickleball centers. The response from the community has been strong.
“People absolutely love the place,” (Ron Stern).
Wicked Pickle uses a membership system but is also open to the public. A special “Grand Opening Membership” offers unlimited play for $49 per month. Non-members can join open play sessions for $10–$15 or rent a court for $30–$50 per hour.
The facility offers private lessons, group training, and junior programs. There’s also a 1,000-square-foot party room that can be rented for birthdays, work events, and more. Players can book a coach and borrow paddles during events.
“A lot of people don’t know how to play pickleball and may feel a little intimidated,”. “We’ll offer an instructor and paddles with the party room to show the basics so everybody can have fun.”(Ron Stern)
Members get discounts on lessons, leagues, and tournaments. There’s also a lounge with sofas, a ping-pong table, and vending machines. Stern and Shapiro are working on getting a liquor license by fall and are planning to add food trucks for future events.
A Bigger Vision
Ron Stern and Bill Shapiro say Wicked Pickle is just the start. They plan to open more locations soon.
“It’s not generic; it’s not corporate,”. “It’s two guys that had a passion for pickleball and built this, and we intend to build more. We don’t want to stop with just one.”(Ron Stern)
News in Brief: Wicked Pickle Pickleball Center Westland
Jewish-owned Wicked Pickle opened in Westland, Michigan, in May 2025 with 10 indoor pickleball courts. Founders Ron Stern and Bill Shapiro created the center for all skill levels. With lessons, party rentals, and future events planned, they hope to expand their unique pickleball spaces to other locations soon.
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