Pickleball Sparks Downtown Honolulu: Pickles at Forté, Honolulu’s first indoor pickleball facility, has turned a former Walmart space at 1032 Fort Street Mall into a busy community hub. Since opening in January, the facility has attracted players until midnight on weekdays and is helping revive the downtown area.
Facility Features and Expansion
The facility currently operates with several indoor pickleball courts. Developers plan a second phase by year-end or early 2026, including temporary courts on the second floor. The full vision includes about 10 courts, a restaurant, locker rooms, and a larger sports bar with an open-air lanai overlooking Fort Street Mall.
Pickles at Forté has already expanded its offerings with Teapresso Bar and a golf simulator, available to members and non-members at $50 per hour.
Community Impact
Martina Kostalova, director of operations, said,
“It’s a mostly young crowd. Before we even opened, we asked people, and basically they told us that the only reason they used to stop on public courts was because the lights went out at 10 p.m., and they would totally stay until midnight, and they do.”
Players like Dayton, who drives from Kahaluʻu, praised the convenience and amenities, showing the facility draws people from across Oahu.
Downtown Business Improvement Plans
Avalon Group CEO Christine Camp, whose company purchased the former Walmart building for $38.25 million, is pushing a downtown business improvement district under Bill 51. She said,
“Some key leaders 20 years ago decided that this was time for the businesses to really take over and add services because status quo was not acceptable, and they were willing to pay to have those improvements.”
The expanded district would cover areas bounded by Nuuanu Avenue, South Beretania Street, Richards Street, and Nimitz Highway, with a first-year budget of $1.9 million funded mainly through property assessments.
Addressing Downtown Challenges
Downtown Honolulu faces post-pandemic retail closures and safety concerns. University student Taylor Ogata said, “I don’t always feel safe” walking alone downtown. Pickles at Forté demonstrates how private investment in community amenities can bring people back to the area.
The Honolulu City Council passed Bill 51 on its first reading in July, with a public hearing scheduled for September 3. Avalon Group is investing more than $1 billion to redevelop downtown areas, and the pickleball facility is central to creating foot traffic and energy.
While it remains to be seen if pickleball can fully revive downtown, the sound of paddles in a former retail space signals a positive shift for the area.
News in Brief: Pickleball Sparks Downtown Honolulu
Pickles at Forté, Honolulu’s first indoor pickleball facility, has transformed a former Walmart space into a bustling hub. Opened in January, it attracts players until midnight. Avalon Group plans further expansion and is supporting a downtown business improvement district to boost safety, traffic, and economic growth in the area.