Houston is set to see a significant expansion in its pickleball offerings as The Picklr, a Utah-based chain, plans multiple locations across the metro area. This move marks the company’s first entry into Texas and is part of its broader international growth strategy, according to the Houston Business Journal.
The Picklr often utilizes adaptive reuse strategies by converting available big-box retail spaces for quicker openings. It also develops new clubs within ongoing projects. The company recently opened its first Houston-area club at 8920 Barker Cypress Road in Cypress, transforming a former ASI Gymnastics facility into an 18,200-square-foot venue with courts and a pro shop. Memberships are currently offered at $129 per month.
A second location is expected to open in February at 16590 Interstate 45 in Conroe. This site, previously occupied by Burlington, will undergo a $900,000 remodel designed by DXU Architects from Chicago and will feature 20 courts, making it one of the largest pickleball centers in Texas.
Additionally, The Picklr has secured space for a third club: a 35,000-square-foot venue within District West—a $170 million mixed-use development by Ferguson Family Partners in Cinco Ranch—which is scheduled to open late next year.
The company anticipates opening five more clubs in the Houston area by the end of 2027 but has not yet disclosed specific sites.
Investors backing The Picklr include Chaifetz Group, Navigator Partners and Pickleball Inc., which owns the PPA Tour. The company’s expansion is nationwide; it opened its 50th club this month in Littleton, Colorado and reports over 70 additional clubs planned. More than 500 franchise agreements have been sold throughout the U.S., including 16 locations within Texas’ major metropolitan areas.
While most facilities operate under franchise agreements with local operators—such as those running each of the three Houston locations—the company retains some corporate-run sites for testing products and programs.
Internationally, The Picklr is expanding through master franchise deals in Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. It is also collaborating with JLL to explore opportunities in European markets.
“— Eric Weilbacher”
