A Huge Pickleball Club With A Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is Coming To St. Pete

There’s no question about it. Pickleball has pretty much taken over the world in the last few years. With pickleball courts popping up all across Tampa Bay, it’s time to make room for one more. A whopping 45,000 sqft pickleball club with a restaurant and cocktail bar is making its way to St. Pete as the St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social Club.

One of the wildest trends to come out of 2020 was Pickleball. What used to be known as a retiree game meant as a slower version of tennis has now become a sensation. Tennis courts all across Tampa Bay are making way for new lines for Pickleball courts.

Now, you’ll be able to add another spot to your list that blows the others out of the water. The St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social Club signed a lease at 2544 Fairfield Avenue South to bring the next big addition to The Factory.

St. Pete Rising says, “The club will occupy 30,000 square feet of existing space on the west side of The Factory property and 15,000 square feet in a new building which will be constructed to accommodate more pickleball courts.”

The man behind the new St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social Club is entrepreneur Reuben Pressman. Pressman co-owns the Major League Pickleball Florida Smash with Jarrett Sabatini (owner of Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails) and Nathan Stonecipher (owns Green Bench Brewing).

The new facility is aiming to have a country club type of feel to it. There will be 14 indoor pickleball courts for all skill levels, from beginner to pro. 

What’s the perk of being a member? Unlimited playtime, members-only courts, members-only lounge, and gardens. Members at the St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social Club will also receive preferred pricing at the restaurant and pro shop, locker room access as well as the in-house fitness studio.

If you’re looking to switch it up and see what else the club will offer, you’re in luck. There will also be six ping pong tables in the cabana courts, indoor grass and turf paddle courts, and a Mexican racket sport court.

The club is going to offer a full-service restaurant and cocktail bar. Jarrett Sabatini will be the frontrunner on this bringing in his expertise from Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails.

Sabatini says, “We are building this as an experience that everyone, not just paddle sports players, can really enjoy and benefit from. The social club aspect is something missing in St. Pete and we think this is the perfect way to cultivate it.”

If beer is more your style, you’re in luck. Bringing in Green Bench Brewings’ IPA’s Lagers, and stouts, Nathan Stonecipher is aiming to bring the community together through collaboration with many areas of St. Pete’s businesses

The St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social Club is expected to be open daily from 5 AM to midnight. To learn more about the newest pickleball addition to St. Petersburg, visit their website.

Overall, St Pete is a great place to live or visit. Depending on who you ask, they might say it's even better than across the bridge in Tampa. Even though St. Pete has tons of nightlife, attractions, great restaurants, and breweries, some think it's missing some key elements. We dove down a Reddit thread and found 5 things residents say that are missing from St. Pete.

The Sunshine City was recently named a trending travel destination by Trip Advisor. It ranked #2 in spots to travel for 2024. St. Pete is known to average over 300 days of sunshine, so there's always an opportunity to explore, except it's missing a vital element to allow residents and tourists to move around easily. Public transport is a big issue and wants in the Tampa Bay area. The only options you have in St. Pete are the PSTA busses and Sun Runner.

Like we said, there's lots to love about St. Pete. One of the best things about the city is its easy beach access. Instead of dealing with crowded beaches and tourist nonsense, you can opt for a more local-friendly spot like Pass-a-Grille or Indian Rocks Beach. It's the same gorgeous views, but less hassle. Another thing St. Pete has to offer is an amazing arts scene. Between the Dali Museum, The Fairgrounds, and the endless galleries on Central Ave, there is a lot to immerse yourself in. A lot of people also say that the nightlife scene is better in St. Pete compared to Tampa. In St. Pete, you have more walkable options and a big downtown stretch to bar hop, and most places are open pretty late. Tampa has a bunch of clubs in Ybor and Soho. But if you're looking for a more laid-back vibe, St. Pete is the move.

Much like all the cities surrounding Tampa Bay, the lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest complaints from St. Pete residents. Every month it seems we read about a new luxury condo complex being built. We would like to see more affordable options, especially for those who have lived here their whole lives.

Like we said earlier, we have the PSTA and Sun Runner, but some type of light rail in Downtown St. Pete would be fantastic. Residents seem to agree overall that the city could use more bike lanes with medians, car free walkable spaces and more parks/ greenery in general.

Tampa has Armature Works, so why doesn't St. Pete have a similar concept of a food hall/multipurpose space. Unlike the pier, preferably something indoors would be nice!

We saw someone suggest this on the Reddit thread and loved the idea. There is a dueling piano bar in downtown clearwater, but that's quite the hike when you're spending the evening in St. Pete. With the late night hours in St. Pete, we think a spot like this would do really well.

This totally fits the vibe of St. Pete. We're surprised there's no public outdoor skating rink of any kind. A partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning would get people out there too! If this ever happens, they better make sure it's shaded!

Last but not least on our list is Costco. The closest Costco to the St. Pete area is off Gulf To Bay Blvd in Clearwater. We need one off 4th street or 34th street!