In May, Dill Dinkers announced its 14th regional development deal with Justin Goehring and Brock Oldenkamp, two developers who have committed to the growth of at least 50 locations in Texas.
Goehring is an accomplished entrepreneur who began his career with Verizon. He also scaled a FedEx truck operation from 13 to 100 trucks before launching his own franchise. Currently, Goehring owns Bazooka Charlie’s Barber Co., a rapidly growing barbershop franchise with seven locations across Dallas. Oldenkamp owns KNO Construction, a company specializing in commercial and residential construction, and is an enthusiastic real estate investor.
Seeing the fast growth of pickleball, the duo are excited to bring an indoor concept to Texas to ensure optimal playing conditions for enthusiasts year round.
According to Goehring, the decision to choose Dill Dinkers over other franchising opportunities was influenced by several factors, including the corporate team support and regional developer opportunities. Goehring’s extensive background in franchising, including his success with Bazooka Charlie’s Barber Co., and Oldenkamp’s real estate experience, positions them well for this new venture.
“Through our former experiences we’re able to take people through all the nuances of leases and build outs and negotiations and managing employees,” shared Goehring. “It’s kind of a combination of everything we’ve done in our careers to bring us to this point.”
The duo are actively seeking franchise partners who are looking to grow in this new venture.
“Justin and Brock are exactly the type of developers we are looking for,” said Ben Litalien, the chief development officer at Dill Dinkers, in a statement. “They’re joining our team with strong business acumen and an established franchise network that will no doubt bring success to their locations in the Dallas region. The pair believe in the power of pickleball to drive impact locally and we’re excited to support them as they build something special for Dallas and the Dill Dinkers family for years to come.”
Dill Dinkers boasts five company-owned locations and has signed development deals in Texas, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Connecticut, South Carolina, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. It has 250 committed locations and expects to have a total of 30 opened locations and more than 500 committed locations in the near future.
For those looking to become entrepreneurs in pickleball, Goehring shared a final piece of advice: “Be persistent. Do your due diligence and don’t quit. Work on your business, not in your business — there’s a difference. If you really want to grow and scale a business, you have to be able to put the right people in place, have a level of trust, and let go a little bit.”
Gain a competitive advantage
Subscribe to Pickleball Innovators for insider tips, expert insight and the latest trends to help your pickleball business thrive.
With over a decade spent covering the business side of sports and fitness, Rachel Chonko brings a wealth of experience and a true passion for active communities to Peake Media. As Editor-in-Chief, she’s focused on helping pickleball clubs and fitness facilities thrive, from guiding growth strategies to showcasing the latest industry trends. Rachel also hosts the Club Solutions Magazine Podcast, where she interviews leaders in fitness and pickleball to share insights and success stories with the wider community to give her listeners a competitive edge.
After taking up pickleball herself, Rachel has come to appreciate the sport’s unique blend of social connection and active living — a mix that’s perfectly in line with her editorial philosophy. Connect with her on LinkedIn, or check out her articles below for a deep dive into the energy and culture driving pickleball’s rapid rise.
