When Kady Pooler first picked up a pickleball paddle, she didn’t expect it would lead her to opening one of Oakland’s most talked-about clubs.
A former professional tennis player, Pooler admits she was initially skeptical of the sport. Then, like so many others, she got hooked. “I was the tennis elitist,” she said. “I was like, ‘That’s not a real sport. I don’t know about that.'”
But after discovering pickleball during the pandemic, Pooler found more than a new hobby. She found a renewed sense of purpose.
That passion eventually became Pickle Athletics, an Oakland-based club built around a philosophy she calls “play and stay.”
At a time when many facilities focus primarily on court access, Pooler saw an opportunity to create something different: a pickleball club community where people would want to linger long after the final point.
Solving More Than a Court Shortage
Ask most operators why they opened a pickleball club, and they’ll point to the obvious answer: demand.
Pooler agrees that the need for more infrastructure is real. But she believes another challenge deserves equal attention. “I believe that there’s a bigger problem right now, which is community and real-life connection,” she said. “People coming together, forming new relationships, having a community and a tribe that you can talk to.”
That belief shaped every decision behind Pickle Athletics.
The club occupies a former car dealership and repair facility. Instead of preserving the building’s segmented layout, Pooler and her team knocked down walls to create an open, flowing environment designed to encourage interaction.
Members are greeted by a horseshoe-shaped coffee bar that transforms into a wine bar later in the day. Lounge areas invite conversation. Board games are scattered throughout the space. Members can work remotely, grab a smoothie, socialize with friends or simply stay awhile.
The result is a facility designed to function as a “third place” — somewhere between home and work where people genuinely want to spend time.
Beyond the Courts
The concept extends well beyond pickleball. Pickle Athletics includes a fitness studio, sauna and social spaces that attract members who may not even pick up a paddle during every visit.
“We have many members that don’t play pickleball,” Pooler explained. “They live close by, and they like the vibe and the community here.”
For others, the added amenities support a more holistic approach to performance. Members warm up in the gym before matches, use the sauna for recovery and gather afterward to unwind together.
It’s another example of how today’s most successful clubs may need to think beyond simply maximizing court utilization.
The question becomes: How do you create an environment people don’t want to leave?
Programming Creates Belonging
Beautiful spaces matter. But Pooler is quick to point out that facilities alone don’t build community. Programming does.
From coach-led instruction and clinics to social gatherings and off-court events, Pickle Athletics constantly experiments with experiences that deepen engagement. The club has hosted comedy shows. Members organize wine nights. Friend groups form organically. Beginners evolve into daily regulars.
“It’s hands down my favorite part of this business,” said Pooler. “Seeing people come in for the first time, never having played pickleball, now being addicted and being here every single day.”
That intentional programming has also revealed something else: people genuinely want to improve. Private lessons fill quickly. Clinics consistently attract participants. Members seek strategy, technique and coaching, regardless of age or experience level.
For operators, it’s a reminder that instruction isn’t just a revenue stream but also a relationship builder.
Embracing the Roller Coaster
Despite Pickle Athletics’ early momentum, Pooler doesn’t romanticize entrepreneurship. As a first-time club owner, she’s experienced the emotional highs and lows that come with building something from scratch.
There have been expensive lessons about construction decisions and facility build-outs. There are constant debates about programming schedules and balancing the needs of players across skill levels. And there is the ongoing desire to make everyone happy.
“You can’t make everybody happy,” said Pooler.
Over time, she’s developed a healthy perspective. “Don’t ride the roller coaster,” she advised. “Don’t get too excited by the thing that’s high, and don’t get dragged down by the thing that’s low.”
It’s advice many operators — whether they’re opening their first club or their fifth — can appreciate.
Building What’s Next
Although Pickle Athletics is still young, Pooler is already exploring additional locations.
In addition, she is focused on refining the flagship experience. Each day brings new opportunities to test programming ideas, respond to member feedback and continue shaping the culture that has fueled the club’s early success.
Perhaps that’s the biggest takeaway from Pooler’s journey. Pickleball clubs may be built with courts, fencing and programming schedules. But lasting success often comes from creating something people feel ownership of — a place where they know they’ll be welcomed, challenged and connected.
In an increasingly digital world, that’s a powerful competitive advantage.
And for Pooler, it’s exactly the point. “We want to build a club,” she said. “We want to build a community.”
Prefer to listen? The full interview can be found on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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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.
