A new Western-themed indoor pickleball complex is coming to the Park North shopping complex. The sports and recreation facility, called Outlaw Pickle, will swing into action at 618 NW Loop 410 #202 in the fall.

  

Rendering courtesy of Outlaw Pickle.

The complex will feature a curated pro shop.

Founder and CEO Ross Krachey, a recent transplant to San Antonio, first tried the sport on his 32nd birthday, holding a 100-player party the following year. The community around the game drew him in.

"The power of connectivity and friendships through racquet sports has been a strong theme in my personal and work life ever since," he says. "Pickleball is absolutely magic in this way."

To bring his vision to life, Krachey partnered with commercial real estate pro Romie Chaudhari and Jonathan Bricklin, the cofounder of table tennis chain SPiN with actress Susan Sarandon.

The team initially sought to debut the concept in Austin. After the lease deal fell through, their San Antonio broker found a unicorn space in San Antonio with a high enough ceiling to accommodate gameplay without a glut of obstructive pillars.

Hollywood-style facades add to the vibe.Rendering courtesy of Outlaw Pickle

Krachey decided on the name Outlaw Pickle during the earliest days of business planning. In brainstorming sessions with Bricklin, the partners embraced the Western vibe full-throttle, finally arriving at a steampunk version of Americana.

Krachey likens the feel to Hollywood properties like Wild Wild West and West World. Think robotic horsehead trophies on the wall instead of bleached skulls.

The retrofuturistic focus continues to the food, where automated vending machines will cook fresh ingredients prepared by an in-house prep kitchen. The lineup will include two PizzaForno machines, two Shark Tank-approved RoboBurger kiosks, a French fry station Krachey says takes 35 seconds to cook, and a few fancy surprises.

The cocktail program, however, will be slightly more low-tech. Krachey says the bar will serve classics like old fashioneds with a focus on whiskey and tequila. That's not to say there won't be some showmanship. The team wants to create diamond-shaped ice cubes and mix a few original sippers.

High-tech vending machines provide food prepped in an in-house kitchen.Rendering courtesy of Outlaw Pickle.

"[Bricklin] has 15 years experience with 9 SPiN locations in the country and really has an eye for interesting concepts," explains Krachey. "He's obsessed with a sour cream and onion martini with a side of chips in New York City. So I started throwing out, 'What drink goes with Frito Pie on the side?.' We have a lot of fun bouncing ideas off each other."

For all that playfulness, the team has not forgotten that, first and foremost, Outlaw Pickle is a place to play the wildly popular sport.

The more than 21-square-foot venue will boast five climate-controlled courts (black with silver stripes in honor of the Spurs) and a curated pro shop. According to Bricklin, each court will have instant replay capabilities and provide updates from DUPR, a pickleball rating system.

If construction and permitting go according to plan, the team hopes to have Outlaw Pickle running by September. The complex will be open to the public, but regular players can score memberships for as little as $9.99, a move Krachey said was designed to reward regular visitors.

"[It] even includes a free drink," Krachey beams.