COMING ATTRACTIONS
Pickleball fever spikes in San Antonio with 2 massive new clubs
The Picklr is building two facilities in the San Antonio area.
San Antonio's pickleball craze is showing no signs of slowing. The Picklr, a growing franchise devoted to the meteoric paddle sport, has announced plans to build two massive area facilities, one at 16648 San Pedro Ave. near Thousand Oaks and another at 7517 TX 1604 Loop #35 in Live Oak.
Former Utah tech worker Jorge Barragan first fell in love with the sport after seeing the enthusiasm of other players.
"One winter, we went to a rec center, and I saw two teenagers playing pickleball with 50 people waiting to get on the court," he explains via a company bio. "My first thought was, 'What cult did I join?'"
The experience led him to create a paddle company, Kuro Paddles, as a side hustle. That business ended due to pandemic-era manufacturing delays, and shortly after, Barragan was laid off from his main job. With help from cofounder and friend Austin Wood, he opened the first Picklr in 2021.
Since then, the concept has spread to 30 states. There are four locations currently open in Texas, but the two area clubs will be San Antonio's first. Several more facilities are in the works across the state.
The Picklr focuses more on the sport than social concepts like Chicken N Pickle. Both area outposts will include pro shops, ball machines, locker rooms, and other amenities for the serious player. Live Oak will boast 13 courts, while Thousand Oaks will have nine regular-sized courts, plus a skinny court for practice drills.
The company has not released opening dates for either club, but the franchise owner is posting regular social media updates of the construction at Thousand Oaks. Recently filed paperwork with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation says the build-out in Live Oak will begin in October.
The Picklr has not yet released membership rates for the two area clubs, but the cost varies depending on location. Generally, a monthly adult rate runs around $150, with yearly memberships running about $2,000. Interested players can follow updates on the company's website.
