Work on the largest pickleball facility in the Northeast is set to begin in Central Jersey.
Scheduled to take place this spring at the former Robbinsville Fieldhouse on West Manor Way in Robbinsville, the 20,000-sq.-ft. Robbinsville Pickle House will feature more than 20 state-of-the-art indoor pickleball courts, an indoor restaurant, bar and year-round temperature control.
The project is the brainchild of Christopher Vernon, its founder and owner Mercer Managementa business consulting firm based in Trenton, and developed in partnership with USA. Pickleballthe sport's national governing body.
“We are excited to unveil The Pickle House later this year, a culmination of our dedication to providing top-tier facilities for athletes of all backgrounds. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out, The Pickle House welcomes you to experience pickleball like never before,” said Vernon.
Carl Schmits, USA Pickleball's managing director of facility development/equipment standards, said in a statement, “USA Pickleball is excited to partner with the Robbinsville Pickle House leadership team to deliver a facility of this scale in one of the largest markets of the United States.”
Schmits added, “As we continue to see an explosion in demand for pickleball courts and facilities across the country, it's great to see the Robbinsville project come to life and provide local communities with an amazing place to play.”
Play and stay
Once open, guests will be able to purchase annual memberships to the Pickle House or make hourly rentals to enjoy the courts and food, according to Vernon.
What is pickleball?
The object of the sport is to hit the ball over the net and prevent an opponent from hitting it back. It is played in singles or doubles and lasts until one side reaches 11 points, with a two-point cushion.
– Source: CNN
Because the complex is adjacent to the Hampton Inn & Suites, the Pickle House will partner with the hotel to host large-scale tournaments. It will also partner with other nearby hotels such as the Homewood Suites by Hilton and the Hilton Garden Inn to offer accommodations to out-of-town guests.
Pickle House is also looking to hire experienced professionals to manage its facilities as well as provide member support. Candidates can apply online.
Commenting on the upcoming opening of the Pickle House, Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried said, “We are excited to help host one of the fastest growing sports in America, if not the world. This iconic farm has been the source of so many wonderful memories over the years, and thanks to the vision of Chris Vernon and the Mercer Management team, you can be sure that more lasting memories are in store for you.”
“Whether it's first-class hotels, wedding venues, sports venues or car washes, every project Chris does for the masses is always meticulously designed and of the highest quality, so we couldn't be more proud to play a small part in starting this new era of Pickleball with Mercer Management,” Fried said.
Choose a stadium
In the past two years, several pickleball establishments have opened in New Jersey, including The Pickleball Club in Monroe, Pickle Juice in South Jersey and Pickleball Kingdom.
New Jersey is also getting its own professional pickleball team.
For the 2024 season, the Princeton Bruisers are one of six expansion teams for the National Pickleball League. Team ownership includes Pickle Juice co-owners: Jeff Brody, Lisa Brody, Brad Wimmer and David Slobotkin.
Other teams include teams in Kansas City, Mo. Houston, Texas? Columbus, Ohio; Coachella Valley, California; and Seattle, Wash.
