Site of Theo Chocolate warehouse to become Seattle's newest pickleball center
SEATTLE - The warehouse that used to be the home for Theo Chocolate in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood will soon become a 26,500-square-foot pickleball center.
Pickleball has been named the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., and Utah-based indoor pickleball chain Picklr is riding the wave of its popularity.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Pickleball players compete at the Urban Pickleball Club in downtown on October 19, 2023 in Austin, Texas. The sport is one of America’s fastest growing sports with nearly 5 million participants. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Gett (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Keep reading to learn more about Picklr, its new Seattle location and commonly asked questions about pickleball, including how it got its name and why it's so popular now.
What is Picklr?
What we know:
Picklr is an indoor pickleball chain co-owned by former NFL star quarterback Drew Brees, currently operating 20 clubs across the country. The company has sold more than 500 franchise locations worldwide, allowing others to open and operate their own Picklr facilities.
Picklr hosts a range of events, including tournaments and leagues for various skill levels and ages, as well as clinics and training. Ten new locations are set to open in Washington state, according to Puget Sound Business Journal.
How does Picklr work?
The backstory:
How Picklr works is similar to a gym membership. According to the company’s website, there are 30-day trial memberships for $30 and monthly memberships for $69 per month.
Purchasing a membership grants nationwide access to Picklr facilities, free court reservations, unlimited open and competitive play, leagues and tournaments. A membership also gives four clinic passes and four guest passes per month.
There are also annual membership options and different prices for junior and family passes, which can be found on Picklr's website.
Picklr also has its own app, allowing members to check court availability, reserve courts and join clinics, leagues and tournaments straight from their phones.
Where will the Picklr center be located in Seattle?
What they're saying:
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Picklr will be located at 124 N. 35th St. in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. This area is around the vicinity of the Fremont Sunday Street Market.
The facility will replace the warehouse that used to be used by Theo Chocolate.
When will Picklr open in Seattle?
Timeline:
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Picklr’s opening timeline remains unclear.
What is pickleball?
Big picture view:
Pickleball is a racket sport similar to tennis and ping-pong that can be played one-on-one (singles) or two-on-two (doubles).
The courts are smaller than tennis courts, with roughly the same dimensions as a badminton court. Rather than rackets, the sport uses uniquely shaped paddles. Additionally, the sport uses hollow, perforated plastic balls that are lightweight and resemble a Wiffle ball.
Was pickleball really invented in Washington?
Local perspective:
Yes. Pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island, which is just a short ferry ride away from Seattle, back in 1965.
According to the USA Pickleball Association, the sport was invented out of boredom on a summer day. The early days of pickleball were played on a badminton court with a lowered net using ping-pong paddles and perforated plastic balls. In 1972, a corporation was formed to protect the creation of the sport.
In 2022, pickleball was recognized as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for the second straight year, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association's Topline Participation Report.
In March 2022, former Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill officially declaring pickleball the official sport of Washington state.
Why is it called pickleball?
Dig deeper:
According to the USA Pickleball Association, the origin of the name comes from two different accounts.
One of the sport's founding members said the combination of tennis, ping-pong and badminton reminded them of a pickle boat in crew, where oarsmen were selected from the leftovers of other boats. However, another founding member claimed the name was inspired by a neighborhood dog that would steal the balls and run off with them during games. The dog's name? Pickles.
Regardless of where the sport got its name, the goal of this latest site is to eliminate the days of waiting on the sideline for a pickleball court to open or waiting for the rain to clear. With new indoor facilities opening across the region, more companies are making the sport accessible year-round and giving players more opportunities to hit the court.
Featured
Washington's largest pickleball court coming to Seattle
Players of pickleball, the official sport of Washington, living in the greater-Seattle area have two new reasons to celebrate.
The Source: Information for this story came from Picklr's company website, the Puget Sound Business Journal and the USA Pickleball Association.
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