The Picklr Takes Massive Leases Across Houston Metro

Houston’s pickleball scene is getting another major player.

The Picklr, a fast-growing Utah-based chain, is making its Texas debut with multiple locations planned across the metro area — part of an international blitz by one of the sport’s biggest franchises, the Houston Business Journal reported.

The company favors adaptive reuse, pouncing on big-box availability for quicker openings, but it’s also building out clubs in new developments.

The Picklr recently opened its first Houston-area club, at 8920 Barker Cypress Road in Cypress, a former ASI Gymnastics. The 18,200-square-foot facility includes pickleball courts and a pro shop, with discounted memberships going for $129 a month.

The company plans a February opening for a 66,500-square-foot complex at 16590 Interstate 45 in Conroe, a former Burlington store. The $900,000 remodel, designed by Chicago-based DXU Architects, will house 20 courts and make it one of the largest pickleball centers in the state.

The Picklr has also leased space for a 35,000-square-foot venue in District West, Ferguson Family Partners’ $170 million mixed-use project rising in Cinco Ranch. That location is scheduled to open late next year.

More leasing opportunities are coming down the pike. Another five Houston-area Picklr clubs are expected by the end of 2027, though sites haven’t been disclosed.

The company’s investors include Chaifetz Group, Navigator Partners and Pickleball Inc., the parent company of the PPA Tour.

Its rapid rollout is national: The Picklr opened its 50th club this month in Littleton, Colorado, and says another 70 are in the pipeline. More than 500 franchise agreements have been sold across the U.S., including 16 locations across the Texas Triangle.

While most clubs are franchised, the company keeps some corporate-run sites to test products and programs. The three Houston locations each have different local franchisees.

Internationally, The Picklr is extending its reach to Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand through master franchise deals. It’s also partnering with JLL to scout markets in Europe.

— Eric Weilbacher