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Imagine Topgolf, but with a giant field of pickleball courts instead of a driving range.
It’s the vision of Long Island entrepreneur Don Rickey and his business partner Anthony Adler, and they’re set to bring it into focus smack in the heart of Medford.
Pickleball Heaven, a 60,000-square-foot indoor pickleball complex, is set to open as soon as this fall in a building along Patchogue-Yaphank Road, across the street from Sunshine Square shopping center.
The state-of-the-art facility will feature 18 courts and aims to become a social hub, blending the fast-growing sport with an upscale entertainment experience.
Each court will have its own lounge area, featuring cozy couches and chairs, a table and a 90-inch television that will offer interactive instant replays of the action on the court. Additionally, the venue will feature giant, rear-projection movie theater screens in the back of the building, allowing players and more casual customers in the bar area to watch sports and other events.
“We want this to be a place where everyone feels welcome,” said Rickey, 36, a graduate of Great Neck South High School. “Whether you’re just learning the game or you’ve been playing for years, we’re designing Pickleball Heaven to meet those needs.”
Rickey further stressed that Pickleball Heaven isn’t simply about the sport — it’s about creating an immersive social experience.
“I would say it’s going to be the closest thing to the pickleball version of Topgolf,” Rickey said. “The goal is for it to feel more like an event — a thing that you go out of your way to do and a place where you can spend your day. We have over 30,000 square feet devoted to social space.”
Huge space has ‘zero’ interior walls
To be sure, the facility will be chock full of amenities. Among the highlights are:
- 60-foot bar with attached kitchen.
- 18-foot food truck parked outside.
- A pro shop offering gear and apparel for players.
- Food and beverage run by the owners of Huntington restaurants New York Panini and Wok N’ Roll, which sells its signature rainbow cookie egg roll at the New York Mets’ Citi Field.
- 36-foot ceilings and an open floor plan with zero interior walls.
- Conveniently located just south of the Long Island Expressway at Exit 65 and 66.
The specific address of Pickleball Heaven will be 645 National Blvd. Rickey said the goal is to open this fall, or right after the New Year “at the latest.”
First of many Pickleball Heavens planned
The Medford location is just the beginning, Rickey said. The ownership team is already laying out plans to open three other Pickleball Heavens — in Nassau, Queens and Staten Island — in the next two years.
“We believe the sport is growing so fast, and we want to be a part of that growth by offering people high-quality places to play,” he said. “And it’s more than just the courts. We’re creating an environment where people can hang out, talk about the game, or just enjoy themselves off the court. We want to offer as many amenities as possible.”
Pickleball Heaven will also host clinics, leagues, and tournaments, offering players a variety of ways to get involved and improve their game.
Big building and plenty of parking
Top image: Artist rendering of what Pickleball Heaven will look like (Courtesy).
