According to The Sun, Avid pickleball enthusiasts are in for a treat with the upcoming launch of a new concept restaurant focused on the rapidly growing sport. Electric Pickle is set to open its doors in December in Tempe, Arizona, located about 18 miles east of downtown Phoenix. Customers can enjoy delicious food and drink options while playing against friends and family.
Concept and Expansion Plans
The innovative “eatertainment” design, which incorporates pickleball, is the brainchild of the Eureka! Restaurant Group and is financially backed by Knighthead Capital Management. Electric Pickle in Tempe is the first of many planned locations, with expansion anticipated throughout 2025 in states like California, Nevada, and Texas.
Guests at Electric Pickle will have access to over 4.5 acres of pickleball courts while dining in a two-story restaurant. In addition to pickleball, patrons can enjoy bocce ball, ping pong, and other similar games. However, co-CEO Paul Frederick emphasizes that pickleball is the main focus.
“I think pickleball’s explosive growth is just getting started…pickleball, combined with the culinary aspect, plus making our venues super fun and energetic, have been packaged into Electric Pickle,” Frederick shared with Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN).
Enhancing the Experience
Electric Pickle isn’t the first restaurant to embrace the pickleball theme; other establishments like Chicken N Pickle, Camp Pickle, and The Pickle Pad have emerged in recent years. However, Frederick believes Electric Pickle will “elevate the experience” with additional entertainment offerings, including DJs and live bands at night.
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The menu at Electric Pickle will feature a wide variety of international cuisines, including Mexican street tacos, Korean bowls, sushi rolls, Neapolitan pizzas, and classic American burgers. Additionally, the venue will utilize AI gaming technology for an enhanced experience on four of its nine pickleball courts, along with a golf simulator.
Similarities to Topgolf
The concept behind Electric Pickle bears similarities to the popular golf-themed venue Topgolf, which has thrived on the “eatertainment” model. Topgolf typically features three floors of hitting bays in a netted area with various games to engage even those unfamiliar with golf. Guests can enjoy food and drinks while others take their turns hitting.
Currently, Topgolf operates over 95 locations across 35 states and 15 locations internationally. Both Electric Pickle and Topgolf are part of a trend of venues combining dining with interactive sports, even as many traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants are struggling.
Notably, Denny’s has announced plans to close 150 underperforming locations, while Red Lobster recently filed for bankruptcy and shuttered over 100 restaurants this summer.
