St. Pete Athletic Opens 50,000-Square-Foot Pickleball and Social Club in Warehouse Arts District

St. Pete Athletic threw open its doors two weeks back inside The Factory in the Warehouse Arts District. The 50,000-square-foot paddle and social club boasts eight indoor pickleball courts, a restaurant, three bars, and a members-only area with a fitness center.

Before opening day arrived, the facility had secured 800 paid members, according to Operating Manager Reuben Pressman. Half don't play pickleball. Several hundred people remain on the waiting list.

"Anyone can come in here and find something they enjoy," said partner Nathan Stonecipher, according to St. Pete Catalyst. "They don't have to be avid pickleball players."

Six more courts will debut in January. That brings the total to 14. The club also has table tennis, 30 flat-screen televisions, and a pro shop. Each court has its own TV that keeps and shows the score with an instant-replay option.

Ninety percent of the space is open to non-members, while members get unlimited open play, members-only courts, and preferred court reservation pricing.

Pressman hatched the idea four years ago with Graham D'Amico, co-owner of Major League Pickleball's Florida Smash. Stonecipher is the co-founder of Green Bench Brewing, and Jared Sabatini, founder of Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, planned the menu.

ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood and Trevor Burgess, CEO of Neptune Flood, are investors. The operators haven't disclosed the total cost.

January will bring a cold plunge, two-hour childcare, and two courts. Yoga and Pilates classes are planned, too. The members-only lounge will soon have an outdoor garden for dining.

"We have a lot of regulars already, and every day we're getting new people that are members coming in to experience it for the first time," Pressman said.

The dining room can be turned into an open space. Events, meetings, and gatherings can happen there. People have asked about holding weddings at the club.

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Good 'Burger Awards ceremony there Dec. 10.

Major League Pickleball will come to the club next June, co-sponsored by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. The main courts can be re-configured with seating for 3,000 people, and that event will bring 15,000 people over four days to watch 80 top pros compete, according to Pressman.