Months after establishing its franchise system, The Pickle Pad is beginning to sign development deals.
Founded in 2023, the pickleball concept is the latest from NRD Capital portfolio company Indoor Active Brands, which also owns Altitude Trampoline Park. Following the opening of its first corporate location in Tallahassee, Florida, the franchisor signed a seven-unit agreement to grow north along the East Coast.
Signing on with the emerging brand is Vikas Kapila of Richmond, Virginia, who plans to develop locations in both his home state and South Carolina. Kapila, who has a background as a software engineer with experience in telecommunications, said he looked into franchising after attempting his own entrepreneurial ventures.
The Pickle Pad franchisee Vikas Kapila
“I have an independent mindset, so I always wanted to do a business,” Kapila said. “I tried doing a couple on my own, but it was a challenge and instead of growing the business, I was focused on making ends meet. So, that’s where the idea came in to research franchising, and get into a process with a proven model.”
His exploration of franchising coincided with a growing interest in pickleball during the pandemic. Eventually, he became an avid player, sometimes playing four to six hours a day.
“It was a good mental and physical space for me in 2021 and 2022,” Kapila said. “I started to think to myself over time, ‘why not do something in a space where there’s so much demand?’”
When he began looking at pickleball brands with a franchise program, The Pickle Pad quickly captured his attention. Kapila said the brand’s broader offerings helped it stand out. In addition to its pickleball courts, The Pickle Pad offers other games and activities geared toward families, and incorporates a restaurant offering, Crave Social Eatery.
“They had pickleball at the core, but gave an experience that was good for a full family outing,” Kapila said. “That was the attraction, and the second thing was they added in the restaurant section. It’s a whole other revenue system.”
Related: Altitude Trampoline Park Owner Launches Pickleball Concept
Robert Morris, vice president of development at The Pickle Pad, said by integrating more offerings the aim is to enhance the pickleball experience in a similar way to what Top Golf did for golfing.
In addition to the pickleball courts, the brand offers games such as ping pong, darts and billiards. The goal, Morris said, is expanding the guest experience.
“When building out the pickleball courts, we didn’t want to skimp out,” Morris said. “You’re playing on the same type of courts that are used for the U.S. Open. It’s that style of surface. We don’t want to skimp on anything. We want everything to be guest focused, where they see and appreciate what the owners have done.”
The Pickle Pad Vice President of Development Robert Morris
The latest owner for The Pickle Pad, Morris said, exemplifies why Indoor Active Brands franchised the concept.
“Vikas has lived in Richmond for more than 20 years,” Morris said. “He’s part of that community. It allows the venue to have all the advantages of being a national brand, with the vendor relationships and logistics, but we as franchisors can’t be experts in everyone’s local area. So, Vikas can be an ambassador owner.”
While he will develop in Richmond, Kapila also chose to open locations in other markets along the coast to expand his customer base.
“I wanted to look at tourist spots, not just in the community I know,” Kapila said. “I wanted the brand to be about people having fun as a family. From that perspective, it felt right to look at Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. That will let us grow with tourists, while still being a place a lot of local residents can enjoy, too.”
While the first location is 27,000 square feet, Morris said Pickle Pad units can range from 15,000 to 40,000 square feet. The initial investment is between $1.3 million and $1.9 million.