Indoor pickleball center Bangers and Dinks is planned to open at 1516 Koger Center Blvd. in Chesterfield County, where it will take over from Home-Makers Furniture. (Mike Platania photo)
It was shortly after Nicole Thompson and her husband were introduced to pickleball last summer when they hit on a business idea that’s been keeping her up at night with excitement.
The couple became fast fans of what’s been dubbed the fastest-growing sport in America, and were driving home one evening when they saw people playing the game on tennis courts in the city’s West End.
“We were like, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome to have an indoor (pickleball) center?’” Thompson said.
Once they formulated the idea, they moved quickly to line up a space that was large enough and configured properly to house a dedicated indoor pickleball facility.
“We started looking with a sense of urgency. We figured if we didn’t do it, someone else would and we wanted to be the first to market,” she said.
That urgency is expected to culminate this summer with Bangers and Dinks, a 25,000-square-foot center with eight indoor pickleball courts at 1516 Koger Center Blvd., next to Dick’s Sporting Goods and near Chesterfield Towne Center.
Thompson said she believed Bangers and Dinks would be the first indoor, dedicated pickleball facility in the area.
“There are places to play indoors but you’re sharing space with basketball or tennis courts,” Thompson said. “This is going to be the only place designed for pickleball indoors and only pickleball all day long.”
Thompson said construction is expected to start in the next few weeks on the space that’s currently occupied by an outpost of Home-Makers Furniture Designs.
Thompson said Bangers and Dinks landed in the space due to construction considerations, as the layout will permit the presence of full-sized pickleball courts, which are 20 feet by 44 feet.
“The columns needed to be far enough apart to fit pickleball courts and that knocked out a lot of options in town,” she said. “The structure of the building is really what led us to this particular space. We’re thankful it’s in a central part of Chesterfield.”
Thompson declined to share the cost of her investment in the space. The general contractor on the project is DCP and The Yellow Room is the project architect.
Thomas Lynde and Colton Konvicka of Commonwealth Commercial Partners represented Bangers and Dinks in lease negotiations.
The center is planned to offer several membership tiers that provide unlimited play as well as day passes for non-members. Thompson said Monday that membership pricing was still being worked out.
“The idea is we don’t want to be a members-only club. We think pickleball is one of those sports everyone can enjoy,” she said.
Besides courts, Bangers and Dinks is expected to have a shop that sells pickleball paddles and balls. The venue would also offer a food menu, as well as beer and wine.
Bangers and Dinks is planned to be open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The center would offer classes and dedicate some courts to beginners.
The name of the center is a reference to pickleball lingo. A banger is a player who hits the ball hard, while a dink is an arching, soft hit. The name came to Thompson in the middle of the night.
“I couldn’t sleep one night because I was thinking of this idea,” Thompson said. “I was like, ‘Bangers and Dinks would be really cool but there’s no way that’s available.’ At 1:30 in the morning I went to Google domains to see if the ‘Bangers and Dinks’ domain was available and it was.”
Indoor pickleball center Bangers and Dinks is planned to open at 1516 Koger Center Blvd. in Chesterfield County, where it will take over from Home-Makers Furniture. (Mike Platania photo)
It was shortly after Nicole Thompson and her husband were introduced to pickleball last summer when they hit on a business idea that’s been keeping her up at night with excitement.
The couple became fast fans of what’s been dubbed the fastest-growing sport in America, and were driving home one evening when they saw people playing the game on tennis courts in the city’s West End.
“We were like, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome to have an indoor (pickleball) center?’” Thompson said.
Once they formulated the idea, they moved quickly to line up a space that was large enough and configured properly to house a dedicated indoor pickleball facility.
“We started looking with a sense of urgency. We figured if we didn’t do it, someone else would and we wanted to be the first to market,” she said.
That urgency is expected to culminate this summer with Bangers and Dinks, a 25,000-square-foot center with eight indoor pickleball courts at 1516 Koger Center Blvd., next to Dick’s Sporting Goods and near Chesterfield Towne Center.
Thompson said she believed Bangers and Dinks would be the first indoor, dedicated pickleball facility in the area.
“There are places to play indoors but you’re sharing space with basketball or tennis courts,” Thompson said. “This is going to be the only place designed for pickleball indoors and only pickleball all day long.”
Thompson said construction is expected to start in the next few weeks on the space that’s currently occupied by an outpost of Home-Makers Furniture Designs.
Thompson said Bangers and Dinks landed in the space due to construction considerations, as the layout will permit the presence of full-sized pickleball courts, which are 20 feet by 44 feet.
“The columns needed to be far enough apart to fit pickleball courts and that knocked out a lot of options in town,” she said. “The structure of the building is really what led us to this particular space. We’re thankful it’s in a central part of Chesterfield.”
Thompson declined to share the cost of her investment in the space. The general contractor on the project is DCP and The Yellow Room is the project architect.
Thomas Lynde and Colton Konvicka of Commonwealth Commercial Partners represented Bangers and Dinks in lease negotiations.
The center is planned to offer several membership tiers that provide unlimited play as well as day passes for non-members. Thompson said Monday that membership pricing was still being worked out.
“The idea is we don’t want to be a members-only club. We think pickleball is one of those sports everyone can enjoy,” she said.
Besides courts, Bangers and Dinks is expected to have a shop that sells pickleball paddles and balls. The venue would also offer a food menu, as well as beer and wine.
Bangers and Dinks is planned to be open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The center would offer classes and dedicate some courts to beginners.
The name of the center is a reference to pickleball lingo. A banger is a player who hits the ball hard, while a dink is an arching, soft hit. The name came to Thompson in the middle of the night.
“I couldn’t sleep one night because I was thinking of this idea,” Thompson said. “I was like, ‘Bangers and Dinks would be really cool but there’s no way that’s available.’ At 1:30 in the morning I went to Google domains to see if the ‘Bangers and Dinks’ domain was available and it was.”
I mean…
Missed opportunity…Bangers & Smash!
Richmond is blessed to be a pickleball hub in the Mid-Atlantic region, this is largely due to the hard work of Linda and Dave Scott, who worked hard to get the original eight dedicated courts at Rockwood Park in Chesterfield about ten years ago. Those seeds bloomed into the huge pickleball community in RVA today. Chesterfield now boasts 38 dedicated outdoor courts, with Henrico and Richmond not far behind. Pouncey Tract Park in Short Pump will have a 24 court facility when the existing courts – usually full past capacity at peak times – expand from 12 to 24 this… Read more »
I would love to see a combination of league play, open play, and reserving a court with your foursome.
This is a good use for the emptying big box stores it at least gives people places to go to and hang out.
How convenient, right next to Dicks Sporting Goods.
I can’t wait to begin using this facility!!
Contact House of Pickleball in Leland NC. They have the absolute best indoor floors for bounce and give for old knees. They also have a pricing schedule for members and drop ins. Good Luck! Looking forward to playing here.
In order to get people to come for all those hours, I would suggest a small, professionally-staffed, child care area so parents would be able to play without worrying about their children.