While multi-club padel strongholds like California, Florida, New York, and Texas may be drawing the majority of the headlines in the U.S. padel world at the moment, there are also a handful of enterprising clubs now helping to bring the padel revolution to the Midwest — including a few I’ve already been to and a few I hope to soon. Let’s take a look at five clubs leading the charge:
Padel + Pickle Club, St. Louis, MO: As we previously reported, when Padel + Pickle opened its doors earlier this year it was one of the largest indoor facilities of its kind in the entire world — and still is.
In addition to its six padel courts and eight pickleball courts, the club — founded by three U.K.-born U.S. squash legends — prides itself on its ultra-friendly staff (most of whom I’ve personally met), myriad tournaments, clinics, and social events, spacious bar and lounge area, and overall “rocking atmosphere.”
The Heights Racquet & Social Club, Twin Cities, MN: While I have yet to visit this unique club just outside Minneapolis, it’s at the very top of my list. And not because it was recently featured on Good Morning America, but rather because it’s one of the very few clubs — either public or private — in the entire U.S. that features both padel and singles and doubles squash. (There are pickleball courts, too, if that’s your thing.)
As its name suggests, when you’re not playing one of their three main sports on one of nearly a dozen courts, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize while playing ping-pong, shooting pool, or sitting in the sauna.
(Oh, and if you didn’t get enough of a workout on court there’s also a gym and full locker room, complete with laundry service.)
ZMash Padel, Sterling Heights, MI: Another of the clubs at the top of my must-visit-soon list is ZMash Padel, an ultra-luxe facility powered by our friends at MATCHi about 15 miles north of downtown Detroit.
This 40,000-square-foot club not only boasts eight pristine padel courts and a chic SoHo House vibe, but also an equally impressive ownership group that includes former members of the Detroit Red Wings — which has plans to open several more clubs around Michigan in the near future.
Padel Clube, Mundelein, IL: Padel Clube was one of the very first U.S. padel clubs I ever visited — and still among the most memorable, mostly thanks to the incredible hospitality of brothers Rudi and Denis Kalil and their staff.
While admittedly a bit of a hike from Chicago proper, Padel Clube offers seven indoor courts (with appropriately high ceilings), an outdoor court, conference rooms, and a luxe air-conditioned lounge with a speakeasy feel and plenty of cold Estrella Damm, of course.
Given its size and stature, it’s little wonder Padel Clube was chosen to host one of this year’s USPA Majors — and odds are it won’t be their last.
Club Name TBD, Chicago, IL: While concrete details (including a club name) are still sparse at this point, based on recent conversations with Mexico-City-born, Chicago-based venture capitalist Fabian Gosselin, we do know he is part of a group (called Padel Chicago, LLC) that is planning to bring a five-court indoor facility to the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago in 2025.
Given its location just outside the Fulton Market District, you can expect it to attract a very young, hip, diverse, and professional crowd — much like Padel Haus is targeting with its upcoming Nashville and Denver openings — and be a big hit right off the bat given Chicago’s sports-obsessed nature.
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