Pickleball is growing in popularity and one Collierville resident hopes to ride the wave of excitement with a venue for those who love the sport.

Adam Clay plans to open a membership-based business for pickleball fans and players at Carriage Crossing near Houston Levee and Tennessee 385 in southwest Collierville.

Clay is not an entrepreneur. He works in enterprise software sales, helping billion-dollar brands sell online. As a top performer in his business, he traveled to Antigua last year where he first played pickleball. 

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“I caught the fever,” he said.

He returned home and continue playing at Lifetime Fitness. His hobby has become serious enough that he had to go to Campbell Clinic for tennis elbow.

However, he enjoyed the game and wanted his extended family to join him for pickleball at Lifetime. But the drive from Midtown for a $129 gym membership didn’t make sense. Some churches have pickleball during the day, but there are few dedicated spaces.

While there are some spots to playing the eastern suburbs, each has its shortcomings. In Germantown, there are three courts at Riverdale Park, but players must bring portable nets. Cameron Brown Park has eight courts with nets, but many weeknights players of all ages are waiting for an open court.

Collierville has modified indoor courts at Linda Kerley Center and H.W. Cox Community Center. Cox Park has three courts but, like Riverdale in Germantown, players must bring their own net. Some people play at the tennis courts on Frank Road west of West Collierville Middle.

Collierville’s recently approved budget includes courts at Suggs Park in the southeast section of town.

For Clay, the options were limited, He called around learning there were no pickleball businesses in town.

“I had a ‘Why-not-me?’ moment,” he said.

He plans to open Pickleball 901 in a vacant space next to Milano’s Pizza, aiming to open in mid-fall. As a Collierville resident, he realizes the site is easily accessible with its proximity to Tennessee 385.

Carriage Crossing was sold to Edwards Realty earlier this year. Ramzi Hassan, president of Edwards Realty, told the Board of Mayor and Alderman during a March work session that his company wanted to find unique retailers. He noted some of the company’s other shopping centers added entertainment tenants. 

“We don’t take just anyone as a tenant because you really have to maintain quality, and you have to think about it long-term,” Hassan said.

Clay’s business seems to fit the criteria. He will have three indoor courts. Eleven outdoor courts will be covered with a brick structure matching the mall aesthetics if the town approves. There will be an additional two practice courts outside.

In the last few months, a grassroots effort to establish Pickleball 901 has resulted in an email list of about 800, plus social media and establishing a domain. He is expanding his organization with a professional marketing team. He will send custom paddles to celebrities in the Memphis area or with ties to the vicinity in hopes some might invest in the business

“It kind of has snowballed now where there is no going back,” he said.

The business will allow members to reserve a court, thus avoiding the wait that is the norm at many public courts. There will be a live feed feature so members will know the wait time.

Starting memberships will be $79 per month for an individual, but family and student packages are still under review. There will be drop-in and day-pass options for walk-ups. If someone has a day pass and decides to become a member, their day pass will count toward their membership.

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The membership includes unlimited food, reservation options and open play with an unlimited amount of practice. The prices will be such that if people want to drop in enough times during a month, a membership will make sense.

Until they open, they are partnering with Memphis Made Brewing Co., Grind City Brewing Co. and High Cotton Brewing Company to have pop-up pickleball events during the summer. 

“If it’s successful, we hope to partner with breweries where members can have an extension of the membership benefits at breweries and restaurants,” Clay said.