Off I-70 in a sprawling business complex, changes are underway. In a spot where a drywall and tire business once operated, pickleball is moving in. The Mile Hi Pickleball Club, a 35,000-square-foot indoor business, is opening Oct. 18 at 3700 Havana St. Suite 305.

Inside the building, work is underway on the 11 courts, along with a bar and lounge. Owners Tricia and Brant Houston hope to make it an inclusive place for pickleball enthusiasts. “Pickleball is very much a social thing, which is why it’s taking off, and it’s not hard to learn it and it’s not hard to play,” Tricia says.

She owns a mortgage company, and he works in investment management, so the project is a very big side gig. Tricia says the project “took on a life of its own,” and she’s encouraged by the response from the community.

The Central Park couple, both pickleball players, saw a need for another indoor space to play one of the country’s most popular recreational sports.

“The closest indoor one from here is Westminster. We were all playing in the street, and if we wanted to go to play leagues or anything like that, we’d have to drive 45 minutes,” Tricia adds.

The Houstons started looking for buildings that had the right amount of space for pickleball courts. It turned out older buildings were better suited for what they needed, and new ownership of the Havana 37 Business Center seemed like a good fit.

Along with the courts, lessons and leagues, there will be a corporate rental space for events and parties, and a bar and lounge offering beer and wine and some snacks.

An annual membership at the club will cost $840 a year, which they’re happy to divide into three equal payments. A one-hour guest rental is $15 an hour per person.

Tricia says her husband is a spread sheet guy, and the math works out if “you know you’re going to play, at least twice a week.” She adds they’re not offering monthly memberships “because this is somewhat of a seasonal business. You can go and play outside in the summer, and you can’t really run a business like that.”

She also wants potential customers to know you don’t need to be a member to play. “You can just do drop in if there’s a court available. You can bring your friends, and just pay as you go.”

Starting on Sept. 25, the Houstons will start sending out information about how to sign up for membership. They hope to open up the process to pre-memberships. There are currently 600 people on a list for a free intro class for people who have never played as well as a $99 pickleball crash course for people who have played but haven’t gotten training.

There are a lot of moving parts to any new business and lessons being learned along the way. The Houstons are sharing those lessons with their three teenaged sons.

“It’s a hefty investment to do this, and we were talking about it. If we’re going to do it, we’re going to show them how this is run.” Tricia says.

The teens have already been assembling chairs and will be working at the club. So, this is a family project, and one Tricia hopes will pay off. It’s an anxious time for any new business owner. Too much demand for courts could be an issue.

“That’s not a terrible thing, and I would never turn business away. There are just not enough courts anywhere to keep up with the demand, even outside. If you go over to the MLK courts, which is around Quebec, it’s always been kind of a hot topic. There are ten courts over there, and on the weekends, you must wait around 30 to 40 minutes in between games to play.”

For more information visit https://www.milehipickleball-offer.com