Pickleball for All

What better way to reinvent an old warehouse in Seattle’s Sodo neighborhood than by turning it into a home for the region’s sportiest export: pickleball.

Nathan, who grew up in the area, remembers playing pickleball in middle school, long after its invention on Bainbridge Island in 1965 but well before it captured the world’s attention in the 2020s. Between 2021 and 2024, pickleball participation grew by an astonishing 311 percent, and in 2022 it was officially named the state sport of Washington.

What pickleball lacks, Nathan points out, is an “illustrious 100-plus-year history” like modern tennis. “So we created a fictional place called Picklewood Paddle Club, where we could create a vintage country club vibe to give it some history,” he explains. The effect is unmistakable and impressive, with stylish nods to the best of 1970s design and references to Wimbledon greens and French Open terra-cotta.

The Talbots have transformed 25,000 square feet of raw industrial space into an inspired pickleball destination with seven indoor courts, four outdoor courts, and several distinctive bar and lounge areas meant for lingering. The restaurant, led by local restaurateur Ethan Stowell, features classic country club fare—club sandwich, prawn Louie, a steakhouse burger, plus chicken strips and mac ’n’ cheese—dishes that feel comforting, familiar and a touch nostalgic.

Courts can be booked online with no membership required, and upcoming programming will include leagues, lessons and open-play sessions. 

SODO Urbanworks, 4121 1st Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98134 | picklewood.net