sportstyle

74 • July/August 2022 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com Fun is the name of the game at this venue. By Judy Leand SPECIAL REPORT / PICKLEBALL F ood and entertainment have always gone hand in hand and when sport is added to the mix, the fun and excite- ment multiply. In fact, fun is the name of the game at Chicken N Pickle, a unique, indoor/outdoor entertainment complex featuring a casual restaurant and sports bar along with pickleball courts, table tennis and a variety of lawn games. e flagship venue was established in Kansas City, MO, in 2016 by founder and chairman Dave Johnson and his food partner, Bill Crooks, chief experience officer (an acclaimed restaurateur who collaborated on the Chicken N Pickle concept). Since then, it has become a wildly popular destination for families, young adults and corporate gatherings. e concept has proven so successful that expansion was inevitable. Chicken N Pickle currently operates six locations: North Kansas City, MO; Overland Park and Wichita, KS; Oklahoma City, OK; and Grand Prairie and San Antonio, TX. Plans also call for openings in Saint Charles, MO; Grapevine, TX; and Glendale, AZ, in 2023. Beyond that, the goal is to open in a new locale annually over the next five years. "Our main challenge is that Chicken N Pickle is in high demand," says Rachel Santschi, Chicken N Pickle's director of public relations. "It's a great challenge to have, but we are constantly getting calls, emails and Facebook comments from people requesting we come to their city. We wish we could be everywhere quickly, but it's a slow and steady process." Chicken N Pickle has something for everyone, hence its broad appeal. "ere's a growing trend of people looking for experiences rather than 'things' and we offer large properties perfect for being active or kicking back with your favorite people," says Santschi. Chicken N Pickle hosts a wide variety of programs and tournaments such as Newbie Night where new players can learn the game, Skills and Drills that teaches players new techniques, and leagues for players of all ability levels. e company is also determined to integrate into the communities in which it operates, and has established Our Hearts Are Local, a charitable arm that partners with hundreds of community organizations. Chicken N Pickle frequently donates meeting space to charitable organizations, participates in philanthropic efforts and embraces causes that matter most to guests. It also offers many ways for organizations to raise money such as by hosting pickleball or cornhole tournaments, participating in a 10 percent give-back night, and using its Green Cup Campaign in which $1 from each green cup purchased goes to a local charity. Of course, such success hasn't gone unnoticed, particularly as pickleball's popularity continues is meteoric rise. For instance, California restaurant group Dapper Cos. is working with Paul Frederick, co-founder and chief development officer of Eureka Restaurant Group, to create Electric Pickle in Las Vegas. e complex is set to open in 2022-2023 and will include nine pickleball courts, a two-story restaurant with a patio and rooop bar, three bars, cornhole and bocce ball courts, and a lawn for live music, yoga classes and other events. n CHICKEN N PICKLE SERVES UP A GOOD TIME Photos: https://chickennpickle.com

• Cover