After nearly three years of planning, St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social is officially set to open its doors.

The massive 45,000-square-foot sports, dining, and social concept will soft open this Thursday for members at 680 28th Street South inside The Factory, a 90,000-square-foot arts and culture hub along the Pinellas Trail in the Warehouse Arts District.

The public will be welcomed on Friday, December 19th, with a full grand opening on Saturday, January 10th.

The club was founded by an experienced group of local entrepreneurs, including Reuben Pressman, Jarrett Sabatini of Intermezzo and Bar Mezzo, Green Bench Brewing co-owner Nathan Stonecipher, and Graham D’Amico of Major League Pickleball’s Florida Smash.

Among its investors are ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood, Neptune Flood executives Trevor Burgess and Jon Carlon, professional pickleball players Catherine Parenteau and Travis Rettenmaier, and former Women’s Tennis Association CEO Larry Scott.

In addition to 14 indoor pickleball courts, St. Pete Athletic contains two padel courts, table tennis, billiards, a restaurant, a coffee shop, three distinct bars, saunas, cold plunges, a gym, and much more.

Pressman said the goal is to create a place where the rhythm of a full day fits naturally.

“You can play in the morning, get a workout in, shower, sit in the sauna, grab lunch, take some calls in the co-working area, hit again later, and relax with friends in the evening,” said Pressman. “We think of it as an urban country club.”

During an exclusive tour, Pressman emphasized how important the sense of arrival is.

“When you walk in, you immediately get a sense of how alive the place is,” said Pressman. “You see the bar, the courts, the ping pong tables, the lounge seating, all of it happening at once. We wanted that energy to hit you right away.”

A concierge-style welcome desk helps people get courts set up, place food orders, and navigate the club.

Behind it sits a pro shop carrying brands such as Lululemon, Vuori, and Adidas, along with St. Pete Athletic’s own apparel line.

The main social room overlooks four pickleball courts through arched windows and contains high tops, four tops, lounge seating, and three ping pong tables.

Local art is everywhere. One wall features a rotating art installation with 30 hand-painted pickleball paddles created by local artists and curated by Chad Mize.

Five roseate spoonbill sculptures by local artist Elizabeth Bonert float overhead, each a blend of 3D printing and hand sculpted foam.

Near the entrance is a mural by Johnny Vitale that pays homage to the Florida Highwaymen, a group of 26 African American landscape artists from Fort Pierce who sold vivid Florida scenes door to door from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Rose’s Dining & Drinks is the collective name for the food and beverage concepts located throughout the club.

In addition to the cocktail bar near the entrance, a bar in the back will serve coffee and breakfast in the morning before shifting into a wine and oyster bar in the evening.

“I don’t think people realize how good the food is going to be. I think people will come here just to eat,” said Pressman. “This will be one of the best restaurants in St. Pete.”

Chef Adam Beckett, whose résumé includes three-star Michelin kitchens and local institutions such as The Birchwood, Ulele, and Locale Market, leads the culinary program.

Sabatini said the food philosophy is rooted in simplicity.

“Our food philosophy is straightforward: take classic dishes people love and execute them at a higher level,” Sabatini said. “It’s not about being fancy for the sake of it—it’s about using great ingredients, real technique, and delivering something consistently excellent.”

He describes the menu as American Continental at its core, but modern, polished, and built with intention.

“One of the dishes I’m most excited about is our house-roasted turkey club. It’s familiar, but it’s done with a level of care that makes it feel new.”

He also singled out the breakfast sandwich, which consists of Black Forest bacon, souffléed egg, datil pepper aioli, and homemade cheese sauce on a brioche bun.

Pressman loves the bagels, which come all the way from Ess-a-Bagel in New York City.

He also said the fried chicken sandwich, steak sandwich, and burger are already early standouts.

As for the bar program, Sabatini wanted it to reflect the same simplicity as the food menu.

“Everything here is designed around thoughtful execution,” said Sabatini. “The cocktails are streamlined and easy to enjoy, but that doesn’t mean they’re simple-minded. They’re sophisticated, balanced, and built with intention — drinks that fit the rhythm of the club without compromising on craft.”

Green Bench Brewing created a pale ale that will be available exclusively at St Pete Athletic.

Most of the facility is open to the public, though several rooms in the back are reserved for members.

The club’s 800 memberships are already sold out, and a waitlist is now open. Monthly rates are $250 for individuals, $450 for couples, and $600 for families.

There is a member’s clubhouse that functions as a co-working lounge during the day and a social club in the evening.

It includes community tables, a private cocktail parlor, a billiards table, a working fireplace, and a conference room that can double as a chef’s table.

The members-only cocktail parlor will carry exclusive cocktails that are inspired by famous country clubs or sporting events.

For example, St. Pete Athletic will have their own variation on the US Open’s Honey Deuce and the Master’s Transfusion cocktail.

The members-only fitness center features Technogym equipment, free weights, and a turf lane for sled and plyometric work.

Six personal trainers will offer strength, mobility, and pickleball specific conditioning, and the club will host yoga, pilates, and circuit classes.

Additional member amenities include saunas, private changing rooms with showers, a recording studio, and an outdoor garden that will eventually feature a cold plunge.

As for the pickleball facilities themselves, they are designed for both casual players and professionals.

The Cushion-X courts soften impact while maintaining bounce, and each court has an iPad, a score tracking TV, and cameras that allow players to save replays directly to their phones.

Reservations are not required to play on open courts or participate in events, leagues, and programs. However, members will receive priority access for early reservations.

St. Pete Athletic will host Major League Pickleball next year, an event expected to draw as many as 15,000 visitors over four days.

The arched windows facing the courts will convert into VIP suites for tournaments, and temporary stadium seating can push capacity into the thousands.

Additional courts and two padel courts are expected to open in another building by mid to late January.

For Pressman, D’Amico, Sabatini, and Stonecipher, St. Pete Athletic represents an exciting blend of recreation, hospitality, fitness, and community.

“What we are building is a place people will want to return to, not just for the courts or the food or the fitness or the social aspect, but for how it all blends together,” said Pressman.

St. Pete Athletic will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Be sure to visit St. Pete Athletic’s website for more information and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for updates.