A massive 45,000-square-foot sports entertainment venue opening in St. Pete early next year will feature pickleball courts, padel courts, table tennis, a full-service restaurant, and a cocktail bar.

St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social Club has inked a lease at 2544 Fairfield Avenue South inside The Factory, a 90,000-square-foot arts and culture hub situated on the Pinellas Trail in the Warehouse Arts District.

The club will occupy 30,000 square feet of existing space on the west side of The Factory property and 15,000 square feet in a new building which will be constructed to accommodate more pickleball courts.

St. Pete Athletic is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Reuben Pressman and owner of Major League Pickleball’s Florida Smash Graham D’Amico, alongside key partners Jarrett Sabatini, owner of Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails; and Nathan Stonecipher, owner of Green Bench Brewing.

The vision for St. Pete’s newest athletic and social club has attracted some of the most prominent investors in Tampa Bay, including ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood, Neptune Flood executives Trevor Burgess and Jon Carlon, professional pickleball players Catherine Parenteau and Travis Rettenmier, and former chairman and CEO of the Women's Tennis Association Larry Scott.

“We believe this is the perfect location to bring a new accessible and social experience to St. Petersburg,” said Pressman, who is also a board member for the Warehouse Arts District Association.

Pressman and D’Amico, both St. Pete locals and avid pickleball enthusiasts, envision St. Pete Athletic with an elevated country club-like environment with 14 indoor pickleball courts catering to everyone from first-time players to experienced professionals.

The club, designed by local firm Wannemacher Jensen Architects, will be open to the public; however, members will enjoy unlimited open play and members-only courts, exclusive access to a members-only lounge and garden, preferred pricing at the restaurant and pro shop, access to locker rooms and showers, unlimited access to the on-site boutique fitness studio, and more.

Membership sales launched today on St. Pete Athletic’s website. The initial 1,000 members will have an introductory price of $200 per month.

Whether you are a member or not, those looking to up their game can take advantage of specialized clinics and personalized one-on-one lessons with pros. St. Pete Athletic will also host many tournaments, leagues, and kids camps throughout the year.

The pickleball courts will have some of the latest sports technology including instant replays, which can be shared on social media, live scorekeeping, and an app for users to reserve courts and coaching lessons ahead of time.

In addition to pickleball courts, the club will feature six table tennis tables in cabana-style play areas and two indoor grass and turf courts for padel, a Mexican racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court slightly smaller than a doubles tennis court.

Although there will be a significant emphasis on pickleball, Pressman says the overarching goal is to create a true destination and social gathering place for St. Pete residents in the Warehouse Arts District.

The club will also feature a full-service restaurant and cocktail bar helmed by Jarrett Sabatini, who owns Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails in the EDGE District.

The menu will have “country club classics” with elevated, yet approachable food curated from a scratch kitchen, according to Sabatini.

“We are building this as an experience that everyone, not just paddle sports players, can really enjoy and benefit from,” Sabatini said. “The social club aspect is something missing in St. Pete and we think this is the perfect way to cultivate it.”

Patrons and players can grab a cocktail from the bar while watching live matches from their seats overlooking the court.

Throughout the property, including courtside, visitors can order food and beverages via an iPad and QR codes on tables.

Additionally, St. Pete Athletic will be home to an all-new craft beer concept from Green Bench Brewing featuring IPAs, lagers, and stouts.

“It’s our goal to collaboratively add to the foundation that’s already been established at St. Pete Athletic and continue the process of creating a unique space that brings our community together,” said Nathan Stonecipher, who owns Green Bench Brewery in the EDGE District.

The idea for St Pete Athletic came to Pressman after he noticed the need for more pickleball courts in the Sunshine City. 

Pickleball continues to be the fastest-growing sport in America, having grown an incredible 223.5% since 2020, and most municipalities cannot keep up with the demand. St. Petersburg’s existing pickleball courts are isolated in city parks, often lacking amenities such as restrooms and lighting, and are quickly booked up.

Pressman previously eyed a 1.6-acre site near the intersection of Burlington Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street; however, those plans never came to fruition due to financial feasibility.

Joe Esposito of Axxos Commercial Group represented the landlord and Jake Wollman of KW Commercial represented the tenant in the lease transaction. Esposito previously worked with local investors Tom and Cory Gaffney in the purchase of The Factory property in June.

“Helping activate The Factory by bringing an inclusive range of demographics right next to the arts and providing new amenities (recreation and restaurant) to the district was top of mind when we were deciding on the perfect location,” said Pressman.

Once St. Pete Athletic debuts in early 2025, it will be the only facility in Florida to offer pickleball, padel, and table tennis under one roof and will be the first facility in the city that will have over six pickleball courts.

The club is expected to operate every day from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Be sure to reserve your membership at St. Pete Athletic’s website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram for the latest announcements.