By John George – Senior Reporter, Philadelphia Business Journal
The region's first Dill Dinkers pickleball complex officially opened its doors in Lansdale on Friday, and its operator said more clubs are on the horizon.
Andrew Wakefield, who with his father serves as regional developer of Dill Dinkers sites in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties, said he is hopeful their second location in Hatboro will open later this year, followed by additional outposts.
"We hope to add another three places next year," Wakefield said. "We've been out scouting sites, and we have some promising ones."
He declined to disclose exactly where they are looking for competitive reasons. Wakefield said the plan is to own and operate two of those planned pickleball centers and bring in a franchisee for the third.
The Wakefields added Bucks County to their territory earlier this year after originally obtaining the rights to Chester and Montgomery counties from Maryland-based Dill Dinkers.
Husband and wife Jim and Mia Cassady signed a deal to be Dill Dinkers regional developers for Delaware County and northern Delaware this summer.
The debut of the Wakefield's first Dill Dinkers site, which spans 37,000 square feet at Velocity Station at 1180 Church Road, comes several months later than initially expected. They had hoped to open the complex over the summer but ran into construction delays.
"Our customers have been pretty understanding," Wakefield said. "Construction delays happen in everything from pickleball centers to skyscrapers."
The Lansdale Dill Dinkers, created at what was once a Merck training facility, includes 11 indoor courts, a pro shop, event space that can accommodate up to 80 guests and ball machines for practicing.
The next Dill Dinkers will span 48,000 square feet at Hatboro's Station Park, a mixed-used commercial building at 330 Warminster Road. It will feature 18 courts.
Velocity Venture Partners of Bala Cynwyd is the landlord for both properties.
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