You Can Now Play Pickleball at This Grand Rapids Area Brewery

The pickleball craze doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon, and a local brewery has jumped on board!

Pickleball has been named the fastest growing sport in the U.S. for the past three years.

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Broad Leaf Brewery has added indoor pickleball courts.

Broad Leaf Brewing opened its first location on the corner of Lake Eastbrook Boulevard and 29th St. in Kentwood in 2019.

Co-owners Kris and Jason Spaulding also own Brewery Vivant on Cherry St. SE. Another location, Broad Leaf Brewery and Spirits Westside opened in fall of 2022, though it is now closed as of January 13.

The pickleball courts are at the Kentwood location in what was previously warehouse space.

Co-owner Kris Spaulding tells Crain's Grand Rapids,

When we purchased that property, everything was in a different time for our industry. So we were in the idea that we were going to grow some more and we had been renting warehouses and it just made sense to have our own space. Now, as things have changed in the industry, through craft beer maturing and then the impact of the pandemic on how much people are drinking beer and going out, we just don’t need as much warehouse space.

They brainstormed different ways to monetize the space, and adding pickleball was the one that excited the Broad Leaf team the most.

Spaulding plays pickleball as does Broad Leaf's head chef Lee DeHaan.

She tells Crain's they may even add some new items as well that may appeal to the pickleball crowd like more vegan options and lower ABV drinks:

We’ll make certain adjustments that will be true to everything we’ve done already, but definitely extend in the direction of the athleisure type of thing.

Broad Leaf's Pickleball courts have been in a soft opening phase. You can make a court reservation here.

The brewery is hosting a Pickleball Kickoff Party on January 20th, starting at noon.

Broad Leaf says,

Join us January 20 for our official Pickleball kickoff! Signup now for a free membership and start booking your court times in our brand new court inside our Kentwood taproom. Play a game of pickleball with friends, then enjoy a refreshing craft beer or cocktail afterwards!
We'll be dropping a new collab beer with @chapelofghouls (more on that soon), plus all your favorite craft brews on tap, cocktail specials, food features and LIVE Music by That Beatles Thing starting at 8pm