Rockin’ by summer? New player plans indoor pickleball court at former Toys R Us in Vernon Hills
Pickleball use for the building was approved last September but didn’t advance
After a lull in the action, a new player has emerged with plans to convert the former Toys R Us store in Vernon Hills to indoor pickleball courts.
Village officials last September granted a special use for PickleMall to operate at the former big box store, 555 Townline Road (Route 60), in the Townline Commons retail center.
But the plan didn't advance. Dick’s Sporting Goods leased the 45,000-square-foot store as warehouse space but left at the end of January.
Mitch Goltz, founder of building owner GW Properties, returned to the village board Tuesday with a Plan B, saying the proposal by Ace Pickleball Club essentially was the same and only required a name change in the previous approval.
During an informal committee of the whole session, Goltz said there was nothing wrong with the property but that Texas-based PickleMall determined it was unable to scale up as far north as Chicago.
“So, we quickly pivoted to other options in the same arena,” he said. “I think PickleMall was a bit eager and more ambitious than they could have handled.”
Goltz said he recently visited Ace’s flagship location in Roswell, Georgia, and found the courts full at mid-morning.
“I have no doubt it will be a success here,” he said. “Hopefully, in the summer that thing will be rockin' a lot more than it is right now.”
Ace was founded during the sport’s “rapid surge in popularity and demand for optimal playing conditions year round,” according to information submitted to the village. Sixteen courts are planned for the former Toys R Us.
The concept is designed for ages and skills to play on regulation-sized courts with PlaySight technology that can be reviewed by players for coaching, analysis or training. Courts will be open to the public. Individuals can pay per visit or become members with benefits such as unlimited access to open play.
Ace is the first indoor pickleball franchise-ready concept brought to market by the former longtime members of the Sky Zone Trampoline Park team, according to Diego Pacheco, chief growth officer.
Goltz brought Sky Zone and Lil’ Kickers indoor soccer space to the former Gordman’s store in Vernon Hills in 2018. The Ace deal arose from the team’s long-term relationship with GW Properties, Pacheco said.
According to Pacheco, the Ace team has more than 100 franchise locations under development since February 2023 and will have more than $200 million invested in indoor pickleball club space by the end of 2024.
Vernon Hills will be the second Ace franchise to open under the ownership of PBJ LLC, he said. The first in Voorhees, New Jersey is under construction.