Pickleball Club Signs 25K-SF Lease for New Courts in L.A.

Pickleball players in Los Angeles will have a new facility to relish later this year. California Smash Pickleball and Social Club have signed a new 25,300-square-foot lease at 815 North Nash Street in El Segundo. JLL’s Gary Horwitz, Caroline Bethel, and Kamil Agha represented California Smash in the deal, while Gateway Business Properties’ Jim Sullivan and Andrew Hardin represented landlord Gretchen B. Farrell Trust. The new complex, currently an industrial building, is set to open with 10 padded indoor pickleball courts, a full-service bar, restaurant, and a dance floor.

The founder of California Smash, Brett Drogmund, emphasized the clubhouse-type destination's aim to foster conversation, competition, and camaraderie. El Segundo City Councilman Lance Giroux praised the project, highlighting how it reflects the city's adaptability and support for creative commercial real estate uses. This new addition to El Segundo’s sports and entertainment landscape is expected to become a popular spot for pickleball enthusiasts and social gatherings.

The United States’ pickleball craze has been growing rapidly, with nearly 37 million players as of the end of last year, according to the Association of Pickleball Players. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association noted that pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the nation for the past three years. This surge in popularity has led to numerous pickleball projects occupying former industrial or retail spaces across the country, reflecting a broader trend in commercial real estate development.