Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
Pickleball enthusiasts Todd and Chana Baron are bringing a new 40,000 sq. ft. indoor facility with 14 fenced courts to Somerset County. WATCHUNG, NJ — Husband and wife pickleball enthusiasts Todd and Chana Baron are sharing their love of the sport with the Somerset County area. The Barons are opening Pickleball Kingdom at 1511 Route 22 in Watchung, in the Watchung Square mall, in the former Bed Bath & Beyond building. Todd Baron had always been athletic, but had gotten injured from playing basketball and softball in the past. It wasn't until his friends introduced him to Pickleball that he was able to get back into the game. "I tried it once, and it was just amazing," said Todd Baron. He found himself enjoying it so much that he was "spreading the love of the sport with anybody." That's when he decided to open his own franchise. One that could be played year-round and be a permanent pickleball court. "We were playing outdoors on various tennis courts," said Todd Baron. "These courts are all temporary situations where we had to tape down the lines, bring in temporary nets, deal with the outdoor elements, and also, the poor conditions of the courts, and fighting with the people who wanted to play other sports on the courts... And then when it came to the winter, everybody was scrambling to figure out where to play, because there were no indoor places." Todd Baron said they would resort to playing in recreation centers and gyms, but the wood surfaces were not conducive to pickleball. That's when Todd and Chana Baron found Pickleball Kingdom. "The key words are that we are a dedicated indoor pickleball facility. It's only meant for pickleball. The nets are installed in a permanent way. The lines are permanent, and it's indoors," said Todd Baron. The facility will encompass the 40,000-square-foot building and include 14 individually fenced courts, and also some larger courts to accommodate players in wheelchairs. Pickleball Kingdom also offers a free program called Pickleball 101 to take players through the basics of the game and give them an idea of how the game is played. There is also space for parties and corporate events. Membership is now open for kids and adults. "In this game, you meet people that you would never have met before, because the culture is friendly... This is such a great social outlet," said Chana Baron. "It's really special, especially in this digital age where people are online more than anything else. People crave community, and that's really what we want to build. We want to build a place, like Cheers, where everybody knows their name. They come in, and it's a friendly place, and they feel welcome. And that's our goal." The Barons are hoping to open Pickleball Kingdom by the end of December.
