Pickleball Kingdom to replace the former Best Buy on Kensington Drive in Appleton

APPLETON – Pickleball Kingdom, the leading franchise in indoor pickleball facilities, is taking over the former Best Buy building in Appleton.

The company confirmed the address Thursday afternoon. An initial newsletter sent to The Post-Crescent listed the address as that of the former Office Max.

The new facility, 2411 S. Kensington Drive, will be the first in Wisconsin, but the franchise itself spans across 13 different states. The first location opened in Arizona in 2022.

In pickleball, athletes use a paddle to hit a perforated, plastic ball back and forth over a net.

According to a news release, the facility will offer open play sessions, leagues, tournaments, professional instructors, and social events. The state-of-the-art indoor courts will include outdoor-textured surfaces.

“We are thrilled to bring Pickleball Kingdom to Appleton,” said founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, Ace Rodrigues, in a news release. “This new location is a testament to our commitment to making pickleball accessible and enjoyable for everyone.”

The facility is expected to open before this winter.

The former Best Buy closed in 2020. In January 2022, the Appleton Public Library temporarily took over the building while the library on Oneida Street is being renovated and expanded. By March 2022, the Appleton Public Library vacated the property, which has remained empty since.

More information on the Appleton Pickleball Kingdom can be found at pickleballkingdom.com/appleton-wi.

Reach Jelissa Burns at 920-453-5107 or jburns1@gannett.com.