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Work on the largest pickleball facility in the Northeast is set to get underway in Central Jersey.

Scheduled to break ground this spring at the former Robbinsville Fieldhouse on West Manor Way in Robbinsville, the 20,000-square-foot Robbinsville Pickle House will have more than 20 state-of-the-art indoor pickleball courts, an in-house restaurant, bar and year-round temperature control.

The project is the brainchild of Christopher Vernon, founder and owner of Mercer Management, a Trenton-based business consulting company, and being developed in collaboration with USA Pickleball, the sport’s national governing body.

“We’re thrilled to unveil The Pickle House later this year, a culmination of our dedication to providing top-tier facilities for athletes of all backgrounds. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, The Pickle House welcomes you to experience pickleball like never before,” Vernon said.

Carl Schmits, USA Pickleball’s managing director of facilities development/equipment standards, said in a statement, “USA Pickleball is excited to collaborate with the leadership team of the Robbinsville Pickle House to deliver a facility of this scale in one of the largest markets of the United States.”

Schmits added, “As we continue to see an explosion in demand for pickleball courts and facilities across the country, it is great to see the Robbinsville project come to life and provide local communities with a phenomenal place to play.”

Play and stay

Once open, visitors will be able to purchase annual memberships to the Pickle House or stop by for hourly rentals to enjoy the courts and dining, according to Vernon.

Because the complex is adjacent to the Hampton Inn & Suites, the Pickle House will partner with the hotel to host large-scale tournaments. It will also coordinate with other nearby hotels such as Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn to offer accommodations for out-of-town guests.

The Pickle House is also seeking to hire seasoned professionals to manage its facilities, as well as provide member support. Applicants can apply online.

Commenting on the upcoming opening of the Pickle House, Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried said, “We are thrilled to help accommodate one of the fastest growing sports in America, if not the world. This iconic fieldhouse has been the source of so many wonderful memories over the years, and thanks to the vision of Chris Vernon and his Mercer Management team, you can be sure more lasting memories are in store.”

“Whether it is first-class hotels, wedding facilities, athletic venues or car washes, every project Chris puts out to the masses is always meticulously planned and of the highest quality, so we couldn’t be prouder to play a small part in ushering in this new era of Pickleball with Mercer Management,” Fried said.

Pick a court

Within the past two years, several pickleball facilities have opened in New Jersey, including The Pickleball Club at Monroe, Pickle Juice in South Jersey and Pickleball Kingdom.

New Jersey is also getting its own professional pickleball team.

For the 2024 season, the Princeton Bruisers is one of six expansion teams for the National Pickleball League. The team’s ownership includes the co-owners of Pickle Juice: Jeff Brody, Lisa Brody, Brad Wimmer and David Slobotkin.

Other teams include groups in Kansas City, Mo.; Houston, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Coachella Valley, Calif.; and Seattle, Wash.