By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
What once was a bustling little mall has been reimagined and will once again be full of activity.
ProShot Pickleball will be building a state-of-the-art indoor pickleball facility in the space previously occupied by Burlington Coat Factory. The sports complex is expected to be ready for play by late fall/early winter 2022.
Andy Pessano, along with Dan Wach and Dean Tridente, is spearheading this project. He has been playing pickleball for six years and runs the Landing Creek Pickleball, a sports retail store in Ocean City, as well as Pessano Variety, a general store on the corner of 3rd and Atlantic on the same island.
“We announced the concept at the Funky Pickle event in Ventnor this past weekend,” said Pessano. “We spent about six months looking for a location, then worked on the design, and now we are getting permits and beginning to build.”
The ProShot Pickleball facility will house eight, full-length courts, a cafe with premade, healthy meal options, locker rooms, a retail store, and a 1000 square foot lounge for athletes to meet up and unwind after a game. Pessano said that the facility will use a new patented sport flooring that will be easy on players’ joints, separating the complex from any other indoor pickleball space in the tri-state area.
“The sport has been on the rise for the past several years,” said Pessano. “What would have been shocking a few years ago is now warranted. We expect a tremendous response from the community.”
On their website, the “founders” state in a published letter, “We envision this facility as being a place where the community can come together to learn a new sport, meet new friends, exercise, laugh, and tap into their competitive side!”
For those who haven’t seen the new sport, pickleball combines elements of ping pong, tennis and badminton. Players compete either in singles or doubles on a slightly-smaller tennis court, using a racket and plastic ball with holes. Pickleball has become popular with older adults and people looking to exercise in a fun, fast-paced fashion.
As of now, Pessano and his partners have released a membership opportunity for “people invested in a pickleball home” called the Founders Membership. This membership tier has tons of perks, including friend passes, discounts at the retail store, advanced bookings of the courts (up to two weeks), discounted lessons, and best hourly rates and even free play.
The former Burlington Coat Factory will be divided between two tenants: a restaurant depot store and the indoor pickleball facility. Pessano expects delays in separating utilities between the new tenants but feels confident that the complex will be ready for players by winter 2022. The parking lot outside the space has been repaved and construction is already underway.
For more information of the Founders membership and updates on the new facility, follow ProSphot Pickleball on Facebook and Instagram, and visit their website at playproshot.com.
Sarah Fertsch was born and raised in Egg Harbor Township, and holds a dual degree in public relations and political science. Prior to joining Shore Local full-time, she worked at a CSPAN affiliate, writing about Pennsylvania legislation. When she isn’t writing, Sarah enjoys painting, horseback riding, and Crossfit.
