FULTON MARKET — A pickleball pop-up is coming to the heart of Fulton Market.
Big City Pickle is opening a temporary location on a vacant lot at the corner of Green and Lake Street that will operate for at least the next year. The grand opening is Aug. 9, but the courts could open this week, said Marc Bortz, president of Chicago Sport & Social Club. The courts will operate 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, Bortz said.
Created in partnership with Chicago Sport & Social Club and We Love Pop Ups, Big City Pickle has two locations in Gold Coast and Goose Island.
The Fulton Market location will start off with nine courts, but will eventually expand to 40 by spring, Bortz said. The company plans to enclose some of the courts during the winter so that players can compete in inclement weather.
Big City Pickle also plans to serve cocktails on-site and has the ability to bring caterers and food trucks for special events and private parties.
Both Big City Pickle locations are widely popular with over 1,000 games per week, Bortz said. Goose Island is the only location serving cocktails, but that will change once Fulton Market is up and running, he said.
The setting of the Fulton Market courts near high-rises and the Green Line is driving a lot of anticipation, Bortz said.
“In Fulton Market … as soon as we started painting the lines last week people were like ‘Oh my gosh, look what’s coming,'” Bortz said. “We realized … the ‘L’ is passing on the north side of Lake Street. Everybody’s taking pictures and that’s when it started to circulate.”
Guests will be able to rent paddles and balls on-site and reserve courts ahead of time or try for walk-up availability. Court rentals are $35 an hour.
Bortz said the best way to get lots of playing time is to get involved with a league. A list of open leagues for Big City Pickle is available at chicagosocial.com. Guests can also start to book courts ahead of the opening by calling 312-850-8177.
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