Next week, Times Square will welcome a new addition: Pickleball.
CityPickle is set to launch its first fully indoor location on February 20th at the Paramount Building, located at 1501 West 44th Street Broadway. This opening coincides, interestingly, with the 60th anniversary of the Paramount Theater’s closure on February 21, 1966.
The new facility will span 37,000 square feet, making it the largest venue dedicated exclusively to this rapidly growing sport in the city. It’s going to occupy the entire eighth floor of the historic office tower.
This space, once a famed movie theater that later evolved into a live event venue, will feature seven courts, a cafe, a bar, private event spaces, and even serve as CityPickle’s headquarters.
Among its modern amenities, there’s a video camera system that allows players to capture their scores and view instant replays of their plays directly on their devices.
Founders Mary Cannon and Erica Desai had envisioned a comprehensive indoor facility, but it wasn’t easy to find one with the right features. Desai mentioned, “We toured countless properties. The layout we needed—large and column-free—is pretty rare here.”
Cannon reflected on their discovery, saying, “The moment I walked in, I just knew. The theater’s original design is expansive and open with soaring ceilings, which aligns perfectly with what we were looking for.”
The culinary side of the venue will be managed by Kim Lassen, CityPickle’s COO, who has a background as a former managing partner at Tao Group.
CityPickle also offers 120 memberships that prioritize access and provide additional perks, but anyone is welcome to join in the fun. Recently, the business received a long-term city license to manage Wollman Rink in Central Park, partnering with related organizations.
The leasing agreement for the Paramount, lasting ten years, reflects a broader trend where property owners are exploring new uses for former office spaces. Pickleball has proven to attract tenants to revitalized settings, like PENN 1 in Vornado.
Built in the 1920s, the 900,000-square-foot Paramount Building is currently over 80 percent leased to various small tenants, including the Martha Graham Dance Company, which recently moved into a larger facility.
According to Ryan Alexander, who leads the CBRE leasing team, the building recently underwent a significant $50 million capital improvement program.
Retail spaces within the building include well-known spots like Hard Rock Cafe and Carmine’s Restaurant.
The Avison Young team represented CityPickle in this venture.
