The Louisiana Boardwalk is seeing fresh foot traffic, but instead of shopping bags, it’s pickleball bags. The Picklr Bossier City is a massive new indoor pickleball and social complex that officially celebrated its grand opening in February. 

The 39,000-square-foot facility is designed to be a premier destination for competitive athletes and casual players in a high-end environment with a climate-controlled interior.

With 11 indoor courts across two buildings, The Picklr provides a space for pickleball enthusiasts through outdoor surfacing, AI coaching, a pro shop, league play, tournament and drop-play, court reservations, a gym, and locker rooms.

Co-owner Chris Phillips said the community response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. The Picklr opened with 250 members — the most of any of The Picklr clubs in the country — and has grown to 375 members with a drive to reach 500 total. Now they’re looking ahead to develop future players with their junior program, send a player to compete nationally, and even host a tournament. 

The facility is a key part of the revitalization efforts for the Louisiana Boardwalk, providing a state-of-the-art space for fitness and community gathering along the Red River. 

Phillips said it’s all part of the effort to improve the quality of life for northwest Louisiana. By opening The Picklr at the Boardwalk, he’s putting his money where his mouth is by investing in the community. 

“This is an asset that I can be on the front end of helping revitalize,” Phillips said. “We have a pretty good foundation to work with here. It’s a realistic goal (to revitalize the Boardwalk).” 

He said the missing component to improving the local quality of life is locals who care about where they live. 

“We’re the best ambassadors that the city has,” Phillips said. “When you see the passion that Simple Church Pastor Justin Haigler has for the Boardwalk, he was a major motivator for us to look here. Now, if you look at this quadrant with Simple Church and us, it looks like a happening little area, and that can just spread all the way around.”

With a background in oil and gas, Phillips is not a pickleball player. But he saw the opportunity to cater to a growing local population that would be a dedicated audience for the Boardwalk.

“We needed some kind of anchor that has regular traffic, and Pickleball players are passionate, dedicated, and will go where they can play,” he said. “Bossier rolled out the red carpet for us. They were very helpful and easy to work with.”

Another asset of The Picklr Bossier City is that this is the first of more than 60 franchises with a full-service restaurant, The Brine.

Phillips notes that pickleball is a social game, and people want to have something to do afterwards. The Brine adds a unique social dimension by blending high-quality dining with sports and social experiences and features an outdoor deck with a scenic view of the Red River.

Having The Brine on the backside of their second building allows for events that do not interfere with their membership. Now they are positioned to host birthday parties, business lunches, company retreats, or even rearrange the space for an event that has nothing to do with pickleball.

“I want the community to get behind the restaurant as well as they have the pickleball side of things,” said Phillips. “If we can develop a crowd who recognize the aesthetics, food, and service, then I think that will have as big an impact as anything on the redevelopment of the Boardwalk.”

The Brine is led by acclaimed local chef Gabriel Balderas, known for El Cabo Verde and Zuzul Coastal Cuisine.

“Gabe is top-notch in running and curating the food for restaurants. Every time I went in one of his restaurants, I felt like they recognized the importance of good service and a good experience,” Phillips said.

In the end, The Picklr and The Brine are bringing hope back to the area as a catalyst for more new attractions to move in and restock the empty storefronts.

“It makes no sense to me that the Boardwalk reached this point — it’s a highlight of our community,” Phillips said. “Who says we can’t fill it up?”