Pickleball Replaces Bed Bath and Beyond and Old Navy Outlets

In both Canada and the US landlords have been wondering what to do with all that commercial space left behind by the exit of Bed Bath and Beyond and Old Navy stores. Wonder no more!!

CNN's Nathaniel Meyersohn reports Saturday May 13th, New York: "It may seem like a strange strategy, but the match [Editor: no pun intended I'm sure] offers benefits to both mall owners and pickleball players. Malls need new tenants to fill vacant spaces and draw customers beyond their traditional department store anchors and clothing stores.
Consumers are craving fun, social experiences after years of limited gatherings during the pandemic, and they have shifted their spending from goods to experiences like theaters, arcades and amusement parks. Malls are responding to these trends by turning to a wider range of tenants and activities to draw traffic, real estate investment firm JLL said in a report this week...

The number of people playing pickleball [in the US] grew by 159% over three years to 8.9 million in 2022, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, a trade group.
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Courts have been opening at recreation centers, hotels and retirement communities. However, pickleball’s rapid spread has created dilemmas for public parks and recreation departments, which must balance competing interests with often limited space and funds. Retirement communities and country clubs also face challenges building space for people who enjoy the game without antagonizing others."

So it will not be long before you may be able to visit the Mall with your family and play Pickleball at the same time!!!