Three pickleball-themed restaurants swinging into Austin

Pickleball, the tennis-like sport that has sparked the attention of 4.2 million U.S. players, is expanding its Austin reach with three new restaurants themed around the rapidly growing sport in the works.

The Austin Business Journal reported that California-based Eureka Restaurant Group and Rockets & Pineapples LLC has plans for three restaurant-sports complex hybrids, called the "Electric Pickle." The groups are pairing with Austin real estate developer David Kahn, a pickleball player himself, to bring the project to life.

The Cedar Park location on 580 Spanish Oaks Street is set to be the first open, slated for the end of 2022. The exact locations for the other two in Bee Cave and on Burnet Road in North Austin have not been revealed, but are expected to open in 2023.

Each complex will have 12 pickleball courts, a two-story restaurant complete with a patio and rooftop bar, cornhole and bocce ball courts, a space for live music and fitness classes.

(Electric Pickle)

Co-founders Paul Frederick and Kahn said the facilities aim to be the equivalent of Top Golf for pickleball but plan to set themselves apart from such competitors by putting most of their focus on the menu and "wine country" atmosphere.

The menu will feature an array of "global comfort cuisine," ranging from tacos to burgers to Korean protein bowls.