New indoor pickleball courts opening in old Pocatello retail space
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POCATELLO – Two local business owners are constructing an indoor facility for fans of a rapidly emerging sport.
Jared Huckstep and Sterling Murdock are the new co-owners of Poky Pickleball, which is slated to open around the beginning of February. The two owners have been working with their family and friends for three weeks to convert the existing retail space at 1800 Garrett Way into a facility that will house five pickleball courts, one of them being a champion-sized court.
“It’s for the community,” Huckstep said. “We need a facility where we can just come and play anytime we want … It’s gonna be fantastic for everybody that loves pickleball.”
Both Huckstep and Murdock began playing Pickleball in October last year. Huckstep and his wife found there was limited availability to play the game on a court that meets official standards.
While players can use tape to lay out a properly-sized court, he says there are still inconsistencies that lead to a different pickleball game. This led to disadvantages when they played in tournaments in Idaho Falls.
“Everybody plays on wood floors in church houses or up at the (Mountain View Event Center), which is a very different game than actual pickleball,” Huckstep explained. “It’s a different court. The ball acts different. The spin is different, everything about it (is different).”
And even now with the city adding the Con Gilmore Pickleball Courts in Lower Ross Park, which opened in August, Huckstep says the ability to use them is dependent on the weather.
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The future owners of Poky Pickleball met around two years ago when Murdock came into Hux Customs, the gun store owned by Huckstep. Murdock — who owns Bigfoot Idaho, a commercial and residential property services company — and Huckstep got to talking and became friends.
They realized the need for an indoor Pickleball facility and felt they had the skills that would complement each other.
“It just makes business sense,” Huckstep explained. “I love pickleball. He knows how to build courts.”
The duo finalized a deal with Westwood Mall at the end of November to move into empty retail space. They renovated the 14,000-square-foot facility with the help of family, friends and a professional sheetrocking team.
“It’s taken a lot of paint, a lot of late nights, but we’re getting there,” Murdock said.
They anticipate adding the courts in about a week and a half. These courts will be regulation-sized, with acrylic surface coating, and seating for spectators.
While they haven’t finalized pricing, the owners plan to offer customers the ability to walk in and play a game or pay for a membership with tiered benefits. The owners also plan to have an additional stream of revenue from hosting private events.
“We’ll have carpet that rolls out over top. We’ll have tables and chairs and everything. You can book it for a whole private event if you want,” Huckstep said.
A date for a grand opening is still being finalized. Once they have an official date, they’ll announce it on their Facebook page.
As they make more progress on the facility, Murdock said they’re all getting more excited for opening day.
“I’m thrilled,” Murdock said. “It’s slowly but surely coming together.”
