Pickleball Takes Over Mall Spaces.

Malls are turning to pickleball to fill vacant spaces left by shuttered stores like Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, and Saks Off 5th. Pickleball, America's fastest growing sport, offers benefits to both mall owners and players, as consumers crave fun, social experiences after years of limited gatherings during the pandemic. Pickleball facilities have opened in former retail spaces at malls in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New Hampshire, and a new chain called Camp Pickle will pair the sport with food and drink options in a 1940s-era camp culture setting.