New Indoor Pickleball Club Set To Open In Simsbury

SIMSBURY, CT — In the world of individual club sports, tennis and golf usually dominate.

But a new club is expected to open this summer in Simsbury for a fast-growing pastime that is now being seen on television more and more.

And, even better, it will be played year-round.

Dill Dinkers, a fledgling indoor pickleball club chain, announced recently it is opening a club in Simsbury later in the summer, the first of 10 clubs coming to the state.

The nearly 24,000-square-foot space will be at 500 Bushy Hill Road, which is home to a large shopping plaza in town.

Pickleball is a popular racquet sport similar to tennis and is played on a smaller court that looks like a tennis court. It utilizes a plastic ball and paddles instead of racquets and tennis balls.

According to a recent announcement, Dill Dinkers will have seven indoor courts with fences, an event space, a ball machine, a pro shop, and a state-of-the-art reservation system.

It will be staffed by pickleball pro and director, Taylor Heal.

“To say I am excited to join the Dill Dinkers and work with Max and his brothers is an understatement,” said Heal. “I started playing pickleball a couple of years ago and not only fell in love with the game, but I found my passion in working with others to help them grow and understand why this game is so much more.

"I believe strongly in being of service and helping people achieve new levels of success through pickleball. I look forward to working with the Pickleball Brothers to make the Simsbury location and future Dill Dinkers a fun and exciting place to learn and play this sport we all enjoy.”

The Pickleball Brothers LLC, which includes Simsbury native Max Johnson, Dr. Wayne Johnson, Scott Johnson, and Zach Larichiuta, is behind the development of the Simsbury club.

The team is backed by two mortgage lenders, an engineer, and a physician dedicated to bringing indoor pickleball to their communities.

They are committed to developing Dill Dinkers and the franchise opportunity in several areas of Connecticut, with Simsbury as the group’s flagship location.

"We are thrilled to be on our way to opening one of the first indoor pickleball clubs in Simsbury," said Max Johnson. "It's more than just a business to us. We value our community and hosting a place where people feel included and can connect strongly, especially now with such a digital presence. We look forward to building relationships with our Dill Dinkers business and spreading the joy of pickleball to all."

The brothers are also the founders of a non-profit based in Connecticut called Honor Connor | Hold Onto Hope.

As America's fastest-growing sport for the third consecutive year, they have noticed how it has transformed people's lives through interaction and common ground.

Through both Honor Connor and Dill Dinkers, they hope to share the benefits pickleball and camaraderie have on mental, social, and physical health.

No official date of opening has been set, but it is expected to open sometime later in the summer.

Dill Dinkers also offers franchise information for those interested in opening indoor pickleball sites in other locations.

For membership information on Dill Dinkers -Simsbury, including membership/franchising information, click on this link.