Pickleball Courts Opening In Former Big-Box Store In Anne Arundel County

EDGEWATER, MD — Indoor pickleball courts will soon open in a long-vacant retail space in Anne Arundel County.

Dill Dinkers, a Maryland-based pickleball company expanding nationwide, will open in autumn 2026 in Edgewater.

This will be the company's first location in Anne Arundel County. Dill Dinkers has eight facilities open or under construction in Maryland.

The facility will span 25,800 square feet in the former Kmart, which closed in August 2020. The big-box retailer has since been split into multiple storefronts. Tractor Supply Company opened in part of the vacant space in 2024, but the rest has been empty for five years.

Additions have been plentiful elsewhere in the shopping center anchored by Weis Markets and The Greene Turtle.

The Market South River Colony welcomed Timber Pizza Company last month. Nico's Bagels & Brunch, a breakfast eatery that supports suicide prevention, is opening soon in the former Wendy's. Construction is also underway on a Charleys Cheesesteaks between State Farm and Kim's Nails.

Anne Arundel County is experiencing a pickleball boom.

PickleRage burst onto the scene this January in Glen Burnie, and Life Time fitness converted the former Annapolis Bed Bath & Beyond into 11 pickleball courts last October. Ball At The Mall replaced a mattress store with an indoor pickleball court in the Annapolis Mall in November 2024. The forthcoming Edgewater Recreation Center in the former Giant Food will also feature pickleball courts when it's built.

Related:

• Edgewater Recreation Center To Feature Basketball, Pickleball Courts
• PickleRage Opens Its 1st Indoor Pickleball Facility In MD

Dill Dinkers will have climate-controlled facilities and a Pro Shop powered by Pickleball Central. Players can participate in private and semi-private lessons, open play, tournaments, leagues and events.

The club will be owned and operated by Bridget McLaughlin, Dill Dinkers' regional developer of southern Maryland.

McLaughlin is actively seeking potential franchisees interested in opening their own indoor pickleball club within the southern Maryland region. Counties eligible for expansion include Anne Arundel, Calvert, Prince George's, Charles and St. Mary's.

“Dill Dinkers was born in Maryland, which makes this 5th franchise location especially meaningful,” McLaughlin said in a Monday press release. “There's always a need for indoor spaces where community members can stay active while avoiding the challenges of unpredictable seasons. Dill Dinkers creates spaces for all ages, making pickleball approachable for everyone. We're excited to bring that experience to Edgewater, so residents can play safe and play well.”

Related:

• Locally Owned Timber Pizza Opening In Edgewater
• Tractor Supply Company Opens In Former Edgewater Kmart: Developers
• Tornado-Damaged Restaurant Reopens At New Location In Anne Arundel County
• Edgewater Kmart Closes In The Market South River Colony

Dill Dinkers was founded in November 2022 in Columbia. The business has three company-owned locations in Maryland. It launched a nationwide franchise program in September 2023 and has signed developers for over 400 committed locations. The brand currently operates 20 indoor pickleball clubs.

Dill Dinkers is targeting further expansion in Illinois, Texas and California. It's also eyeing international markets in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and India.

Customers can join the waitlist for the Edgewater club, located at 3255 Solomons Island Road, on the Dill Dinkers website. Dill Dinkers Edgewater will post updates on its Facebook page.

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