Local Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists Jack and Robin Salzman are planning to build and establish a new independent recreation amenity concept to the Lake Norman region that will feature semi-private pickleball, a restaurant, a café, and community non-profit concept featuring 16 pickleball courts and 4 Top Golf Simulator Suites to a parcel they own and will develop in Cornelius, NC.

The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen is a groundbreaking business venture set to establish a prominent Pickleball, Golf, and Restaurant destination on a prime 6.3-acre site in Cornelius, NC, fronting I-77. This project is being developed and founded by local Entrepreneurs and the 2021 Charlotte Business Journal Most Admired CEO’s Robin and Jack Salzman. After selling one of the country’s top performing Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealerships, which they operated for 20 years, in January 2023, the Salzman’s are ready to start a new business that the entire Lake Norman community will enjoy. The state of the art 65,000 square foot project encompassing 45,000 square feet of multipurpose indoor space as well as 25,000 square feet of outdoor recreation space will seamlessly integrate the excitement of pickleball and virtual golf with a vibrant social setting for dining, drinks, and community interaction.  

In addition to the eight indoor and eight outdoor pickleball courts, this project will also feature an upbeat, social, and entertaining restaurant, a café serving the best artisan coffee along with a beautiful indoor and outdoor space featuring amazing craft cocktails. Two unique parts of this complex will be a community room that will host up to 50 people for private events and four Top Golf Swing Suites powered by Full Swing. Partnering with Top Golf brings the most iconic courses in golf and is the officially licensed simulator of the PGA tour. The Full Swing simulator is also more than golf and provides High Heat Pitching, QB Challenge, Soccer and Hockey.

The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen targets a widening hunger for pickleball in the area, where supply lags demand by a wide margin. Having more than 4.8 million participants nationwide, and a growth of 39.3% over the last two years, pickleball was officially announced as the fastest-growing sport in America for the second year in a row, according to The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2022 Sports, Fitness, and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report that was just released.

Unlike other “Eatertainment” destinations that have been created solely for eating and drinking around a handful of pickleball courts, The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen is a sports entertainment complex that features sixteen pickleball courts and four dedicated bays of a high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy, paired with an outstanding food and beverage menu. The new business will employ over 50 people, including a Food and Beverage Director and a Director of Pickleball and Head Professional, who will offer private and group lessons as well as run camps, leagues, and tournaments for members as well as nonmembers.

Having access to courts is the number one concern for frequent players so the business will offer several membership packages to choose from. This will give The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen a dedicated base of players who come in several times per week. The Serve will also host numerous events throughout each week of the month including social and competitive pickleball leagues.

The Salzman’s have been known as huge supporters in the community for many years and they are looking forward to bringing people together around sports and entertainment when this opens. Residents and visitors can expect to see numerous community focused charity events onsite each month as well.

The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen will offer a limited number of memberships and create a bustling hub for residents and visitors alike. The modern open design will facilitate watching matches while enjoying food and drinks. With indoor and outdoor courts, an outdoor social area, The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen is poised to become North Mecklenburg's premier social entertainment destination.

The general contractor for the project is Spectrum Building Company, the architect is Praxis3 and the developer is Larry Shaheen from The McIntosh Law Firm. To learn more about The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen please email us at info@theservepickleball.com and follow us at:

• Website: www.theservepickleball.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theservepickleball/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theservepickleball
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theservepickleball
• Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/servepickleball