Former Bed Bath & Beyond in Southeast Boise Becomes Indoor Pickleball Hub

A vacant big-box store in Southeast Boise has taken on a new life as an indoor pickleball venue. S2 Pickleball, housed in the former Bed Bath & Beyond, is preparing to welcome the public on Friday, Feb. 23.

The facility sits at 3615 Federal Way and covers 20,000 square feet. Inside are nine new pickleball courts, aimed at players who live on the southeast side of the city. Pickleball is widely described as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and the new space is meant to give local enthusiasts a place of their own.

General Manager Anne Banks said demand in the area was a driving factor. "This side of town are huge pickleball fans," she said. According to Banks, those players wanted a more convenient option, along with a chance to keep playing indoors when the weather outside is poor.

For some, the new location will cut down on travel considerably. John Goicoechea, who has played for about two years, had been making the trip to Meridian to find indoor courts. He said the drive there and back adds up to roughly an hour each way. From his home, he now needs only five to seven minutes to reach S2 Pickleball.

That change means more time playing and less time behind the wheel, Goicoechea said. He also praised the facility itself, calling the courts "wonderful" and the floors good, and saying the building as a whole is "great." He added that it is nice to play on a regular pickleball court rather than on a tennis court that has been modified for the sport.

Beyond everyday open play, S2 Pickleball has bigger plans. Once the doors are open, the facility intends to add leagues, clinics and tournaments in the future.

Goicoechea said the social side of the game is what keeps him coming back. "My favorite part is just playing, the competition, and meeting friends because there are so many fun people that come out and play it's just nice to meet different people," he said.

The grand opening begins Friday at 3 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first 100 guests will receive swag bags, and the facility will offer free play all day throughout the weekend.