The Picklr Santa Barbara Opens Founder Memberships Ahead of May Grand Opening

Santa Barbara County's first dedicated indoor pickleball club is taking shape inside the former Bed Bath & Beyond on North Fairview Avenue, and the owners are giving the local pickleball community a narrow window to lock in discounted rates before the doors open to the public on May 2.

Ted and Trish Guggenheim, who relocated from Colorado to Santa Barbara in 2024, are franchising the location at 189 N. Fairview Ave. in Goleta's Fairview Shopping Center. The Founder Membership sale opens March 18 at 10:00 a.m. exclusively through The Picklr Santa Barbara's website, structured in two tiers across a total of 400 spots.

The first 150 members to place a $1 deposit will lock in $179 per month, a rate the Guggenheims describe as a 20% lifetime discount. Once those are claimed, the next 250 spots open at $197 per month, representing a 12.5% discount. Both rates are protected for life under The Picklr's founding member terms: the rate will never increase as long as the membership stays active. The first monthly fee isn't charged until grand opening day, and the $1 deposit secures the spot in the meantime. Edhat confirmed that members must commit to at least one month of membership.

"We are very excited about this launch and are anticipating these Founder Memberships could go quite fast. We have a limited amount of discounted memberships and once they're gone, they're gone," the owners said in a statement. Anyone who misses the founder window, or comes in after the May 2 Grand Opening, will be placed on a waitlist for Unlimited Play Memberships expected to start at $225 per month.

Ted Guggenheim has been straightforward about what motivated the project. "The outdoor courts here are lovely, but we kind of missed the consistency and reliability of indoor courts," he said. "Our goal is to create a choice for people. We are here to add courts and add a new flavor." Trish Guggenheim has emphasized a broader vision for the space, including corporate events and team-building, alongside daily drop-in play.

The converted big-box space will house seven professional-grade courts, including two official championship-sized areas, and will run from 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. The amenity list includes AI coaching, a pro shop, locker rooms and showers, private event areas, court reservations, league play, tournaments, and drop-in play. Beyond court time, the facility is planned as a community hub with youth programs, summer camps, fundraiser tournaments, and private rentals.

The Picklr was founded by Jorge Barragan, who launched the brand's first location in 2021 after leaving the tech industry. The national chain is expected to reach roughly 120 locations by the end of 2026, with the Goleta facility joining that footprint as the Central Coast's first indoor Picklr club.

Founder Memberships go on sale March 18 at 10:00 a.m. at The Picklr Santa Barbara's website, with the public Grand Opening set for May 2.