Chicken N Pickle has signed a 20-year lease for approximately 68,000 square feet at Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale, Arizona. The company was represented in the transaction by Kidder Mathews Senior Vice President Chuck Wells, who represents the expansion needs of restaurant, entertainment, and hospitality clients.
Chicken N Pickle, a Kansas City, Missouri-based restaurant entertainment company, will open its first Arizona location at the lot on Brandon Lane, directly across from AMC Westgate 20. The two-story complex will include a restaurant and sports bar, 10 pickleball courts, and an outdoor entertainment area. The facility is expected to open in 2023.
Pickleball — a cross between tennis, ping pong, and badminton — has been skyrocketing in popularity in recent years. Chicken N Pickle has dominated the market since it opened its flagship location in Kansas City in 2016 — adding complexes in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. The lease in Glendale is one of three currently in development and will mark the company’s ninth location.
“We won’t need to introduce pickleball to many people in the Phoenix metro area. The sport is rapidly growing nationally, but Phoenix is a hotspot for pickleball. We’re excited about that,” said Chase Watson, Chicken N Pickle Senior Vice President of Development.
“We started discussing metro Phoenix with Mr. Wells in June 2019, searching for the ‘right spot’ to introduce Chicken N Pickle to the market. When Westgate came on the radar, we were very excited by everything going on out there, all the synergy they’ve created in that environment, the visitors, and the atmosphere there today,” added Mr. Watson.
“Early in the process, traveling to visit an existing location in Wichita, Kansas, was very helpful in matching the client with a location. Observing operations, being part of the customer experience, and visiting with the general manager provided insight one can’t get from simply visiting a website. They are the standard within their industry that others strive to become and will do very well in our marketplace,” said Mr. Wells.
Westgate Entertainment District is a West Valley entertainment destination and one of the largest mixed-use urban developments in North America. The development includes restaurants, retailers, and entertainment and event venues. It is anchored by Gila River Arena, home to the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, concerts, and events, and it is adjacent to State Farm Stadium — home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. Westgate Entertainment District is owned and operated by YAM Properties, an Arizona-based commercial real estate investment and property management company.
For questions related to Chicken N Pickle’s real estate requirements, Chuck Wells can be reached at chuck.wells@kidder.com or 602.405.8920.
About Kidder Mathews
Kidder Mathews is the largest independent commercial real estate firm on the West Coast, with 900 real estate professionals and staff in 21 offices in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Arizona. Kidder Mathews offers a complete range of brokerage, appraisal, asset services, consulting, project and construction management, and debt & equity finance services for all property types. The firm performs $10.9 billion in transactions, manages 62 million square feet of space, and conducts over 2,600 appraisals annually. For more information, visit kidder.com.
