October 30, 2024

A first look at the Ethan Stowell restaurant and pickleball venue set for South Seattle

Picklewood will have both indoor and outdoor courts. Renderings by Silk Cavassa Marchetti Architecture [enlarge]

The DJC reported last week on plans for a new pickleball/dining venue at the SoDo UrbanWorks complex at 3901 First Ave. S. in South Seattle. The project is a partnership between local chef Ethan Stowell, who would operate the restaurant, and local businessman Nathan Talbot.

The first renderings and more information on the venue, dubbed Picklewood, have been unveiled.

Picklewood bills itself as “Seattle's first indoor pickleball club and restaurant.” The pickleball element will comprise 25,000 square feet and include eight courts. Renderings reveal those will be a mix of indoor and outdoor courts.

There will also be a new lobby and pro-shop for the Picklewood paddle club, a beer garden, plus Stowell's new eatery. That appears to be a two-level space located to one end of the venue.

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The venue will include a new sit-down restaurant from Ethan Stowell and will also offer courtside dining.

Pickleball players of all levels, and their audience, will also be able to partake in courtside food and drink offerings from Stowell. Renderings show a courtside bar plus a mix of seating, including couches and high tops dispersed throughout the court areas. It looks like there will also be some ping pong tables.

Silk Cavassa Marchetti Architecture (formerly Stuart Silk Architects) is designing the space. Creative studio People People has crafted a full branding package and identity for Picklewood. The studio describes the brand concept as “pickleball meets retro campy country club.”

People People's branding will infuse the entire space, including Stowell's restaurant. Key elements include motifs, and a color palette inspired by 60s and 70s country club branding with prominent patterns and warm wood finishes.

People People branded merchandise will also be available to purchase at the pro-shop.

Picklewood is expected to open next summer. The DJC previously reported that the project team also includes SCM Architecture; Terrane, surveyor; and Foushee, the general contractor.

Stowell first filed plans to open a restaurant at SoDo UrbanWorks at the end of 2020. The pickleball element was added this spring. The building is owned by Nicola Wealth. Other tenants include wineries with multiple tasting rooms, San Juan Seltzer, Nine Pies Pizza and Southern Glazers.