Whether people are connecting over a coffee, beer or on the court, Relish Food Hall and Pickleball owners hope the center serves as a place to build community.

Relish, 550 McCasline Boulevard in Louisville, celebrated its grand opening June 20 and invited people to explore the 80,000-square-foot pickleball center featuring 19 indoor courts, two outdoor courts, local food spots, conference rooms and plenty of places for people to sit down and work or connect with friends.

Relish co-owner Tory Leggat said they set out to create a place that encourages community building, and found that pickleball was a great way to accomplish that. Pickleball is a paddle sport that can be played as singles or doubles, similar to tennis but on a smaller court.

Whether a pickleball aficionado or just someone looking for a coffee and a spot to get some work done, Leggat anyone and everyone is welcome at Relish.

“Above all else, we want everyone to feel like they belong here,” Leggat said.

One of the challenges in construction was making sure the center did not feel like the building’s former use as a Sam’s Club, Leggat said, but instead a warm, welcoming area. From the strategic placement of pickleball courts to create pockets for players to cool down and chat to the many food options, Leggat said anyone can find their place at the center.

Leggat said it can be hard to build community as an adult, especially moving into a new area. She hopes Relish is an easy, casual space for people to come and work, eat, play and socialize.

There is not always an outlet for adults to continue playing sports after high school and college, and Leggat said that pickleball scratches that itch. “You don’t really meet former pickleball players, once they’re into it, they are into it,” Leggat said.

“The addiction is real,” Relish Pickleball Director Ben Lampert said.

The proximity of the players during a game allows people to talk, laugh and interact with each other, which Lampert said is not always the case on a larger tennis court. Between the underhand serve, lower net and small court, Lampert said pickleball is an easy sport to pick up.

While there are many people who live and breathe pickleball, Leggat and Lampert agree they don’t want people to feel intimidated. To that end, Relish hosts free pickleball introduction classes and people can receive coaching to improve their game.

Seasoned players can also book a court with their friends or play with other experienced players during open play. Leggat said people can take the game as playfully or as serious as they would like. Relish also offers warm down and cool down rooms to help players stay healthy. Lampert also said the indoor courts are cushioned, designed with the players joint health in mind.

Leggat said that when her and co-owner Jeff Youngstrom came up with the idea for Relish, they knew they wanted to feature local food spots in the food hall. Salt and Vinegar, Soupsmith, Sabor y Salsa, and Magic Food Bus are based out of Louisville and Lafayette. The food hall also features a cafe, bar, pizza, ice cream, Venezuelan food and Asian cuisine.