Dill Dinkers Pickleball, a leader of indoor pickleball, announced its tenth regional developer and Founder’s Club Member for 10 or more locations in South Charlotte, North Carolina including Mecklenburg, York, and Union counties.
Joining his Dill Dinkers regional developer colleagues in north Charlotte, Chris Billesdon has committed to developing the southern half of the Charlotte region to satisfy both the burgeoning demand for state-of-the-art indoor pickleball facilities and the robust interest from potential franchisees to start their own pickleball business. Billesdon feels bringing Dill Dinkers pickleball facilities to Charlotte will provide a fun, inclusive venue where pickleball enthusiasts, experienced and novice, can come together and enjoy a genuine, healthy, in-person experience.
“Pickleball is undeniably booming right now, and Dill Dinkers delivers a quality experience for players of all ages and skill levels to enjoy the sport across the nation,” said Chris Billesdon in a statement. “Introducing Dill Dinkers in our community presents an exciting opportunity to fulfill a real need for local schools to host their pickleball practices, a place for the community to gather and more. The expansion also invites other entrepreneurs in the area to capitalize on the opportunity at a prime time and I am thrilled to be the one to do it here along with my team in the northern region.”
Spending the majority of his career in investment banking, Chris Billesdon, takes on his new role as business owner of Dill Dinkers hoping to address the growing demand for dedicated indoor pickleball facilities in south Charlotte. Chris looks forward to leveraging his expertise in sales and finance to establish premier pickleball destinations for the community and other entrepreneurs. He grew up playing tennis and later developed his passion for pickleball after playing at a tennis club where the courts converted to pickleball courts. After playing at Dill Dinkers’ flagship location in Maryland, he immediately noticed the quality of the pickleball courts and the professional, welcoming, multi-generational atmosphere. Chris is looking forward to upholding these standards in south Charlotte and is committed to creating a safe and fun player environment where individuals of all skill levels can share the joy of pickleball.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the Dill Dinkers team and look forward to the impact he will have on the residents of south Charlotte,” said Dr. Ben Litalien, Chief Development Officer. “His experience in management and passion for community will undoubtedly be a key driver in the ongoing success and growth of our brand in Charlotte. Chris’ dedication to establishing Dill Dinkers into the community perfectly aligns with our vision and we are grateful to have him as a founding member of our team.”
In just a year since its inception in November of 2022 in Columbia, Maryland, Dill Dinkers is at the forefront of the pickleball phenomenon with its state-of-the-art dedicated indoor pickleball facilities. The company has four locations in Maryland with another location set to open in Manassas, Virginia in early 2024 and since the announcement of its nationwide franchise launch in September 2023, the brand has 12 signed regional developers in Texas, Washington D.C., North Carolina, Connecticut, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Western Maryland, Northern Virginia and Pennsylvania for over 100 locations in the next 5 years. By year-end, Dill Dinkers anticipates 20 to 30 clubs open and operating. This continued rapid development underscores a top-tier leadership team, focus on speed to market, and the undeniable demand for early entry into a premier indoor pickleball franchise concept.
“We started Dill Dinkers because of our unwavering passion for the sport and the community it has provided us,” said Co-Founder and CEO Will Richards. “As a former Dominos multi-unit franchisee, it was crucial for us to build a strong network of support ahead of our franchising launch, and now with our tenth regional developer onboard, we are thrilled to welcome a passionate and reputable operator like Chris who is just as dedicated to spreading the joy of pickleball. We welcome seeing how he extends our name in the community and how other entrepreneurs can benefit from a premier indoor pickleball offering and a strong network of support.”
Besides the single Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club franchise offer, the company offers territories for the development of multiple locations. Each Dill Dinkers features nine revenue streams, a robust operating system, a proprietary reporting and management platform that is mobile enabled, an intensive training system, and a turnkey marketing program for grand opening and membership development. Delivering a quality professional experience, each facility is equipped with a pro pickleball director and offers industry-leading paddles, nets, and other high-quality products through its national brand partnerships with JOOLA, a leading manufacturer of paddle sports.
