The Picklr files for Chapter 11, says its clubs stay open
The indoor franchisor blamed lease guarantees for early franchisees. Founder Jorge Barragan: “That’s on us. I own it.”
The Picklr, one of the fastest-growing names in indoor pickleball, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, according to Fox Business.
The filing is a reorganization, not a shutdown. The company said its clubs remain open and that no locations will close directly because of the filing, though some contraction is expected.
What went wrong
The company traced the filing partly to guarantees it signed on facility leases for early franchisees, covering about 40 locations.
We signed, unfortunately, too many corporate guarantees that landed on the holding company, and that’s on us. I own it.
Founder and CEO Jorge Barragan, to Fox Business
Per its franchise disclosure document, The Picklr posted a 2025 net loss of $4.4 million on $10.3 million in revenue.
The lifeline
An investor group led by franchisee Tom Neale committed $4.5 million in financing, subject to court approval. Sports Business Journal reported the figure as $4.8 million.
The bigger picture
Founded in 2021, The Picklr has more than 70 U.S. locations plus facilities in Australia, Canada and Japan. Its filing is a reminder that a booming sport and a profitable facility business are not the same thing, especially when the parent company is on the hook for the leases.
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