Owner of new east-side pickleball venue says he’s struggling with public misperceptions
Almost exactly a year ago, Mike Ventling stood on a windy field covered in dirt and brown grass and promised Wichita that he’d fill it with a giant pickleball facility.
Now, he’s done it: Last week, Ventling and his wife, Kelli, quietly opened their new TapNPaddles — a 40,000-square-foot pickleball venue at 4956 E. 35th St. North that includes a restaurant, a pro shop and a 12 indoor pickleball courts.
The Ventlings started with a soft opening that featured limited hours. This week, they have the business open its full hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 6 a.m. to midnight Fridays; 8 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.
Though the pickleball community has welcomed the facility — 650 people have already created accounts so they can reserve play time — Ventling said that he’s realizing the larger Wichita area doesn’t understand exactly what the business is all about.
In fact, he’s struggling with three big misconceptions, he said.
One is the myth that Tap N Paddles is a members-only facility. Ventling said that the opposite is true. Anyone can stop in for a game without needing to purchase a membership. Nonmembers can book courts and drop in for open play anytime. (Members pay $79 a month or $877 a year and can rent courts for $20 an hour. Visitors can rent a court for $40 an hour or pay $8 for drop-in play. And as a Thanksgiving special next week, all customers can rent one hour of play and get one free.)
“We love you both ways,” he said. “If you don’t want to come as a member, please come anyway.”
The second misconception, he said, is that Tap N Paddles is a place for accomplished players only. In fact, his goal is to grow pickleball play in Wichita, and welcoming beginners will be a big part of that. He’s already planning promotions that will attract newbies, and the business will be offering free introduction to pickleball clinics next month.
“We want beginners,” he said. “We love beginners.”
Finally, Ventling said, he’s hearing that people think the facility’s restaurant is open only to members. That also isn’t true.
The Tap N Paddles restaurant, whose menu is included below, is open to anyone, even those who have no interest in playing pickleball. The cafe offers smoothies, breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos in the morning and a menu of appetizers, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and desserts for lunch and dinner. The kitchen also often comes up with specials, Ventling said.
There’s also a bar featuring craft cocktails, wines and beers on tap as well as by the bottle.
“We welcome everyone to come eat and drink with us,” Ventling said, adding that the restaurant will soon partner with DoorDash and will also be set up for carryout orders.
Tap N Paddles operates at the District 96 development near K-96 and Oliver that’s also home to an Aloft Hotel, the new location of The Kitchen, as well as the new brunch restaurant Another Broken Egg and a new Scooter’s coffee.
The Ventlings became interested in pickleball during the pandemic, and now they play all the time. The sport has improved their health and helped them make new friends, Ventling
For more information on how to play pickleball at Tap N Paddles, visit its website at tapnpaddles.com
Tap N Paddles menu
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