Five Starkville entrepreneurs are betting big on the sport that’s sweeping the nation one court at a time.

Wesley Ferguson, Brad Jones, Brian Lesley, Sean Owen and Gregg Jones have partnered to start PKL ROW, an indoor pickleball facility set to open by spring. The facility will be located on Airport Road near AutoZone and feature 12 indoor courts, a bar with beer, seltzers, sodas and more and a community-focused atmosphere designed for players of all ages.

Ferguson said each of the partners lives a very active lifestyle and all came together behind Brad’s vision for an indoor, year-round pickleball facility.

“We all love Starkville. It’s home to us,” Ferguson said. “… But, it all goes back to pickleball growing so fast, and it checks every box for Starkville.”

Everyone who plays pickleball tells me, “You know, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the nation.” Well, they’re onto something because the numbers back it up. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, pickleball participation has skyrocketed 223.5% in the last three years, with participation in every age group growing.

But PKL ROW is designed to be more than just a place to play. Ferguson said plans include an outdoor patio area dubbed The Hangar, where guests can sip drinks, gather with friends and watch planes take off and land at nearby Bryan Field.

The group also hopes to host tournaments in the future and become a regional destination for competitive play.

“We’re dedicated to this being the best that it can be,” Ferguson said. “We’ve done the research, traveled around. All five of us are business owners and leaders, and we want to build something that Starkville can be proud of.”

PKL ROW will offer membership packages as well as pay-to-play options. For updates, follow the project online at www.pklrow.com.
Also in Starkville, a Columbus boutique is expanding operations to downtown.

Located by the Guest Room, Ali Kat’s announced its second location at 101 S. Washington St., which is holding its soft opening Saturday. You can check out the new downtown spot 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday.

“From the very beginning, y’all have been the reason this story keeps growing,” a social media post read. “Every visit, every sweet word, every purchase, every smile…you’ve written the pages right alongside us. We are so proud of what Ali Kats has become and so thankful for the community that has lifted us up every step of the way.”

Starkville news is booming, y’all.

There’s a market coming to town, and I know it’s something my wife is going to take advantage of.

Triangle Trading Post, 13070 Hwy. 182 E., will soon be a “community-centered space where locals can sell, shop and simply enjoy.”

According to its website, it’s described as an art and antiques vendor mall, located at the old Owens Outfitters store that closed near Clayton Village earlier this year.

According to the website, Triangle Trading Post will have approximately 20 booths/rooms for artists and vendors to rent, with plans to expand to more than 100 in the coming months. Though not open to the public yet, hours are listed Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Actively looking for vendors, Trading Post is “especially interested” in vendors for local art and handmade goods, vintage and antique collections, home decor and furniture, and jewelry, accessories and gift items. Vendors interested can reach out at triangletradingpost.com.

The owners are Mississippi State graduate Granville and Delise Barker.

“We know that Starkville has so much creativity, we really just wanted to give the public a fun creative space to enjoy and shop at,” Delise said. “We’re especially excited to promote student artists and create a welcoming, vibrant space for everyone to enjoy because Starkville deserves more of that.”

She added they hope Triangle Trading Post is open by Oct. 1.

Speaking of trading posts, if you haven’t checked out Southern Relics in Macon, you’re missing out. The new vintage market opened Aug. 29, featuring various vendors across the spectrum. Just outside of Columbus and Starkville, you visit the new place at 14520 Hwy. 45 N.

Last, but certainly not least: Wetzel’s Pretzels, the second-largest soft pretzel chain, is hoping to make Mississippi its next stop.

Headquartered in California, Bill Phelps and Rick Wetzel (with a name like that, you had to go into the pretzel biz) opened the store’s first location in 1994 near Redondo Beach, California. Don’t get it twisted, this is great news.

Since then, the franchise has expanded operations to more than 450 locations. Within the last year, Wetzel’s started its expansion into the Southeast, including stores in Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas and Louisiana. John Fischer, the company’s head of development, said Mississippi is the company’s new target.

“We’ve been circling around Mississippi but we just haven’t been there yet,” he said. “… In a market like Mississippi, we’re looking at Walmart locations in the Jackson, Gulfport and Starkville area.”

Fischer said targeting these areas includes looking at potential real estate and franchisees in the Magnolia State. Let’s hope they find someone and somewhere, because I’m always down for a hot, fresh pretzel.

Thanks for all the business tips, and I’ll see y’all next week.

Former Dispatch reporter Mary Pollitz writes weekly about interesting business news. Have a tip? Send it to [email protected].