Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandeep Methi.
Hi Sandeep, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
At PickleX, our mission is simple: help people live healthier, happier lives through movement, connection, and community.
We believe one of the biggest challenges in modern life is staying active consistently. Exercise often feels like a chore, and many people struggle to find activities they genuinely enjoy. When we discovered pickleball, we saw something different. It was easy to learn, welcoming to all ages and skill levels, and most importantly, it brought people together.
That realization inspired us to create PickleX. We wanted to build more than just a place to play pickleball. We wanted to create a community where people could improve their physical health, build friendships, and experience the joy that comes from being active together.
Today, we see seniors finding new energy, beginners gaining confidence, families spending quality time together, and lifelong friendships forming on our courts. Those moments remind us why we started this journey.
At its heart, PickleX is about making healthy living fun, accessible, and sustainable. If we can help people move more, connect more, and smile more, then we feel we’re accomplishing our mission.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It certainly has not been a completely smooth road, but that’s part of the journey of building any small business.
One of our biggest lessons has been that opening the doors is the easy part; building a thriving community is the real challenge. Every day we think about questions such as: How do we introduce pickleball to people who have never played before? How do we create a welcoming environment where beginners, seniors, families, and competitive players all feel at home? How do we make every customer feel known and valued rather than just another reservation on a schedule?
Like many businesses, we also work through the challenge of balancing growth with sustainability. We are constantly looking for ways to increase utilization during non-peak hours, leverage technology to create a seamless customer experience, streamline operations, and keep costs under control.
The pickleball industry itself is evolving rapidly, which brings both opportunities and challenges. New facilities are opening, customer expectations continue to rise, and we are always asking ourselves how we can differentiate PickleX—not just as a place to play pickleball, but as a place where people can build friendships, improve their health, and feel a sense of belonging.
Another challenge has been wearing many hats. As owners, we are involved in everything from marketing and community outreach to facility operations, programming, partnerships, and customer service. There is always more to do than there are hours in the day.
That said, these challenges are also what make the journey exciting. Every time we see a new player fall in love with the game, a senior become more active, or friendships form on our courts, it reminds us why we started PickleX in the first place.
This answer has a nice entrepreneurial tone: it acknowledges the challenges while reinforcing your broader vision of **health, community, and belonging**, which is really the PickleX story.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about PickleX?
PickleX is an indoor pickleball club located in Plymouth, Minnesota, but we like to think of ourselves as much more than a sports facility. Our mission is to help people live healthier, more connected lives through activity, community, and fun.
We offer open play, leagues, clinics, lessons, youth camps, corporate events, private parties, and community gatherings. While pickleball is at the heart of what we do, our larger goal is to create a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, build friendships, and improve their physical and mental well-being.
What sets us apart is the experience. From day one, we focused on creating a welcoming, personal, community-oriented environment rather than a large, impersonal sports complex. As a locally owned family business, we know many of our members by name, listen to their feedback, and continually evolve our programs based on their needs. We often hear that PickleX feels like the “right size”—large enough to offer a vibrant community and variety of programming, yet small enough that people feel seen, welcomed, and connected.
One of the things we are most proud of is that we built the PickleX brand from scratch. What started as an idea has grown into a thriving community of players, families, seniors, beginners, and competitive athletes. Seeing friendships form, new players discover the game, and people become more active is incredibly rewarding.
We are also proud to have created a unique venue for celebrations and corporate gatherings. With six indoor courts and dedicated event space, PickleX is ideal for birthday parties, team-building events, client appreciation events, fundraisers, and community celebrations for groups of 75–100 people. We have found that pickleball is a wonderful way to bring people together because it is social, easy to learn, and fun for all skill levels.
Ultimately, we want people to know that PickleX is not just about pickleball. It is about creating a healthier, happier, and more connected community. If someone walks through our doors and leaves with a smile, a new friend, and a little more joy in their day, we consider that a success.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Absolutely. While I, Leena, Nidhi, and Pankaj are often the faces people see behind PickleX, the reality is that this journey has been made possible by the support of many others.
I have been fortunate to have incredible business partners. Each of us brings a different background, perspective, and set of experiences, and that diversity has been one of our greatest strengths. Whether it is operations, technology, finance, marketing, or community building, we challenge and support one another every day. Building a business is full of ups and downs, and having partners who share the vision and remain committed during difficult moments has been invaluable.
I would also like to give a special shoutout to Bo, who has been like a big brother throughout this journey. No matter what operational challenge comes up, Bo is always willing to help, offer advice, roll up his sleeves, and find a solution. Having someone you can count on like that is incredibly reassuring as a business owner.
We are also deeply grateful to our members and the broader Plymouth community. From the beginning, so many people have encouraged us, provided feedback, volunteered their time, introduced friends to PickleX, and helped spread the word. Their enthusiasm and belief in what we are building has kept our spirits high and motivated us to keep improving.
What has been especially rewarding is seeing many members evolve from customers into advocates and friends. They celebrate our successes, offer constructive ideas when things can be better, and genuinely want to see PickleX thrive. That sense of community support is something we never take for granted.
If there is one thing we have learned through this journey, it is that businesses may be started by a few people, but they are built by communities. We feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by people who believe in our mission of creating healthier, happier, and more connected lives through activity, connection, and community.
Pricing:
- Events for $200-$500
- Unlimited Monthly Open Play memberships for $50 and Up
- Open Plays for $5 and Up
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.picklexmn.com
- Instagram: Picklexmn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/PickleX-MN-61570364080488/
