When I drive into our office a couple times each week, I pass the two pickleball courts off Denny Way that opened last year. People are always playing, even in the rain.

I guess it’s no surprise then that Seattle’s first-of-its-kind pickleball club is set to open next summer in collaboration with restaurateur Ethan Stowell. Called Picklewood, the concept is a unique blend of pickleball and dining. Think of it as courts and kitchen.

Picklewood will become the city’s first dedicated indoor pickleball facility, with seven indoor courts, four lighted outdoor courts, an outdoor beer garden, a bagel shop, and a restaurant and bar. It even features a pickleball pro shop. The menu is based on Stowell’s Pacific Northwest-inspired cuisine, with “reasonably priced” food options.

The 25,000-square-foot facility will be located at SODO Urbanworks, 3931 First Ave. S. in Seattle. The visual identity, by Seattle-based branding company People People, is touted as that of a “vintage country club.”

You probably know that pickleball was founded on Bainbridge Island way back in 1965. Last year, Gov. Jay Inslee even declared pickleball the official sport of Washington state.

I guess this concept was only a matter of time. Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the United States the past three years, with more than 36 million players this year alone.

This should be a dill-ightful addition to Seattle’s dining scene.