SOS is the City’s New Social Spot For Pickleball Players

Jimmy Edgerton had never played pickleball when he decided to open his own court. A few years ago, the engineering consultant had been watching as the game took over his Patterson Park neighborhood—first quietly, then quickly—mirroring its trajectory as the fast-growing sport in America.

“I’d sit on the stoop with [my daughter] and watch people play across the street,” says Edgerton.

Then in late 2022, he and his wife, Heather Keating, purchased a former marble-and-stone warehouse on Spring Street in Fells Point. Soon enough, the couple got an idea: Maybe they could turn the building into a community hub, centered around this increasingly popular pastime. Construction began in 2024, and soon after, Edgerton finally picked up a paddle and became hooked himself.

With the backing of two silent partners, SOS Pickleball opened its doors this past September.

Invented in 1965, pickleball—a combination of tennis, table tennis, and badminton—found a massive resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic. But what initially felt like a passing trend has proven to have staying power; according to The New York Times, there are now more than 26,000 pickleball courts nationwide.

And now, thanks to Edgerton and Keating, Baltimore City has its first dedicated indoor court.

One of Edgerton’s favorite things about the sport is that anyone can play—something he learned the hard way. His first few games were with neighborhood regulars at Patterson Park. Within about 30 minutes, the lifelong basketball and tennis player had learned most of the rules, rotated through games with strangers, and experienced the sport’s particular brand of humility after repeatedly losing to a 75-year-old named Betsy.

“Pickleball is such an interesting, accessible sport that anyone at any level can play,” says Edgerton.

SOS stands for “serve on spring,” a play on words to evoke the urgency needed to get your pickleball hit. In a nod to the Ravens, its purple walls, handpicked by Keating, span roughly 7,300 square feet, housing two dedicated pickleball courts, table tennis, and billiards rooms, alongside lounge seating and a bar. The club has a full liquor license, a bunch of non-alcoholic options, and food from nearby newcomers Bank St. Deli, which Edgerton helped build.

The temperature-controlled indoor space operates on a self-serve, no-membership-required model, allowing players to reserve courts through an app and play on their own schedule. Because pickleball is most often played in teams of two, the cost breaks down to about $10 per person per hour. Equipment rentals and on-site coaching from a small staff are also available, making the space accessible to first-timers and experienced players alike.

“The thing we’ve really been zeroed in on is creating this space where you can come and learn and be social,” says Keating. “And have a good time as well.”