Chicken N Pickle

Founded in North Kansas City in 2016, Chicken N Pickle has created a distinctive experience that revolves around America’s fastest-growing sport: pickleball. Offering an eclectic mix of sport, entertainment, and community-driven dining, Chicken N Pickle’s venues have become wildly popular.

By 2021, the company had expanded to six locations, drawing over 700,000 visitors annually. As pickleball continues to soar in popularity, Chicken N Pickle is growing alongside it, with multiple new locations opening across the United States.  

To keep pace with this growth, Populous was tasked with reimagining the design and architectural model for Chicken N Pickle. Central to Chicken N Pickle’s ethos is a commitment to quality, sustainability and community support. That means everything on the brand’s menu — from quarter roasted chickens and BBQ pork to fresh salads and desserts — is crafted with locally sourced ingredients from family farms. Our challenge was to create a versatile, people-centered environment that reflected these core values, while also providing visually striking and functional spaces. The project encompassed the visual and design elements of the brand, as well as the interior design and overall architecture, which was first unveiled at the company’s Glendale, Arizona, location in 2023.  

The new design takes its inspiration from the classic American town square, a space historically known for bringing communities together. At the heart of each new Chicken N Pickle venue is a central, tree-lined courtyard designed to be the hub of activity and social interaction. This multi-dimensional space is fully adaptable, capable of transforming throughout the year to accommodate all kinds of activities, including outdoor games, live music, watch parties, and even ice skating in winter.

The Glendale site features five key spaces: a casual, farm-to-table restaurant; an indoor club with six pickleball courts; a game pavilion with four open-air courts; a retail canteen with a micro-kitchen and outdoor grill; and a spacious, open yard that serves as the focal point for the complex’s many activities. 

Interiors are infused with elements that nod to Chicken N Pickle’s roots — a modern take on a rural barn vernacular, embodying a “low tech/high touch” spirit. Populous has artfully blended rustic charm with contemporary design elements, creating warm, welcoming spaces that feel both familiar and new. The refined interiors feature handmade wooden ceiling structures, natural materials, and spaces that embody a feeling of togetherness, from large communal tables to private dining areas. 

Leveraging our deep expertise in sports and entertainment architecture, we have delivered a comprehensive design that aligns with Chicken N Pickle’s mission to create spaces where people can connect, play, and share great food. The new brand style and architectural model emphasize flexibility, allowing each location to adapt to the unique needs and desires of its local community while maintaining a consistent brand experience. 

 Since Populous joined the project, four new locations have opened, with another six set to be unveiled by the end of 2025. Each new complex incorporates our reimagined design, allowing the brand to follow its trajectory in becoming a recognized leader in community-centric entertainment and dining. This project is about more than just an architectural refresh — it’s a dynamic blueprint for the future, bringing communities together in a space where every day feels like a celebration.