Era Pickleball brings community together through sports

Nikki and Christian Tejada’s passion for pickleball began on a friend’s driveway. Upon spending hours playing the sport and meeting new friends, the two decided to open a business to provide a space for surrounding communities to play pickleball in June 2023.

“Pickleball is very much community based, and at Era Pickleball you’ll meet people that you never meet otherwise,” Nikki Tejada said.

The details

The business name Era Pickleball is meant to emphasize the current era or time period in which the pickleball sport has become popular, she said.

With a team consisting of Nikki and Christian Tejada as well as the facilities instructor Rob Rhett and other business partners, Era Pickleball offers open play services, pickleball lessons and tournaments as well as an introduction clinics for beginners and walk-in services.

“Don’t be scared to play; pickleball can be competitive, but this is so much more of a relaxed, social sport, and this is really for you to just have fun.” Nikki Tejada said. “So [if] you come in and you see people playing really seriously, do not feel obligated to be like them. Do your own thing, be on the court and just have fun.”

After being open for over a year, Era Pickleball is going through an expansion to offer a safe kids’ corner where parents can bring their children as well as offering showers for use.

Additionally, the expansion will include alcoholic beverages for sale at the smoothie shop located within the business and an overlook upstairs for participants to watch its 13 courts downstairs.

The impact

Nikki Tejada, who is also a rehabilitator for Friends of Texas Wildlife, said she enjoys doing community work and collaborating with organizations to help where she can.

“​​Working with the community and getting everyone involved in helping where you can is something that I’m truly passionate about,” Nikki Tejada said.

Some organizations Era Pickleball collaborates with and contributes to include Grand Oaks Young Life, Toys for Tots, Thomas M Fountain & Associates PLLC, and Montgomery County Food Bank.

Nikki Tejada said Era Pickleball is designed to be a safe place where community members can hang out and have a space to play pickleball or relax.

“I want you to feel included, and I want you to feel like you can be here for however long you want to be here,” Nikki Tejada said. “Whether it’s to work here and play pickleball in between meetings and jobs and things, I want to be that place where everyone can feel welcome.”