6ix Pickle, Toronto’s first downtown indoor pickleball facility, soft-opened its doors this week at 102 Berkeley Street in Moss Park, marking another recreational amenity addition to the rapidly developing King-Berkeley corridor. Entrepreneur Fabian Wat, who operates the successful 6ix Iron golf simulator facility two blocks away, launched the four-court venue with 24/7 access targeting the growing residential population in the Downtown and Central Waterfront area.
The 6ix Pickle facility occupies a former Minotti furniture store, which Wat selected after an extensive search. The space met critical infrastructure requirements necessary for pickleball court optimization.
“The hardest part is finding a space where there’s no pillars in the way, ceilings are high enough,” Wat explained during an interview at the facility. “This is a really good location. There’s Staples, there’s a lot of walking traffic, and this neighborhood’s great. It’s a little less upbeat as opposed to the west side, but it’s very cozy and homey.”
Wat’s entry into pickleball followed observations during travels in Asia, where he witnessed the sport’s popularity despite extreme weather conditions. “I saw a lot of courts, people playing everywhere, and they’re playing in like 40 degrees, 45 degree weather,” he said. Upon returning to Toronto and seeking downtown pickleball options, accessibility challenges became apparent with limited gym availability and outdoor courts requiring players to bring their own nets and draw court lines.
The facility addresses these accessibility issues through technology integration and community-focused design. Each court features electronic scoreboards displaying remaining time and instant replay capabilities, while individual fencing prevents ball crossover between games. The Pod Play system enables automatic time tracking when reservations begin, eliminating booking disputes.
Competing Through Experience Over Scale
Rather than maximizing court capacity, Wat deliberately limited the space to four courts despite the potential for five. This decision reflects a strategic focus on user experience over revenue optimization. “When it comes to user experience, it’s not always the best trying to cram things in,” he noted. “We looked at it from the consumer’s eyes.”
The facility’s dark color scheme contrasts with typical bright-colored pickleball centers, creating what Wat describes as “more of a social kind of spot” where players can interact across courts. This design philosophy targets community building over high-volume throughput, positioning 6ix Pickle against larger operators in the industry through focused amenities and atmosphere.
“We wanted the vibe to be a little bit closer, more community focused rather than just a ton of courts everywhere,” Wat observed.
Additional amenities include two billiard tables and ping pong available at $30 per hour, along with plans for licensed beverage service. These features support the venue’s role as a community hub extending beyond pickleball play. The facility targets corporate events and private functions, leveraging proximity to Toronto’s downtown core.
Strategic Partnerships and Retail Integration
6ix Pickle has partnered with Selkirk, the world’s largest pickleball equipment manufacturer, for pro shop operations and equipment demonstrations. The partnership provides access to tiered product offerings from beginner paddles available at big-box retailers to professional-grade equipment used by competitive players.
“They understand that they want to grow the sport of pickleball,” Wat said of Selkirk’s collaboration approach. “They’ve been very willing to work with us, even though we are just a mom and pop shop technically, as opposed to these big giants opening up six or seven locations all at once.”
The facility features custom 6ix Pickle paddles manufactured with carbon fiber construction and polypropylene cores, available alongside Selkirk demo equipment. This retail strategy addresses equipment quality gaps while providing testing opportunities unavailable through traditional sporting goods channels.
The 6ix branding extends from Wat’s original golf simulator concept, maintaining consistent font design while substituting pickleball imagery for golf elements. This approach builds brand recognition across his recreational facility portfolio while targeting Toronto’s “6ix” cultural identity.
Market Timing and Neighborhood Context
The Berkeley Street location positions 6ix Pickle within major urban redevelopment initiatives transforming the Moss Park neighborhood. The area benefits from planned Corktown Station on the Ontario Line 3, scheduled to open at King and Berkeley streets, creating enhanced transit connectivity for the historically industrial corridor.
Transit-oriented community development around Corktown Station includes proposed towers reaching 46 storeys, delivering 1,580 residential units combined with office and retail space. This development continues revitalization initiated under the Two Kings plan, which introduced residential land use alongside existing commercial zones.
“A lot of Toronto is looking for more activities to do rather than just going to the bar,” Wat explained, identifying recreational facility demand created by neighborhood residential growth. The facility’s 24/7 access model serves diverse schedules across the financial district, Distillery District, and emerging residential community.
Corporate bookings began immediately following the soft opening. Community programming includes leagues, tournaments, and member nights.
“We want to build a community, because we want people to come back,” he said. “So you have to make it feel like a home to them, not just that it’s close by, but that they enjoy being here.”
A grand opening celebration is scheduled for mid-September, allowing time for operational refinements based on user feedback. “We just want a month to slowly work our way in,” Wat noted. “As with any new business, you’re going to find something that you can work on.”
6ix Pickle operates on a membership-driven model with foundation memberships limited to 50 members at $1,499 annually, offering 25% discounts on court bookings, 14-day booking windows, and access to private events. Premium memberships reach $3,199 annually with enhanced booking privileges and 50% discounts on daytime sessions Monday through Friday.
Non-member court rates range from $60 per hour during off-peak periods to $80 per hour during prime times, including Monday-Thursday 4-11pm and Friday 4pm through Sunday. The membership structure targets a sustainable community of 200 regular players while maintaining the intimate atmosphere Wat prioritized in facility design.
Future expansion will depend on identifying similar spaces meeting specific infrastructure requirements rather than pursuing rapid franchise development, positioning 6ix Pickle as a boutique operator serving transit-oriented community development in Toronto’s evolving downtown neighborhoods.
Dustin Fuhs is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of 6ix Retail, Toronto’s premier source for retail and hospitality industry news. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Retail Insider, Canada’s most-read retail trade publication, Dustin brings over two decades of expertise spanning retail, marketing, entertainment and hospitality sectors. His experience includes leadership roles with industry giants such as The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Starbucks and Blockbuster.
Recognized as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024 and 2025, Dustin delivers insider perspectives on Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, from emerging brands to established players reshaping the city’s commercial districts.