Frank Pritchard spent summers with his family on Bainbridge Island, Wash. In 1965, when he was 13, he complained to his dad, Joel Pritchard, that he was bored. “He said, ‘You know, when we were kids over here, we used to make games up.’ and I said, ‘Well why don’t you go make a game up then.’ We had an existing badminton court that my grandfather put asphalt on. My father took a whiffle ball, lowered the net, and started mucking around with the paddles.”
In 2021, pickleball apparel brand J. Pritchard was created and named after Frank’s parents, Joel and Joan. It was Joan who had coined the name “pickleball.” Four years later, following a successful pop-up in 2024, the brand opened a brick-and-mortar at Fashion Island where pickleball enthusiasts can browse through everything from hats, joggers, and swing skirts to polos, a paddle, and more. “The thing that struck me is the attention to detail,” Frank says. “There was so much thought that went into it.” When customers enter the boutique, they’ll see a faux fireplace decorated with memorabilia such as a replica of the original paddle and photos of the original court, the clothes that the family was wearing, and the family’s dog, Pickles.
On some weekends, customers can enjoy a sip-and-shop with Champagne. The store has also hosted events such as pickleball sessions, and meet and greets with Frank. Keep an eye on the brand’s social media for upcoming events.
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