Kraken Kourts & Skates, a 70,000 square-foot indoor recreation complex featuring 14 indoor pickleball courts, a roller-skating rink, and a tavern opened its doors on May 12 in MRP Realty’s Bryant Street NE development in Edgewood. With the increasing popularity of pickleball in the country, the Kraken team, which operates Kraken Axes and Rage and Hook Hall, has expanded its brand. The complex features a multi-generational gathering space with family programming, court-side cabanas, and lounge seating for cheering on players with cocktails.
Indoor recreation offers the advantage of weather-independent fun, but complex and larger facilities like Kraken Kourts & Skates lack spaces for free and active play, which often leads to seating areas with sedentary entertainment options. Kraken Kourts & Skates tackled this drawback by offering indoor lawn games like cornhole, Jenga, and darts set around the pickleball courts in a lively beer garden-like atmosphere.
Kraken Kourts & Skates provides playing opportunities for all skills and ages through various partnerships. The complex has launched pickleball leagues with various partnerships, including Volo recreational sports leagues, the DC Pickleball Team, Stonewall’s LGBTQ teams, and Joola, the leading pickleball equipment manufacturer in the country. The divisions are skill-based, with clinics and private lessons available.
The indoor roller-skating rink is also available for rental, lessons, and skating party packages for all ages. The complex also offers corporate event packages, team-building activities, and diverse food and beverage options.
Kraken Kourts & Skates is set to serve as a community gathering space for the Edgewood/Eckington/Rhode Island Avenue NE community, with private party spaces for celebrations. The complex aims to cater to everyone’s enjoyment, including spectators, with lounge seating in court-side cabanas and a food-and-drink menu featuring local favorites.
Kraken Kourt’s & Skates decision to open its complex in Edgewood’s Bryant Street NE development seems to be a strategic choice, given the area’s growing community and demand for community recreation spaces. Anna Valero, Kraken experiences and Hook Hall’s president and founder, expressed great satisfaction partnering with the MRP Realty in creating the Kraken Kourts complex.
In conclusion, this indoor recreation complex will undoubtedly appeal to a wide range of age groups and skill sets. Additionally, Kraken’s focus on creating an inclusive and family-friendly experience for everyone, including those watching instead of playing, makes it stand out from traditional recreational spaces. Kraken Kourts & Skates is undoubtedly a welcome addition to the Edgewood community, bringing new options for indoor recreation and leisure.
<< photo by Egor Litvinov >>
