New pickleball 'eatertainment' gameyard and restaurant is now open. Take a peek inside

Dahlia Ghabour, Louisville Courier Journal
Updated ·2 min read
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Louisville's first pickleball concept is now open and includes food with which you may be familiar.

Goodbounce Pickleball Yard, an "eatertainment" complex with six pickleball courts, a gameyard and a restaurant at 1515 River Shore Drive, will include food from Happy Belly Bistro, owned by Ashlee Northington.

The announcement marks the second location for Happy Belly Bistro, which currently operates out of TEN20 Craft Brewery in Butchertown. According to a press release, the restaurant will have a rotating menu of fusion dishes like build-your-own tacos, burritos, nachos and bowls, gourmet burgers, fried chicken and small plates.

The 45,000-square-foot pickleball complex is a joint venture of John Flodder, co-founder of TEN20 Craft Brewery, and Lee Weyland, co-owner of CORE Real Estate. Flodder is a partner in both Ten20 and Goodbounce and said the partnership with Happy Belly Bistro was a "no-brainer."

"They're going to be operating out of a permanent airstream food truck, we're in the process of building a full kitchen inside of it," Flodder said. "It'll be a sort of high-end bowl concept, pick your protein and carb sort of thing. And there will be, of course, a few plays on pickleball with things like fried pickle chips."

There's six pickleball courts are available at Goodbounce Pickleball Yard on River Shore Drive off River Road in Louisville. The establishment opened Monday. Pickleball is played like tennis but the court is the size of a doubles badminton court. Pickleball was invented in 1965 as a children't game in Washington state but since then has become one of the fastest-growing sports. April 17, 2023

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Northington worked as a sous chef at Mayan Cafe before opening Happy Belly Bistro. She said the new location will include dishes like pickle-brined wings, pickled toppings, flatbreads, octopus ceviche and the restaurant's famous smashburger.

"We are trying to make sure that we have some of everything to keep giving Louisville a Happy Belly [that] includes vegan and vegetarian options, gluten-free options and pescatarian options," Northington said.

Northington said she is most excited to offer Louisville a different menu than she currently offers at Ten20. When she originally opened her food truck, it was hit by a drunk driver six months later and totaled. The airstream at Goodbounce marks a "new opportunity to get back to our roots," she said.

Inside the venue, a full bar will serve some Ten20 beers, mixed drinks and cocktails with a general tropical theme, Flodder said. The bar will highlight tequila and rum and will also serve frozen drinks and Hawaiian shaved ice.

Octopus tostadas with a fried corn tortilla topped with octopus ceviche and house made guacamole from Happy Belly Waterside is served at the Goodbounce Pickleball Yard on River Shore Drive off River Road in Louisville. April 17, 2023
Octopus tostadas with a fried corn tortilla topped with octopus ceviche and house made guacamole from Happy Belly Waterside is served at the Goodbounce Pickleball Yard on River Shore Drive off River Road in Louisville. April 17, 2023

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Flodder anticipates additional bars on the first floor during the busy seasons. The goal, he said, is to have people eventually be able to pull up to the marina in a boat and place an order with a QR code.

"At the end of the day it's such a wonderful waterfront," Flodder said. "We want to give people more of a reason to come down here and experience it."

Goodbounce Pickleball Yard is scheduled to open in early spring, before the Kentucky Derby.

Reach food reporter Dahlia Ghabour at dghabour@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Goodbounce Pickleball Yard welcomes Happy Belly Bistro to space