From mall walking to pickleball – A real estate reimagining at Northpark
By : J. David Chapman/April 10, 2025
Several winters ago, my wife and I became what the industry affectionately calls “mall walkers.” Like many Oklahomans, when the weather turns bitter and the wind sharp, we headed indoors for our daily steps. Our mall of choice: Northpark Mall in north OKC.
As a real estate guy, walking through a mall is never just exercise. It’s a study in the evolution of retail—watching which shops come and go, which spaces thrive, and which sit vacant for too long. One of those long-empty spaces was the old Northpark Cinema. Once a draw for moviegoers, it had become a quiet shell, the kind of space that made me ponder the concept of “highest and best use.” Over the years, I’ve imagined everything from a co-working hub to boutique retail. But I didn’t see this coming.
Recently, Northpark’s walkers—and shoppers—were surprised to see signs announcing a bold new concept taking over the former cinema: an indoor and outdoor pickleball facility combined with a family-friendly restaurant and pub. The new venture, developed by Matt Glenn, will be called Northpark Pickleball. It will feature six indoor courts and six outdoor courts to be built on the east side of the mall, adjacent to Hamilton’s—an upscale restaurant that has found success at Northpark.
Across the country, developers are finding creative ways to reuse big-box stores and dead mall spaces transforming them into vibrant recreational venues. As traditional retail faces pressure from online sales and shifting consumer behavior, experiential concepts like pickleball, entertainment, and dining are breathing new life into aging properties.
Northpark is embracing that change. In addition to Northpark Pickleball, more reinvention is underway. The former Rococo space on the north end of the mall is set to become Bush League Sports Tavern, a lively concept with golf simulators and a spacious patio—perfect for sports fans and social seekers alike.
In some ways, this wave of investment is a return to form. Malls were always meant to be community centers—not just places to shop, but to gather. Whether grabbing dinner, playing virtual golf, or rallying on a pickleball court, Northpark is making it happen.
As I walk past what used to be the cinema, I no longer wonder about the highest and best use. I see it unfolding—complete with paddles, pints, and a whole lot of potential.
J. David Chapman, Ph.D., is professor of finance & real Estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).