Relish Food Hall // Pickleball

Louisville, CO

YEAR
2025

SCOPE
Interior Design, FF&E Selection and Procurement

Relish Food Hall & Pickleball reimagines forgotten retail into Colorado’s largest indoor pickleball and food destination, a true community hub built within the bones of a former Sam’s Club. Swan Dive took on the challenge of transforming 88,000 square feet of uninspired big-box volume big-box architecture into a dynamic, layered environment that invites people to gather, play, and enjoy a variety of food and beverage concepts.

By rotating all elements within the cavernous space by 45 degrees, our design team was able to break up the rigidity of the original structure and introduce a more natural flow and sightlines between the 20 indoor pickleball courts, 8 food stalls, and myriad gathering spaces both indoors and out. Instead of one overwhelming open box, guests now navigate a series of distinct zones, moving from expansive recreational areas to intimate dining nooks, each seamlessly connected and thoughtfully scaled.

Throughout the space, we wove a visual and tactile language inspired by the sport itself. Pegboard millwork nods to the perforated pickleball, curved forms echo paddle silhouettes while tiled and upholstered grid patterns subtly reference the net. Playful yet refined, these tactile moments create a cohesive visual identity that ties together the building’s multiple uses.

Like all adaptive reuse projects, constraints sparked creativity. Structural load limits inspired ground-supported architectural moves, like built-in banquettes and dynamic kitchen volumes. The building shell led to tall, slender window openings that preserve integrity while drawing in daylight and framing iconic views of Boulder’s Flatirons.

Meandering paths, layered ceiling heights, and textural variation invite people to linger and explore. One of the most rewarding design challenges was collaborating closely with the individual owners of all eight food concepts (many of them newer ventures) to craft custom kitchen spaces that captured their unique identity and helped express their brand voice for the first time. Each stall received its own distinct design language and color story, creating visual diversity within a cohesive whole. Giant pivot doors and garage-style openings dissolve the boundary between inside and out, leading to an expansive patio and game lawn where bocce, beer, and conversation flow freely.

Relish is ultimately a study in community-first design. Designed for ease and energy, every space supports connection and adaptability. This project reflects a growing movement towards community-focused adaptive reuse in suburban areas, showcasing how thoughtful design can breathe life back into underutilized spaces and become a lasting catalyst for community.