The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen

April 16. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Town Board unanimously approved rezoning which will permit the construction of The Serve, a 16-court pickleball facility and restaurant on Chartown Drive.

Site preparation begins in about two weeks. Opening day could be in January or February next year.

DB Entertainment will build The Serve on 6.39 acres of vacant property just north of the Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership. Plans call for a 51,086 square foot facility with 10 indoor courts and six outdoor courts as well as a restaurant.

There will be more than 150 seats for guests in the restaurant, bar, lounge and cafe areas as well as There will also be four Top Golf simulator suites.

Local entrepreneurs and philanthropists Jack and Robin Salzman, owners of DB, say it will become one of the premier recreation facilities in the state.

Robin, Jack Salzman

Details

Specific conditions attached to the approved rezoning require that outdoor pickleball play be limited from 7 am to 10 pm. Any other use beyond those hours will require special permission by the town. The regulations also include limits on light pole heights and the need to shield rooftop HVAC and cooking equipment.

The Serve represents an investment of $13 million to $17 million according to project attorney Larry Shaheen.

A pedestrian walkway from the Lake Pines Drive residential development will eventually be built to provide access to the Chartown Road facilities for cyclists and walkers, but not automobiles.