"I had such a great experience at Padel Plant in Richmond! Blanca, Edu, Jorge, and the whole team were incredibly welcoming and made me feel right at home. Blanca is a top-notch coach — patient, knowledgeable, and motivating. The atmosphere is fantastic: laid-back yet energetic, with great coffee and delicious pizza to enjoy after playing. It’s the perfect place to chill out, meet people, and enjoy padel. I’m already looking forward to coming back for one of their many fun events. Highly recommend!"

"The Good: I wasn’t necessarily opposed to the pickleball courts being installed. The building had been sitting unused for quite a while, and in an age where social capital has been steadily declining since the 1950s, I thought—well, maybe a place like this could be a positive addition. I’ve been inside, spoken with the guys who founded it, and they were friendly and enthusiastic about creating a space where people could have fun with pickleball and padel. No issues there. The Bad: What I do take issue with is the erasure of what made this part of Richmond unique. Out-of-town money has come in and watered down the character of the canal walk, particularly the iconic murals. They never should’ve touched the outside. What used to be a vibrant, photogenic public space has been turned into a sterilized, gentrified backdrop for rich white women in athleisure, trying to keep their circulation going. Those murals were a piece of Richmond culture—whether for graduation photos, Instagram shots, or just a quick snap to send to a friend. Now it’s been repackaged as a sleek, soulless space with “cool” murals (murals are now gone and one remains) in the background, stripped of their original charm. Even Dopesick (starring the great Michael Keaton) filmed scenes there—you can see how it looked before this transformation. Anyone visiting or graduating after 2025? Sorry, you missed it. The Ugly: I’ve lived here long before this place opened, and I know others who are just as disappointed. Twice, I’ve walked through the mural area with my dog, and both times I was looked at like I had leprosy—just because my dog barked at people bouncing balls around. Look, I get it—no one likes being barked at while they’re playing. But my dog is a hunting breed. He loves balls: tennis, soccer, basketball—you name it. That’s not something I can train out of him. One lady gave me the stink eye. Another made a passive-aggressive remark while I was showing my visiting cousin what’s left of the murals. If that was you and you're reading this: I used to love this place before you rolled in with your country-club energy. If you don’t like my dog barking at what he sees as a toy—tough cookies. And next time, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face. I might have some choice words, sure—but my dog? He’ll probably greet you like an old friend, because that’s just the kind of soul he is. Please enjoy my pictures of what this place used to be. (Update - regular people can no longer walk through this area. The owners are still using the mangled looking fences used during their construction period to block off pedestrians)."

"I really wanted to love this place because I'm always looking for fun active family activities but sadly it's just too expensive to become our new thing. Went with my husband and four older teens. We booked one court for 1.5 hours and took turns playing and eating some food. Spent over $250. Not bad for a one night fun and different thing to do but sadly not in the budget for a regular activity. We did love the pizza and had a great time and the staff was super nice. They said it is cheaper to play during the day on weekdays if your schedule allows for that or you can save money with a membership."

"I’ve been playing at Padel Plant for several months now, and I can say without hesitation that it’s become my favorite spot to play in Richmond. From the moment you walk in, the facility feels welcoming and well designed. The courts are always clean and in great condition, lighting is excellent, and everything is well maintained. The staff are friendly, responsive, and genuinely seem to care about the players and the experience. I play a couple of times a week, including league night on Wednesdays, and I love how social and community-driven the energy is. Whether it’s casual matches or tournaments, I always feel supported, challenged, and motivated to improve my game. Padel Plant does a great job organizing league play and events, which adds structure without ever feeling overly rigid. The environment and opportunities they provide make every visit a highlight. If you’re in the Richmond area and looking to pick up padel or find a welcoming community to grow with, Padel Plant is absolutely the place to go."

"Such sweet staff, great coffee, good drinks, amazing food! I haven’t played padel or pickle much, but it’s fun to watch! They do a great job partnering with local businesses, and I love that you can still walk on the canal walk and appreciate the iconic murals."