Padel Plant

Padel Plant occupies the restored 1901 Haxall Point hydro-electric station at 1201 Haxall Point, Richmond, VA 23219, set along the James River and Canal Walk in downtown Richmond. The venue brings five padel courts and two pickleball courts into a 19,000-square-foot brick power station that sat shuttered for more than 50 years.

Thalhimer Realty Partners and the Nordheimer brothers reopened the building as a sport and social hub in 2025. It sits two blocks south of the Downtown Expressway (I-195) and a short drive from I-95, making it easy to reach from the Fan, Shockoe Bottom, Manchester and Henrico County.

Founders Samuel and Alex Nordheimer discovered padel a few years ago and worked with Walter Parks Architects to convert the Classical Revival hydro plant - originally built to power Richmond’s electric streetcars - into one of the largest dedicated padel facilities on the East Coast.

Inside, the venue pairs padel and pickleball with Smokestack Pizza, The Plant Cafe, a full bar, riverside cabanas and coworking space. Find more background at padelplant.com.

The padel courts

The club operates five padel courts, with the majority sited indoors under the restored plant’s roof and a smaller number positioned outdoors along the canal-side setting. Indoor LED lighting allows year-round evening play, and the courts are bookable as standard doubles courts.

The courts use synthetic turf surfaces with full panoramic glass walls and mesh fencing, the standard build for tournament-grade padel in the United States. The padel surface plays fast and consistent across the indoor and outdoor courts.

Alongside the padel courts, the building houses two indoor pickleball courts that run on a similar booking system, giving members and pay-and-play visitors a multi-sport option under one roof.

Booking and access

Court bookings run through PlayByPoint. Visitors can book a padel court online or call the club on (804) 715-5760 between 8 am and 10 pm. Sessions run for one hour minimum and are bookable in 30-minute increments.

Non-members reserve up to three days ahead, standard members up to seven days, and founding members up to fourteen days. Members receive 50 percent off court fees and priority access during peak windows.

Padel court rates are $80 per hour ($20 per person with four players) during peak hours - 4 pm to 10 pm on weekdays and all day at weekends - and $60 per hour ($15 per person) off-peak from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays. Pickleball courts are $30 per hour peak and $20 off-peak.

Free street parking is available along East Byrd Street and near the Pipeline Overlook after 6 pm and at weekends, with paid garages nearby. The building has changing rooms, showers and gym access for members. Email hello@padelplant.com for group bookings, private hire or event enquiries.

Padel programme and social

Padel Plant runs a structured beginner pathway alongside leagues, clinics and social play. The $20 Try Padel Session introduces newcomers in groups of six with all equipment included, while the $35 Beginner Clinic moves players into smaller four-person classes.

Plant Social Nights cost $30 per person, run three hours and include a free drink. The venue also hosts a $40 King of the Court competitive format for stronger players. Leagues operate through leagues.padelplant.com, with the annual Club Championship the marquee event on the calendar.

Smokestack Pizza serves twelve-inch signature pies, focaccia sandwiches and a full bar from 11 am to 9 pm daily. The Plant Cafe handles coffee, pastries and grab-and-go through the day. Premium racket rental, a small pro shop, riverside cabanas and a coworking area round out the social side. See the coaching tab for full lesson tiers and pricing.

Best for

Padel Plant suits Richmond and Henrico players who want a polished downtown padel club with food and drink built in - newcomers using the Try Padel and beginner clinic pathway, intermediate players running mix-ins and league nights, and groups looking for a private-event venue along the Canal Walk.

Members get the strongest value through priority booking and discounted court time. Casual drop-in players who only want a quick hit may find peak rates pricier than suburban alternatives, and those who prefer fully outdoor venues will note that most padel courts here sit indoors.

Padel Plant runs an in-house coaching programme covering beginner introductions, group clinics, social-night formats and competitive King of the Court sessions, with private lessons booked through PlayByPoint.