Where The Journey Began

“It’s a bit strange, though, if you would have asked me a couple years ago if we foresaw ourselves opening a type of modern country club in Los Angeles for a very niche sport most Angelenos have not heard about, I probably would have laughed or thought you were crazy,” Jennifer Shpilsky (Co-Founder) told us.

The journey began with Steve (Co-Founder), whose curiosity for padel was sparked by a colleague in Miami. As a lifelong tennis player, the sport intrigued him – but it wasn’t until he drove past what looked like a padel court in LA that everything changed. The court, installed for an out-of-town guest, had been abandoned for long stretches. Yet during weekends, a rotating group of enthusiasts began gathering to play. Steve would bring their younger son before those sessions, and like so many new players, he became instantly obsessed. That was the moment it clicked, and the idea started to take shape for Steve and Jennifer.

When The Idea Took Shape

From there, the momentum grew quickly. A visit to the first annual RacquetX convention allowed Jennifer and Steve to connect with veterans of the sport from around the world. Steve brings global experience in finance, real estate, hospitality, and sport; Jeniffer brings a background in design, hospitality, operations, and youth sports. Both had lived and worked internationally and had firsthand experience building commercial spaces under challenging circumstances. That shared tenacity – seeing possibilities where others see obstacles – became the foundation of the Los Angeles Padel Club.

One key relationship proved transformative: Steve’s friendship with Christ Ishoo. Together, they shared a steadfast belief that Los Angeles needed to be part of padel’s global rise. With California’s real estate realities, building a financially sustainable club meant finding a large enough space and creating a true community hub, not just a facility.

Padel In A Mansion

They found the answer in the most unexpected place: a long-forgotten historic mansion on grounds positioned between residential and commercial areas. The location offered character, space, and the opportunity to build something both ambitious and magical.

“So here we are, a couple of days after taking delivery of three 40-foot containers with 7 disassembled courts inside and a historic mansion under renovation and we couldn’t be more fulfilled and excited for what we are doing. Steve and I are really excited to be bringing the Los Angeles Padel Club to LA.,” Jennifer told us.

Today, as the project comes to life, the excitement around the Los Angeles Padel Club is palpable. Visitors are blown away by what’s being built, and the team sees themselves as stewards – not just of a property, but of padel itself, to do it and its history justice. Their mission is clear: if padel is to continue sweeping the globe, Los Angeles must be part of the story.

The vision goes far beyond courts. It’s about creating a place where people discover connection, community, and a genuine passion for padel. For someone who never fully connected with tennis and only tolerated pickleball, becoming an advocate for a racquet sport feels surprising, “but padel is different,” Jennifer told us. People come for the fun and movement, but they stay for the community.

Very soon, residents of L.A. will experience what all the hype is about. And when they do, they’ll find a club – and a team – ready to give something truly special back to the city.

We wish Jennifer, Steve, and the L.A Padel Club Team all the best!