LEFT TO RIGHT: CENTERLINE 33 PRINCIPAL MANAGING PARTNER RICHARD COOMBS, GENERAL MANAGER MARC PHILOBOS AND MANAGING PARTNER BILL CARSON. theater. Reading Cinemas closed in November 2023, one of more than 5,000 theaters nationwide that have shut down since the COVID-19 pandemic amid the boom of streaming services that has an increasing number of former moviegoers watching from home.
A partnership of Sonoma County businesspeople invested $ 7 million to transform the theater into a pickleball club and it officially opened in January. The group is led by local real estate developer and Stanfordeducated civil engineer Richard Coombs.“ I truly love to build things,” Richard says. He has developed approximately two dozen projects in Sonoma County. A friend who is a real estate broker, aware of the pickleball boom, suggested that Richard turn the building into a pickleball club. Another friend, Tara Fieri, co-owner of Major League Pickleball’ s Brooklyn team, a 5.0 player( and daughter-in-law of celebrity chef Guy Fieri), gave Richard some ideas.
“ I’ ve always believed the best pickleball venues are designed with both players and spectators in mind,” Tara says.“ Incorporating stadium seating [ at CenterLine 33 ] creates a more engaging atmosphere while helping position the facility to host premier events and bring the community together.”
The investors wanted the club to retain much of the old movie theater’ s look, inside and out. In fact, from
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