Dink & Volley Pickleball holds court in Auburn with the sport’s admirers
Reading time: 4 minutes
For the fourth consecutive year, pickleball has been marked as the fastest-growing sport in America.
With approximately 800 members in the Opelika Pickleball Club, and about 300 in the Auburn Pickleball Club, there was a need within the Auburn-Opelika community for a store to support the sport.
Dink & Volley Pickleball, a local, woman-owned shop in Auburn, answered the call.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Location: 1345 Opelika Rd #9 Auburn, AL 36830
- Hours: Mon. to Fri., 10AM – 5PM | Sat., 10 – 2PM | Sun., Closed
- Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn
Keep reading to learn more about this locally-owned Alabama business!
Serving the community
When Deirdre Hill and her family moved from Atlanta to Auburn, Deirdre asked around about where everyone likes to play tennis. Their response?
“We all play pickleball.”
The more Deirdre looked around + got involved in the sport, the more she became aware that the Auburn-Opelika area lacked a pickleball store.
So, in October of 2023, Dink & Volley opened in Opelika. The business remained there for a year before relocating to Auburn.
“I mean, you could go to Dicks, or Academy, or even Amazon and get what you need, but there’s such a big community here.”
~ Deirdre Hill, owner of Dink & Volley
As an ambassador for the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Deirdre loves traveling around + meeting people.
“‘It’s just been fun being involved in the community, getting to meet great people in here that may not know anything about pickleball.”
~ Deirdre Hill, owner of Dink & Volley
Last year, Dink & Volley was named the emerging business of the year by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.
What this shop has in store for customers
Dink & Volley has many apparel options to help set pickleball players up for success. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz) 
As an Auburn University alumna, Deirdre made sure to include some Auburn-specific merchandise in Dink & Volley. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz) 
There is a mini pickleball court set up in the back of Dink & Volley for guests to enjoy. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz) 
Kendra Scott is sold in the local pickleball shop. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz) 
Lilly Pulitzer items are also featured in the Auburn pickleball shop. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz) 
The shop has a wide variety of merchandise. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz)
The store has a wide variety of pickleball gear in addition to pickleball-themed merchandise: everything from paddles + apparel, to pillows + hand towels.
Dink & Volley proudly sells Kendra Scott Jewelry, including pickleball-themed earrings, necklaces + bracelets. The local store is also the only store outside of Texas to sell the Kendra Scott pickleball paddle.
But, the store has more to offer than just pickleball goodies.
“The idea always was to be 100% pickleball and have the equipment, and then have the apparel, and then all the lifestyle goods. But I also play tennis. I have a lot of people in my life that still play tennis that don’t play pickleball. And so I wanted to have some things over there for them to come in and pick up gifts, because there’s really not a tennis gift shop around here either.”
~ Deirdre Hill, owner of Dink & Volley
The store features:
- Pickleball paddles + balls
- Nets
- Paddle covers
- Equipment bags
- Pickleball signs
- Ornaments
- Hats
- Athletic apparel
- Pickleball blankets
- Themed cups
- Jewelry
- Auburn merchandise
- Lilly Pulitzer merchandise
- Select tennis equipment
- Children’s pickleball-themed clothes + mini paddles
- A mini pickleball court
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