The Old Oceanfront Movie Theater Is Becoming a Padel Club and That's Not Even the Surprising Part

For years, the building at 941 Laskin Road has just kind of sat there.

First it was the Surf 'n Sand Motel, back when the Oceanfront looked completely different. Then it became the Beach Cinema Alehouse, recliner seats, in-theater dining, the whole dine-in-movie concept that was supposed to be the future of going to the movies. It closed last year. And since then, the building has done what a lot of buildings near the Oceanfront do when nobody's quite sure what to do with them: nothing.

That's about to change. The property just sold for $6.3 million, and the buyers have a plan that has nothing to do with movies and everything to do with a sport most Hampton Roads residents have never heard of.

Padel. Say it with me. It's not pickleball.

If you're picturing pickleball, stop. Padel (pronounced "puh-DELL") is its own thing. A racquet sport that borrows from tennis and squash, played in doubles inside an enclosed court with glass walls you're allowed, even encouraged, to bounce the ball off of. It originated in Mexico in the late 1960s and has since exploded across Europe and Latin America, where it's now one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. The U.S. is catching up fast, with clubs opening in cities from Boca Raton to Charlotte to right here in Virginia.

The pitch from the people bringing it to Virginia Beach: easy to pick up in your first session, genuinely hard to master, and a lot more social than standing at a baseline for two hours.

Meet The Padel Foundry

The new ownership group, doing business as BIVI/Padel, is a partnership between Jason Vickers-Smith and Ahmad Butt. They're calling the project The Padel Foundry, and they're not shy about the ambition behind it. "Virginia Beach has the demographics and demand for racquet sports, but there is no dedicated indoor padel infrastructure here today," Vickers-Smith said. Butt framed it in even bigger terms, describing a place where "adults and families can play, train, recover, and connect on a regular basis", something people fold into a weekly routine rather than a once-a-year novelty.

That's the real bet here: not that Hampton Roads will try padel once, but that it'll stick.

More Than Courts

The plans go beyond just indoor courts, though that's obviously the anchor. Early reporting on the project points to a broader wellness and recovery component, plus coaching and youth development. The kind of programming that turns a sports facility into a genuine community hub rather than just a place you drive to and leave. Interestingly, rather than building an in-house restaurant, the Padel Foundry team says they intend to bring in local food and beverage operators to be part of the experience. That's a smart move for a neighborhood already known for its local dining scene. It means more collaboration with the small businesses already doing great work near the Oceanfront, not competition with them.

If the timeline holds, Hampton Roads will have its first dedicated indoor padel facility, serving players from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Newport News, a metro area that, until now, hasn't had anywhere close by to play. The target opening is early 2027, so there's a runway before racquets are actually in hands. Construction timelines have a way of shifting, so treat that date as a direction rather than a promise.

Why This Matters for the Oceanfront

Every redevelopment of a long-vacant building near the Oceanfront does double duty. It solves the "what do we do with this eyesore" problem, and it adds another reason for people to come, stay, and spend an afternoon in the area. A padel and wellness destination minutes from the sand is exactly the kind of amenity that shows up on a homebuyer's mental checklist, even if they never once mention "racquet sports" out loud. It's one more sign that the Oceanfront corridor is actively reinventing itself rather than coasting on nostalgia and that kind of momentum tends to show up in property values before it shows up in headlines.

For anyone weighing a move to Virginia Beach, this is worth filing away. Neighborhoods that keep attracting fresh investment, not just new construction, but new uses for old buildings tend to hold their appeal, and their value, over the long run.

Would You Give Padel a Try?

Whether you're already dreaming about weeknight matches or you've never held a padel racquet in your life, this is a project worth watching. We'll keep an eye on construction updates and let you know when courts officially open.

Thinking about putting down roots somewhere close to all this new energy? WP Collective Homes at Keller Williams Town Center can help you find a home near the Oceanfront and everywhere in between. Reach out to our team to start the conversation.