Proximo Padel Chicago: The Brothers Who Left Wall Street to Build Chicago's Padel Future

Chicago doesn't lack for racket sports options. But until March 19, 2026, it didn't have a purpose-built, 27,000-square-foot padel facility with a juice bar and four indoor courts under 40-foot ceilings. Proximo Padel changed that — and the brothers behind it have expansion plans that could reshape the Midwest padel scene.

The story behind Proximo Padel

Alex and Victor Vainberg didn't come from the sports world. They came from trading floors. But after discovering padel — the fast-growing racket sport that's somewhere between tennis and squash, played in a glass-walled court — they saw an opportunity that their finance backgrounds couldn't ignore: padel is exploding globally, and Chicago had almost nowhere to play it.

So they left their careers, found a 27,000-square-foot space in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on the Northwest Side, and spent months building Proximo Padel from scratch. The name means "next" in Spanish — fitting for a sport that padel insiders have been calling the next big thing in American racket sports for years.

The grand opening on March 19, 2026 marks Chicago's most significant padel investment to date. And the Vainberg brothers aren't stopping here — they've already announced plans for locations in Northbrook and Goose Island.

What to expect on the courts

Proximo's four indoor courts feature glass walls, synthetic turf surfaces, and non-glare ring lighting designed specifically for padel. The 40-foot ceilings give the space a genuinely open feel — no cramped warehouse vibes here.

The facility runs from early morning to late evening, and the courts are bookable in 1.5-hour blocks. Peak time runs $170 per court, non-peak is $150. That's on the higher end for the Midwest market, but you're getting a premium facility with amenities that most US padel clubs don't offer yet.

Equipment rental is available for players who haven't bought their own racket yet — which, given how new padel is in Chicago, will be most visitors for the first few months.

The community

Proximo is positioning itself as more than courts. Their tagline — "Play. Connect. Belong." — signals the community-first approach that successful padel clubs in Miami, New York, and LA have used to build loyal memberships.

They're offering private lessons ($140/hour), group clinics, open play sessions ($35), and league competition. Monthly memberships start at $120 and get you 25% off all pricing. For beginners, the open play and clinic format is the easiest way to try padel without committing to a full court booking.

The juice bar and café lounge area are designed to keep players hanging around after matches — a smart move that the best padel clubs worldwide have figured out drives retention.

The details

Getting there

Proximo is in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side. It's accessible from the Kennedy Expressway and served by CTA bus routes. On-site parking is available at the facility. The surrounding area has solid dining options including La Colonia, Community Tavern, and No Pasa Nada for post-match food.

Why you should play here

• It's Chicago's first purpose-built padel facility with proper infrastructure — not courts shoehorned into a tennis club
• The 27,000 sq ft space with 40-foot ceilings and dedicated amenities (juice bar, pro shop, lockers) sets a new standard for Midwest padel
• With expansion to Northbrook and Goose Island planned, getting in early at the flagship location puts you at the center of Chicago's growing padel community

---

Find Proximo Padel Chicago on the PadelScout directory and book your court: padelmapusa.com/courts/proximo-padel-chicago