One of the biggest business success stories in Niles can be easy to miss.

Most people drive by the office of Paddletek on South 11th Street in Niles everyday without even noticing the company — even though Paddletek is one of the world’s top manufacturers of pickleball paddles.

The company started at the Sonrise Business Center in 2013 and did $120,000 in sales its first year.

Now, less than two years later, it sells more than that in one month.

“We are a million (dollars) plus, but, expect to be $2 to $3 million by years end,” said Curtis Smith, who owns the company with his brother, Cody. “We’ve never had a down month, meaning we’ve never sold less than what we did the previous month.”

In addition to offering what he believes is a superior product, Curtis attributes the company’s success to the fact that the sport is growing in popularity with baby boomers, or people born between 1946 and 1964. Invented in 1965, pickleball is a paddle sport combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.

“They are driving it because it is a sport they can compete in,” Curtis said. “Grandpa can still compete with his granddaughter and have a chance to beat her.”

It hasn’t caught on everywhere, Smith explained, but is very popular in states like Florida, Arizona, Texas and California.

“Its appeal is that a beginner can go out there and actually have fun while learning how to play,” he said. “With other sports you aren’t having much fun until you get to a certain level. This is not that way. It is fun at any level.”

Curtis said Paddletek’s beginnings can be traced back to around 2012, when his brother became frustrated with a lack of good pickleball paddles available on the market.

Cody developed his own paddle using a new composite material never before applied to pickleball paddles.

Curtis, who has family in the Michiana area, chose to open the business to Niles in order to be close to family and take advantage of the area’s strong manufacturing workforce.

Paddletek currently employs 16 people, including part-time and full-time. Last month, the company moved to a bigger warehouse space within the Sonrise Business Center in order to accommodate its growth.

Curtis said most of the company’s business is done through wholesale.

Those interested in learning more about Paddletek and its products can visit the website paddletek.com.