Former Easton Tennis Club Under New Ownership

Two tennis professionals, who have had top tennis rankings and decades of experience running tennis and fitness clubs, are the new owners of the

Dave Brown and Brian Billone purchased the club on Jan. 13 and started operation just a week later.  It is now called the Brown/Billone Club, and its website is at brownbilloneclub.com. 

The pair had originally planned to build an eight-court tennis facility in Canton, but they decided to buy the Easton facility instead. 

“We saw this as a more accessible way to get ownership, with the existing members and sitting property, and felt it would be a good opportunity,” Brown said.

The club’s former owner, Dennis Czech, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last April, and the club closed around August when the bank foreclosed on the property.  Club members told Brown that the facility had been in disrepair for many years before it closed.  

Brown and Billone were able to renovate most of the indoor facility in just five days before they opened it.  They have resurfaced and restructured the indoor hard courts and clay courts, and they have renovated and expanded the shower/lounge areas.  They have not finished some of the outdoor work, however, and plan to put in a new swimming pool and repair the outdoor clay courts by summer.

“We wanted to change the culture of the club – and all the feedback that we have shows that people are excited.  They feel the club is moving in the right direction,” Brown said.

Statistics show that tennis is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and Brown is confident that he can attract tennis enthusiasts to their new club.  In the first five weeks, they signed 135 new members, and they have 50 junior members. 

The club will be hosting tournaments, lessons, and programs for all age groups, and is offering a unique program for young children called “Quick Start” tennis.   The program provides smaller playing areas for young children by changing the court’s dimensions.

“We are the only club in Southeastern Massachusetts that has the lines on the court (for Quick Start), and we will be hosting tournaments,” Brown said.

The pair have managed and directed over 10 clubs in New England in the past 20 years, which have included tennis, multiple-purpose fitness clubs, and country clubs.  They also have extensive experience playing and coaching tennis.

Brown was a top-10 ranked junior player in New England and he played #1 doubles and singes at Old Dominion University in Virginia.  He was formerly ranked among the top 10 in the men’s Open Division in New England.  He has also worked as a partner with Nick Bollettieri, a famous tennis coach who has developed top tennis stars, in developing a satellite tennis program. 

Brian Billone was a nationally ranked junior player and he played for Bloomsburg University and the University of New Hampshire, where he had the most wins of any player in the college’s history. He was ranked #5 in the men’s Open Division in New England, and has 20 years of teaching experience.

Both Brown and Billonne will be teaching at the facility, along with four other tennis pros.