As the long creeping shadow of winter begins to recede, we can once again permit ourselves to dream of sunny skies and the joys of summer. Thankfully, a new sports sensation is sweeping the city and by the end of the summer we’ll all be thinking the same word – Pétanque.
Carreau Club is one of New York’s only Pétanque clubs and has been responsible for bringing the sport into popular consciousness. Founded in late 2020 by Dana Bunker and Aaron Weeks, the two initially planned to open their own bar in Industry City but the outbreak of the pandemic quickly dashed those plans. While indoor gatherings were halted nationwide, Bunker and Weeks saw an opportunity to establish an outdoor space to bring one of their favorite sports to their fellow New Yorkers.
Pétanque is a popular French game that falls in the category of boule sports. In the same family as bocce and lawn bowls, Pétanque is played by planting your feet and throwing a boule as close to the target as you can, knocking other boules out of the way for maximum points. While the sport can be traced back to the middle ages and even ancient Greece, Pétanque has seen a revival in the modern age thanks to its ease of entry and casual playstyle.
While people have been playing Pétanque in New York on a small scale in various parks, there were few dedicated clubs and locations for serious play. That’s why Bunker and Weeks founded Carreau Club in Industry City, mixing in their hospitality experience with the love of the sport. While everyone is gathered around the lawn to enjoy a game of Pétanque, Carreau Club guests can enjoy refreshing beer, wine, and even cocktails to go from Carreau’s outdoor café. Weeks has even partnered with his former employer at M. Wells to serve Chef Hugue Defour’s Montreal-inspired cuisine direct from the café.
While the club closes down seasonally for the winter, it appears that demand for Pétanque courts is growing and that Carreau Club will be expanding into Governors Island later this summer. Establishing a brand new court on the lawn at 333 C King Avenue, Carreau Club is bringing along its signature café and beer, wine, and cocktail options. Offering an impressive 4,800 square feet of space outside, guests will be able to enjoy the summer in one of New York’s underappreciated treasures – Governors Island. Only a short ferry ride away from the eastern pier, the trip out to the island is beautiful and highly worth making. For more information about their summer reopening – in Industry City or Governors Island – you can follow Carreau Club on Instagram for future updates.
