The double Dyck path algebra $$\mathbb {A}_{q,t}$$
A
q
,
t
and its polynomial representation first arose as a key figure in the proof of the celebrated Shuffle Theorem of Carlsson and Mellit. A geometric formulation for an equivalent algebra $$\mathbb {B}_{q,t}$$
B
q
,
t
was then given by the second author and Carlsson and Mellit using the K-theory of parabolic flag Hilbert schemes. In this article, we initiate the systematic study of the representation theory of the double Dyck path algebra $$\mathbb {B}_{q,t}$$
B
q
,
t
. We define a natural extension of this algebra and study its calibrated representations. We show that the polynomial representation is calibrated, and place it into a large family of calibrated representations constructed from posets satisfying certain conditions. We also define tensor products and duals of these representations, thus proving (under suitable conditions) the category of calibrated representations is generically monoidal. As an application, we prove that tensor powers of the polynomial representation can be constructed from the equivariant K-theory of parabolic Gieseker moduli spaces.