DINING/ ENTERTAINMENT GARDEN CENTER LANES

Garden Center Lanes, along with Fat Daddy’s Bar and Grill and Broadway Ballroom Event Center, is a family entertainment center. It offers 34 lanes of bowling, one of the largest arcades in the area, axe throwing, a golf simulator, a full-service bar and restaurant that also services the bowling center, and an event center that hosts business meetings, wedding receptions, reunions, parties and many other social gatherings. The center currently employs about 50 people, who sell fun, so come on down and “Let’s have fun!” businesses have to be successful so there is something to pass down to the next generation. There are a lot of fond memories we have made as a family in both our former location and our current location. Wanting the next generations of our family to have the opportunity to make their own memories is something that is very important to us.

QWho are the current owners and how long have they been in business?

ACurrent business owners are Charlie Meyer, Susan Brede and myself (Chad Meyer). Charlie has been involved for over 45 years, Susan for 40 years and Chad for 25 years. I do not have exact ownership times, but the number of years involved is pretty close to how long we have been involved at a fulltime capacity.

QWho started the business and what year did it begin?

AThe original Garden Center, which was downtown Alexandria, was built in 1938 and opened in 1939 by Paul Noonan. For the Meyer family, LeRoy purchased it in May 1957 and it has been in the family ever since.

QWho are all the previous owners of the business and what are the relationships between the owners?

ALeRoy and Elinor Meyer started it. Then it went to their children: Charlie, Bill and Susan. And then it continued with Charlie’s children Chad and Matt.

QHow has the business changed over the years? Any new locations, etc.?

Q

As the current owners, why was it important to you to keep the family business going?

ASeeing what our family has built over the years is intriguing. No matter what type of business it is, generational

AWhen LeRoy bought Garden Center in 1957, it was eight lanes. He then expanded to 10, then to 16, next to 20, then 28 and finally in 1984, 34 lanes. Due to running out of purchasable land, that was the biggest number of lanes we could have. In 2003, the family made the decision that it was time to make a major change and decided to relocate and expand to our current location which opened in 2005. Along with 34 lanes, we added a bar/restaurant, Fat

Daddy’s Bar and Grill, and a large event center, Broadway Ballroom Event Center. Since opening in 2005, we have added entertainment options including outdoor volleyball, axe throwing and a golf simulator, and have expanded our arcade.

QWhat impact, do you feel, a generational business has on our community?

AYou really have a strong tie to the community and are vested in the community. The family has been a part of the community for four generations and not only has our business grown during that time, we have seen the amazing growth of our community as well. Generational businesses want businesses to thrive, which means our community needs to thrive as well. They reinvest in the community, give back to the community and call this community home. They have done this for years with the hopes that the following generations will want to do the same.

QWhat are the biggest challenges/rewards of owning a generational business?

AWorking with family is both a challenge and reward of owning a generational business. Rewarding with the time you are able to spend together, the growth you share together and you get to share the pride and success you have together. Challenging with being able to separate work/ business time and family time. It can be very difficult to have a work disagreement and not bring it to a family dinner sometimes!

Another challenge is being able to make changes. When things are working or going good it is hard to look at changes that should be made to or within the business.

One of the biggest rewards is the sense of pride. Seeing what your family has done and built and being able to contribute to that leaves a great deal of pride. Knowing that you are a part of something that has been successful for many years and being able to one day pass that along is a great feeling.

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