THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
CONTENTS
VOL 25.5
6 ISSUE AT HAND
BEYOND BOWLING 42 Pulling Strings 48 Interesting
Mid-Air Emergency By Scott Frager
Interview with Pat Ciniello
52 Product Showcase 8 SHORTS • Aloma Bowl survives with the help of its friend. • Robert Sax is retained by Intercard as PR counsel. • E-Lanes, Michigan’s Best • Europa Cuisine & Entertainment arrives in McAllen,TX. • Mahall’s marks 93 years and going strong.
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54 FEATURE Has Bowling Gone to the Dogs? Puppy Jake Foundation and Warrior Lanes team up for veterans in Iowa. By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson
60 PROFILE
By Patty Heath
The Milkman of Singapore
18 BUSINESS
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From fresh milk to Associate Bowling Supply, Pierce Murray has truly delivered. By Paul Lane
Riding the Wave A look into how trends shape our industry.
70 REMEMBER WHEN
By Sean Krainert
Country Club Malt Liquor 1963 By Patty Heath
32 COVER STORY Uptown Alley China The fusion of Chinese culture and American style.
64 Datebook 65 Classifieds
By Robert Sax 60
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PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER David Garber garber@bowlingindustry.com
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com
CONTRIBUTORS David Garber Patty Heath Pamela Kleibrink Thompson Sean Krainert Paul Lane George McAuliffe Robert Sax
EDITORIAL DIRECTORS Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)
12655 Ventura Boulevard Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 789-2695(BOWL) Fax (818) 789-2812 info@bowlingindustry.com
www.BowlingIndustry.com
HOTLINE: 818-789-2695 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy of International Bowling Industry is sent free to every bowling center, independently owned pro shop and collegiate bowling center in the U.S., and every military bowling center and pro shop worldwide. Publisher reserves the right to provide free subscriptions to those individuals who meet publication qualifications. Additional subscriptions may be purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50 per year. Subscriptions for Canada and Mexico are $65 per year, all other foreign subscriptions are $80 per year. All foreign subscriptions should be paid in U.S. funds using International Money Orders. POSTMASTER: Please send new as well as old address to International Bowling Industry, 12655 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. If possible, please furnish address mailing label. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2017, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:
THE ISSUE AT HAND
Mid-Air Emergency We’re flying west toward Los Angeles at 35,000 feet, somewhere over Nevada’s dark and lonely Mohave Desert. The 165 passengers were either dozing or enjoying their second drink service unaware of the pending medical emergency that was about to take place in the front cabin. Without a word, the full cabin lights snapped on awakening some and alerting others. Heads that recently were gently bobbing in sync with the light chop blanketing the aircraft began popping up and peeking around seats to see what the tussle might be up front. Is it another angry passenger versus flight attendant story about to happen? Could the ruckus be something even more sinister? Cell phones were pulled out awaiting the pending “excitement.” What we backseat pilots didn’t know was that a man had passed out and was receiving care by the capable flight attendants and a good Samaritan nurse who was seated near the patient. He was lying prone on the aircraft floor for about an hour or so, until he was well enough to get up under his own power and back into his seat. In a time when airlines and airline employees are incessantly spotlighted and portrayed in overwhelmingly negative fashion, this cabin
crew were as professional as can be. Without hesitation and with a well-honed team approach, their professional demeanor helped provide the medical care the patient needed and kept the entire cabin calm and cool at the same time. As the situation unfolded in front of this unsuspecting bystander, I wondered about my team and how they would react in a similar situation. Have I prepared my staff for every unexpected eventuality: medical, workplace violence, natural disaster, fire, crime and the like? The flight was Southwest Airlines 4547 from Kansas City to Los Angeles and the date was Monday, April 24th. Why does that matter? It is my plan to send this column, once printed, to company CEO, Gary Kelly, and president, Tom Nealon. They would be proud to know that their employees rose to the occasion. Kudos to the flight crew for performing their main responsibility, caring for their passengers, flawlessly. Let’s be sure our teams are well-trained and skilled in handling crisis management. That’s great for the community, the center, and for proprietors themselves. One never knows, it might be one of us or one of our loved ones, lying on the ground in need of assistance.
– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR frager@bowlingindustry.com
4THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com Summer is approaching, the time to begin that little/big proprietor-to-do list. All good projects start with Bowl Expo, and this year it gets real down-home in Nashville. New projects, great ideas, and the people and companies that can make things happen are all in one exciting spot— the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, June 18-22. However, before you pack up the family and head for Tennessee, go to www.bowlingindustry.com and touch base with fellow proprietors—the membership list keeps growing. There is no better way to grow your business than to share with and listen to fellow center managers and owners. IBI Online is a great way to start the process rolling. It’s FREE; join today.
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SHORTS
Media
WATCH
BOWLING IS THE GLUE Two couples bowl 300 games
Bowling seems to be the go-to vehicle for television plots, commercials, and the usual birthday photo op.
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SUPERCHARGED & BOWLING These ladies are enhancing their games with Boost, a nutritional beverage. That aqua blue team knows what it takes to be the best they can be. Team support and Boost are a perfect match.
PP3 BOWL THE NIGHT AWAY The a capella movie franchise, Pitch Perfect, is filming Pitch Perfect 3 in Atlanta, GA. PP3 cast members helped Rebel Wilson, one of the stars of the movie’s Barden Bellas, celebrate her birthday at Painted Pin in Buckhead. Started in January, the film is scheduled to continue working in Atlanta for a few more months. The city has been the go-to for scenes depicting France and New York. The stars of PP3’s Barden Bellas helped Rebel Wilson celebrate her birthday bowling at Painted Pin.
“AND THE ALLEY-OOPS” 2 Broke Girls, Season 6 aired Episode 20, “And the Alley-Oops,” in which Caroline, Max, and the gang go to a bowling center for a championship event. Caroline (Beth Behrs) is on a mission to win Bobby’s heart (Christopher Gorham) and takes up his favorite sport, bowling. It doesn’t go well when she injures one of his teammates. It is then up to Max (Kat Dennings). Well, that was the plan until Caroline injured her. But those girls land on their heels, and Caroline saves the day… and the boyfriend. 8
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Nicole and Brian Shidler. Photo credit: Matt Molinaro
Alice and Sammy Krucek Photo credit: Anthony Nasella, Post-Tribune
As reported by Anthony Garcia, Jackson Citizen Patriot, the Frank Beck mixed doubles tournament, at L&J Lanes, near Jonesville, MI, was the event in which the Shidlers bowled matching 300 games. Brian and Nicole Shidler met while bowling 20 years ago. Today, Brian, 38, and Nicole, 33, have two children, Dayten (13) and Emalyn (10), and they are still bowling. Each bowls in several leagues, two to three times a week, and each is an accomplished bowler. Nicole has two 300 games in her career and Brian has 16 recognized by the USBC since 2001, with 38 in his lifetime. That night the couple were in sync and playing at the top of their games: Brian threw an 816 series while Nicole shot 762, the best of her career. The two 300 games were the icing on the cake. At one point, the PBA did tempt Brian. However, spending time with family had the strongest pull. The Shidlers are a family that loves to bowl and bowl together and bowl well. When one couple bowls 300 games on the same night, rest assured, another couple will do the same. Cut to: Indiana, at the Greater Calumet Area Bowling Association tournament held at Plaza Lanes in Highland. Alice and Sammy Krucek rolled 300 games on neighboring pairs of lanes. Sammy, an assistant coach for the Calumet College men’s bowling team, said, “Bowling 300s within the hour of each other was pretty cool.” He shared with Anthony Nasella, Post-Tribune, “It’s possible that there have been city tournaments where something like this was done, but it was a lot of fun to do it. Alice probably felt more pressure having to do it after I did it.” Yes, it is possible, Sammy, and less than a month apart! How about a ‘bowl-off,’ Shidlers vs Kruceks? If nothing else, a competitive friendship looms.
SHORTS
FAMILY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE Longevity is not for the faint of heart, particularly in the business of bowling. However, there are a lot of stout-hearted owners and families who have been in the biz for a long time. In the case of Spencerport Bowl, Spencerport, NY, opened in 1962, family played and still plays a big role. Nick Tantalo’s interest in the bowling business began while a GI playing pool in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, he earned a contract with American Machine & Foundry (AMF) installing wooden lanes. In 1962 he built his own center, Spencerport Bowl, and gave his son-in-law, Mike Progno Sr, the responsibility of running it. In 1976, Tantalo decided to lease the center to focus on other ventures. However, bowling was in the blood and the grandsons, Mike, John and Nick Progno, took back the management in the 1990s. It had gotten pretty run down and the family has worked hard over the past two decades to bring Spencerport Bowl back to its former glory. The brothers still corun the business and other relatives also participate. Members of the family’s fourth generation have already expressed interest in one day taking over. Fifty-five years and counting! wwwwww Six decades and going strong. The year was 1959 and Devon Lanes, Wayne, PA, opened its doors. A local landmark, Devon Lanes boasts the Early Birds League which nested in the new center and has been there ever since. The 24lane center has been in the hands of family from the beginning: Scott Furman, Brett Furman, and their sister Pamela Kofsky. In March the Early Birds and the Furman family celebrated their long relationship with family, friends and the community. 10
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CIVICS LESSON Where there’s a will,… …there’s a way. Or, at least a good try. Danielle Allison, a 15-year-old Winter Park High School student, arose to the challenge of trying to save the local bowling center, Aloma Bowl in Winter Park, FL. Erik Sandoval, Click Orlando, reported that when Danielle heard that the center would be closing and selling its land to Orchard Supply Hardware, she set up a petition, which got more than 2,300 signatures, asking the city to save the center. She then went before the commission in a public hearing to voice her desire, “I speak for the community when I say we do not deserve to have a bowling alley closed.” She was supported by other speakers, but the board initially agreed that the only way for the center to be saved was for the owner not to sell it. However disappointed, Danielle said, “It made me grateful to realize that our community is able Aloma Bowl’s angel, Danielle Allison. to come together for this kind of thing” However, the effort was not in vain. The board had a change of heart and voted against plans to turn Aloma Bowl into a hardware store. As of the end of March, it was still a work in progress with no final decision reached. There still is a glimmer of hope. April update: William Wellons, president of Wellons Communications, said in an email to News 6, “Aloma Bowl is open and operating as it has for 40 years.” The glimmer is now a ray of sun.
SHORTS
EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS
MICHIGAN’S BEST
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Like a phoenix, E-Lanes in Fowler, MI, rose from the ashes…literally. Fire, caused by lightning, burned the center to the ground. Gregg and Elaine Gilliland had purchased the old Fowler Lanes out of foreclosure in 2012. They had just finished a 13-month remodeling project and, surveying the fire damage, they weren’t sure they could ever recover the loss. Elaine shared that the community gave them a lot of support which encouraged them to start over. And this time, they decided to change things. They raised the ceilings, making it more open, and they made the entire center handicap accessible. In 2014, they opened the all new E-Lanes, a family-oriented center Gregg and Elaine Gilliland with six pristine Brunswick Pro lanes. This was the venue that Amy Sherman sharing the joy and award. and John Gonzalez from MLive.com, visited, along with 26 other centers throughout Michigan, looking for the “best bowling center in our state.” They fell in love with E-Lanes’ community spirit, great food and passion for bowling. E-Lanes, Michigan’s best.
NOT YOUR FATHER’S BOWLING CENTER McAllen, TX, is now the host city to a new $12-million-dollar, 26,500-squarefoot entertainment hangout developed by Miguel Kamel. Europa Cuisine & Entertainment is a boutique facility that brings the local community a unique blend of artful culinary selections and the joy of entertainment. Opened in November, 2016, the venue features a chef-inspired restaurant, innovative mixology bar, private dining and party rooms, and 12 full-size lanes of QubicaAMFequipped bowling to round out the entertainment offerings. Owner Miguel Kamel says, “We have 12 lanes of bowling that offer state-of-the-art entertainment and even have private rooms that back up to four of the lanes which we can leverage for parties and corporate events.” To anchor his facility, Kamel installed Arctic Blue SPL Boutique Bowling Lanes, new Xli EDGE Pinspotters and the BES X Bowler Entertainment
A BEC MEETS DAVE & BUSTERS Glowzone, a family-friendly entertainment center, has opened in Surf City, aka Huntington Beach, CA. While there are two other Glowzones in Woodland Hills, CA, and Las Vegas, this is the first of the brand to feature bowling. The 47,000-square-foot entertainment center will be entirely under black light, with attractions in contrasting bright neon colors. The brain-child of Jason Hughes and Ron Whited, the center will feature 12 lanes of cosmic bowling, laser mazes, mini-golf, bumper cars and a child’s gymnasium called the Soft City Jungle. In addition, the center will have four rooms for private gatherings, each with its own theme: The Gamer Alley will feature video games on a large communal screen; Electric Avenue will have an interactive neon dance floor; Ballocity will be specifically for bazooka ball, a game similar to paintball but gentler, involving nerf balls shot from guns; and the fourth room will have two cosmic bowling lanes. Mind boggling at best and absolutely a place to visit.
SMALL TOWN, BIG DREAMS Wilmont, MN, is on the small side; in 2010, the population was 339. That didn’t stop Matt Morse and his partner, Rachel Vliem, from Crystal, MN, from having big dreams. The Wilmont Family Recreation Center closed in 2014 after the community-owned and supported business had difficulty staying afloat. The leagues had dropped off and café customers dwindled as more residents drove out of town for work. However, Morse and Vliem saw potential. Morse has 20 years’ experience in the bowling industry and spent several years as a mechanic on Brunswick pinsetters before graduating from college as a systems analyst. A lot of work has gone in to just cleaning the 4-lane center, getting the pinsetters to work again and painting the walls. The gravity-fed ball return will remain, adding to the charm. Memorial Weekend is the launch. It’s all about moving forward. May 2017
EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS
SHORTS
THE BALANCE TO BE OLD AND HIP
‘If you want your community landmarks to stay, go to them.’
What do you do with a 93-year-old landmark bowling center? You could sell it and watch it become a CVS, or you could do what Kelly Flamos and Colin McEwen did, keep it just the way it is and add a performance stage. Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood is believed to be Ohio’s oldest surviving bowling center. It is located in an historically Slovak neighborhood called Birdtown. The original ceiling was tin. After years of smoke it turned brown and the then-owners, the Mahalls, put in a drop ceiling. It took hours to remove the wallpaper and clean the tin ceiling but the effort was worth it for it exposed handdrawn murals by Ken Mahall, the third son of the original owner John. Kelly and Colin bought the place in 2012. The couple added the stage to encourage a wider clientele. There are poetry Mondays, theater, puppet shows and music. “We’re able to get a lot of bands coming from New York to Chicago,” said Kelly. The food is simple but legendary, as their fried chicken was highlighted on the Food Network. With the help of their mechanic, Kurt Breudigam, who has been at the center for 41 years, and Christopher Chabek, manager with 44 years, the Flamas/McEwen duo has grown from eight employees to 35. As Colin McEwen says, “if you want your community landmarks to stay, go to them.”
ALSO HAPPENING Brunswick Zone XL in Romeoville, IL, has renovated and rebranded itself as Bowlero Romeoville. The venue will have a new sports bar and lounge, plus a modern arcade and state-of-the-art laser tag arena. It has been 32 years since Taos, NM, has seen a bowling center. Gutters, the creation of Shelly Ratigan and the force getting it done, will have 12 lanes of Brunswick bowling, plus a video arcade, restaurant and a stage for music. The 11,300-square-foot project should be open to the public in September. Big Al’s has opened in Ontario, CA, offering 170 full- and part-time employment opportunities to the community. The 45,000-square-foot center boasts 20 lanes of bowling, a sports bar and grill, a 225-player video and redemption game arcade and an exclusive 21+ area featuring billiards, Ping-Pong, table and floor shuffleboard, and classic darts and arcade games. River City Roll is the $5 million project planned for an upcoming section of Richmond, VA. The concept is boutique with a few lanes and an emphasis on high-end food. What was Melody Lanes in Penn Hills, PA, is now Sophie’s Lanes, the dream center of 26-year-old Doug Lincoln. Renovated by Lincoln and a friend, there are flat-screen displays and new pins. The lane beds and ball returns have stayed the same. He is a one-man show doing all the maintenance and working the lanes. Starlite Bowl in Seymour, IN, closed. In 2012, it reopened as Kingpins Bowl. In 2016, it closed again. Now, Rudy Hinojosa, a former GM of Starlite Bowl, has announced he is forming an investment group to reopen the center. Hinjosa started in the bowling business in California and has been in the business for more than 45 years. “I have owned two bowling centers, built a bowling center from the ground up and managed bowling centers and have experience, knowledge and contacts within the bowlng industry to bring this exciting opportunity to Seymour,“ he said to Zack Spicer, reporter for The (Seymour) Tribune.
PEOPLEWATCHING Intercard has retained SAX PR/Marketing as its public relations counsel. Agency principal Robert Sax is an experienced communications strategist, publicist and writer with a specialty in the FEC industry. Sax’s background and expertise is wide-ranging, with work as a feature film producer, story editor and screenwriter in Hollywood, as well as work with such brands as Disney Consumer Products, Avery Dennison and a speaker at USCs Marshall Center for Technology Commercialization and Robert Sax UCLA Extension. 14
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Hal McEvoy, a 42-year veteran of the attractions industry, has been named CFO for IAAPA. McEvoy has had an extensive career with Busch Gardens in Florida. In his new position, he will be the lead strategic advisor on all issues that have a financial impact on IAAPA’s global Hal McEvoy mission and member service offerings, providing analysis and management support to the overall growth of the association. He will also oversee the association’s information technology and legal functions.
GOODWILL CENTRAL
SHORTS LAUREL LANES STEPS UP FOR ALD ALD, Adrenoleukodystrophy, is a rare genetic disease for which there is no effective treatment. Laurel Lanes and Splitz Bar & Grill in Maple Shade, NJ, held the 2017 Bowl for ALD fundraiser, helping the organization raise over $20,000 for the Kennedy Krieger Institute, leading in the worldwide effort to find a cure for ALD. Diane Kane, HR director said that over 35 lanes were filled with supporters.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS’ BOWLING FOR KIDS’ SAKE IS HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE! This organizations’ reach is far and wide. Centers all over the country support and open their doors to fundraising events. Here are just a few of the centers and events held recently: East Tennessee centers Oak Ridge in Oakridge; Crest Bowling Lanes in Maryville; and Strike and Spare Western Avenue in Knoxville. Willowbrook Lanes in Willowbrook, IL Starlite Lanes in Flagstaff, AZ French King Bowling Center in Erving, MA
Bennington Lanes in Bennington, VT Tiki Lanes, Lancaster, OH Sky-Lanes, Asheville, NC Our neighbors to the north also work with Big Brothers Big Sisters. In Alberta, Canada, Shamrock Lanes in Airdrie held Bowl for Kids’ Sake, the 2nd annual event, and raised $11,500 surpassing last year’s $10,000. Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin’s major fundraising event, is going Hawaiian. For April and May, at designated centers, bowling will be the way to raise funds for this 100 percent community-funded organization. The centers participating: Gibby’s Lanes, New Richmond; Falls Bowl, Chippewa Falls; Hudson Bowling Center, Hudson; Broadway Bowl, Menomonie; and Wagner Lanes, Eau Clair. Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Niagara, NY, hosted the annual Tim Horton’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake at Jeff’s Bowl-o-Rama in Welland.
What is your center doing? Email Patty Heath at heath@bowlingindustry.com.
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BUSINESS TRENDS A shift from kid-focused design to adult-focused design has generated a more modern, industrial look.
A look into how trends shape our industry. By Sean Krainert
L
ike every industry and sector around the globe, bowling entertainment centers have ridden the waves of trends that have come and gone. Contrary to its simple definition, a trend isn’t only a fad that pops up with enthusiastic followers, only to fizzle out when the next best thing comes along. Trends play a vital role in carving a path to make way for the styles and systems that eventually put down roots and shape an industry. While some trends predictably rise, only to fall just as dramatically, they are essential in catapulting businesses in the direction of the future in order to sustain an industry over time.
THE DESIGN TREND-SETTERS
Leading theme designers across the entertainment industry, from flooring specialists to attraction pioneers, agree on one finite point. As the industry evolves, their products and services must evolve with it. When it comes to designing themes and styles in sync with modern culture
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and customer demands, traditionalism is dead. As the laws and rules of the business world continue to be challenged and rewritten by the naturally progressive customers with rapidly increasing expectations, there is only one direction to go. And, that is to design to exceed those expectations, set the pace for mainstream style, and then be prepared to re-design as the world continues to turn. “We make timeless variations of themes that give customers that sense of surprise. At the same time, our clients have more flexibility when pop culture changes,� says Armando Lanuti, vice president of Creative Works, a leading Armando Lanuti, vice president of entertainment operator for bowling Creative Works. centers, FECs and amusement parks. continued on page 22....
BUSINESS TRENDS ...continued from page 18
Infinite Escapes.
HOW TARGET MARKETS ARE RE-SHAPING DESIGN STYLES
Experts across every type of business selling products, services and experiences, know that they must design for the market in order to be successful. In terms of geographical markets, inside expert Doug Wilkerson from Dynamic Designs and Studio 41b explains it best. “We design two to three notches above whatever that particular market is familiar with. It is all relative.” Markets across the U.S. and around the world are accustomed to a diverse spectrum of quality, style and attractions; it’s been a guiding light for entertainment pioneers to follow. The bowling entertainment center industry is also keeping step with the most noticeable target market shift over the past few decades. “Most places now are designed George McAuliffe, Pinnacle around the adult, with a more Entertainment Group president. upscale feel. That is why you see much higher-end, trendier and more modern design styles,” Wilkerson says. Bowling center owners are beginning to realize that getting kids into the venue and entertaining them is almost a given once you get them inside. “In terms of physical theming and design, there has been a turn away from the primary colors that appeal to kids. The new formula is to design for adults, because the kids are coming along anyway,” says Pinnacle Entertainment Group president, George McAuliffe. This shift in focus from kids to adults has generated an 22
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entirely new design style with a more modern and industrial look. What was once a splattering of primary colors and neon carpets has been overhauled to raw brick, exposed metal, and rustic modern details. And still, even this trend is evolving quickly. “Now we are seeing pops of color make their way back into the pallet. Not in a childish way, but in a trendy way and very subtle, adding a little bit of life back into this very neutral ambiance,” notes Wilkerson. Marsha Long, vice president of Flagship Carpets, boasts an excellent example of how bowling and entertainment center design trends call on all factors of design to pull an atmosphere together. Contrary to popular belief, bowling center carpets go far beyond cosmic, neon patterns. “Our flooring can be found in the most rustic to the most modern and sleek interior designs.” The shift in mainstream design styles targeted toward adults has heavily tugged on the traditional snack bar model as well. The food and beverage component of venues has become a main Doug Wilkerson of Dynamic attraction offering a more modern, Designs and Studio 41b. pub-like ambiance. These higher offerings are featuring full-service restaurants with woodfired pizzas, craft beers and wine bar components with a chic upscale sports bar ambiance.
THE SIMPLE LAWS OF ATTRACTION
In business, the Laws of Attraction mean creating attractions which lure in the target market. Entertainment mavens have torched trails for decades by adhering to one of the most important rules of the industry: personalization. The bowling entertainment industry is at a pivotal point where choosing the right attractions could ultimately make or break the business.
In the process of going from plain to awesome.
BUSINESS TRENDS “Personalized theming is important. Our teams are dedicated to helping centers create a personal touch for their facility, giving them the opportunity to create a unique look that can separate them from the local competition,� says Cheryl Pierce from Astro Carpet Mills, a leading manufacturer of printed carpet for bowling and family entertainment centers. Attractions have come in waves, similar to overall design themes. Laser tag, one of the original and most commonly added attractions to bowling centers, is still riding Marsha Long, vice president of the wave of profitability, but beginning Flagship Carpets. to wear thin in terms of popularity. Laser tag will have to evolve in order to survive and compete against new, faster growing attractions like escape rooms that swept the Asian market and arrived in the U.S. with a running start. With a very small square footage, high-end technologies like escape rooms can be added to bowling centers that are remodeling or being designed from the ground up. Other adult-themed attractions crashing waves over bowling entertainment centers are live music, karaoke, separate quarters for corporate events and redemption arcades with upscale redemption stores, all a nod to the kid inside every adult. But ultimately, what truly makes for a successful entertainment center, is a mix of attractions that draws in multiple, distinct groups of individuals to a single location. Once inside the venue, the different attractions compliment and play off of each other, exponentially increasing sales. In other words, come for your passion, stay for the variety.
and the entertainment facilities that maintain lanes as part of their offerings. One of the many technology aspects sweeping across BECs is in the guest services department. Following suit to businesses around the world, BECs are beginning to jump on board with apps and kiosks created to tie in technology to the overall experience. Technology advancements in the customer service arena focus on putting the experience into the hands of the customer. Airports are a prime example of the shift. Sleek kiosks have taken the place of tasks traditionally facilitated by desk agents. Yet even the most forward-thinking tech giants agree that customer service agents are still a vital part of any transaction. While gimmicks in technology come and go,
TECHNOLOGY: THE DRIVING FORCE
THE BOTTOM LINE
Technology is the driving force for any company, across all industries and sectors, into the future. The same is true for the sport of bowling,
A Flagship client recently upgraded to a sleek wood floor.
technology itself is not a trend. Rather, technology is an innovative path, inviting only those industries along that want to survive, including the FEC.
Trends in the entertainment and bowling industry collectively pave the way into the future. Without trial and error (trend after trend), there would be no forward movement. And through all of the ups and downs in the entertainment business, from sizzling design styles to the latest in innovative technology and virtual reality attractions, bowling has endured the test of time. It has ridden the waves of trends, bobbing up and down, and yet remains a central focus for the successful 21st century FEC. â?– Sean Krainert is a freelance copywriter living in the San Francisco Bay Area specializing in real estate, hospitality and mental health writing. He is also an alumni of the Wichita State Shocker bowling program.
A bar by Dynamic Designs 24
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COVER STORY
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COVER STORY By Robert Sax
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hen Steve Uphoff visited China for the first Mall in the city of Changzhou and it is the time in 2004, building a chain of bowling largest bowling and entertainment venue centers there was the furthest thing from in the People’s Republic of China. his mind. As owner of the Uppy’s Changzhou is located approximately 110 convenience store chain, Uphoff was Exxon-Mobil’s largest miles from Shanghai and has a population of distributor of fuel in the United States. The company invited more than 4.6 million residents. That’s big by him to China to advise them on their partnership with American standards but in China it’s Sinopec, that country’s largest oil and gas company. But considered the boondocks. that visit also planted the seed of another business Global Harbor is China’s largest mall, with opportunity that came to fruition years later with the opening 1,000 retail and leisure vendors occupying last December of the first Uptown Alley bowling and more than 5,000,000 square feet over six entertainment center in China. levels. The $10 million, 58,000 square-foot In the intervening years Uphoff created the Uptown Alley Uptown Alley features 37 Brunswick concept and opened three locations in the United States. regulation-sized bowling lanes, four bars, As he recalled the lack of American-style sports and billiards, a sports theater with 50 HDTVs, a entertainment venues in China, he realized that perhaps he professional sound stage for live had something that could fill that void in the marketplace. entertainment, 60 arcade games with a “So we started to explore that. We studied the market and redemption center and two full-service we had a lot of false starts, but we just kept pursuing the restaurants offering casual Western cuisine opportunity because we wanted to be McDonald's coming as well as traditional Chinese dishes. in to the marketplace where there was no McDonald's Uptown Alley China is a huge bowling before,” says Uphoff. center for China at 37 lanes, much bigger than Gary Smith, vice president of international sales for Brunswick the typical 12 or 16-lane centers built during Bowling Products, supplier to Uptown Alley, knows the Chinese the 1990s or the newer centers that offer 20bowling scene well. “It’s kind of a slow-to-adapt culture,” 25 lanes. When Ding asked Uphoff why they says Smith. “Back in the bowling boom in the 90s, it was so were building so many lanes, the latter said much driven by government. It was quick and easy for them "Mr. Ding, I don't know how to build furniture. to spend their money. But now that you are dealing with Don't tell us how many lanes we need to build investors and business people, they are much more cautious.” because I guarantee you, you will walk in this It took until 2014 for Uphoff to find the right partner in facility on a Friday and Saturday night and Ding Zoulong, a Chinese businessman who operated successful you will say to me, ‘We didn't build enough retail furniture stores in 68 markets in China. “He had also lanes, Steve.’” Which is exactly what happened, built several mega malls and so we decided that we could work with Uptown Alley partners meet in China. L-R Steve Uphoff, Ding Zoulong and Mike Auger. him,” says Uphoff. “We recognized it was an opportunity to put our product and our brands into his mall.” Ding was cautious at the outset. “He first just said ‘I will rent you space,’ and then when he came to the United States and toured our facilities, he saw what we were all about and how successful we were,” says Uphoff. “He said ‘I want to be a partner with you, I want to develop this concept in China.’ “ The first Uptown Alley China is located in Ding’s Global Harbor IBI
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COVER STORY says Uphoff, when Ding learned that people were waiting several hours to bowl on a weekend night. Brunswick’s Smith sees Uptown Alley as a continuation of the growing Western cultural influence in China and says it’s the first venue to go all out in terms of an Americanstyle entertainment center. “The bowling is hands down the driver there,” says Smith. Gary Smith “When the Chinese walk in the door, it’s just amazing watching the look on people’s faces when they look at something like Uptown Alley. It’s something they just literally have never, ever seen before.” Uphoff says the reaction of Chinese customers to Uptown Alley China has been very positive. Most of the Chinese who have visited the center have fallen in love with it, even if they are still getting used to the American-style eatertainment experience. “We had a hard time getting the Chinese to understand that they could eat and drink at the same time they bowled,” he says. Customers would eat dinner in the restaurant and they would have a bottle of wine but they were reluctant to drink or eat at laneside. To overcome that challenge and boost
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laneside revenue, management had bartenders go up and down the lanes selling beer and sampling pizza from rolling carts. “So they started to get the sense that it's okay and that actually we encourage it… so we're getting there,” says Uphoff. “There’s going to be absolutely some cultural challenges,” says Smith. “Similar to Japan, people over there don’t quite grab onto the combination of eating, drinking and bowling. That’s one of the biggest challenges.”
COVER STORY
Restaurant consultant Mike Auger of Trifecta Management, Uphoff’s partners and the operators of the Uptown Alleys, also faced challenges in adapting the concept to the Chinese market. “Conceptually, what are the look, feel and elements that fit the Chinese culture and what do they like that would give us that instant attraction?” wondered Auger and his team. From a design standpoint that turned out to be easy. “They really like anything American. We did [lots of] things along the Hollywood theme. We have booths running video of the stars. Parts of the lanes have [images of] Hollywood movie stars,” says Auger. Adapting the food and beverage offerings to Chinese tastes was more complicated. “The menu is very different from what we would have in the U.S., with a whole Chinese section of traditional food,” says Auger. For the American classics side of the menu, they had to translate training materials and recipes into Chinese and painstakingly source authentic ingredients like ground beef and tortillas. They also had to find Chinese chefs who were familiar with Western food to teach other cooks how to make it. To the surprise and delight of the owners, 95% of the food orders at Uptown Alley come from the American menu. “Even though we offer a palate of Chinese foods, the top items we sell in China are exactly the same
UPTOWN CHINA AND THEIR INDUSTRY PARTNERS Ó Bowling Equipment by Brunswick Ó Furniture by Yuexing Furniture Company Ó Sync Scoring software by Brunswick Ó Debit Card system for arcade by EMBED Ó Top five grossing games in arcade: 1. Jurassic Park by Raw Thills 2. Shining Crane by Paokai Electronics 3. Sweetland by Namco 4. Crossy Roads by Adrenaline Amusements 5. Snapshot by LAI Games Ó POS system for food and beverage by Micros 38
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top items we sell in America,” says Uphoff. (French fries, chicken wings and the chain’s signature Uppy burger are one-two-three on the list.) Although business is good and positive media coverage has been plentiful, Uptown Alley China is deliberately flying under the radar as Uphoff and Auger fine-tune the concept. “The reason we built in Changzhou was we didn't want to build in a tier one city like Shanghai with 23 and a half million people, and everyone watching us as we make mistakes,” says Uphoff. “Figure out what products people like, what hours we should be open, what drinks we should have, what food we should be offering.” His current plan is to build 15 locations over the next five years and then go public in China. Meanwhile, Uphoff is having fun getting there,
Uphoff is all smiles at the redemption store.
especially when he watches his customers discover the joy of bowling. “Americans [throw] a strike or a spare, they give each other a high-five and sit down, no big deal right? You've seen it a thousand times. But when you see it in China, it's totally different. You see Chinese people run up to each other and give each other bear hugs, and Chinese are not typically emotional,” says Uphoff. “To see a 50-year-old man who has never bowled in his life, give him a bowling ball and have him throw it down the lane and watch his face is just an astounding opportunity for me.” ❖
Robert Sax is a writer and PR consultant in Los Angeles. He grew up in Toronto, Canada, the home of five-pin bowling.
SPRING 2017
INTRO
According to George emember the Rogers Curve for business innovation adaptation? Rogers showed how new ideas flowed from a few innovators to the early adopters, further up to early majority where it peaks. The curve heads down the other side with both early and late majority. When Beyond Bowling started some five years ago, the BEC was in the early adopters phase. Today we’re in the early majority phase. What’s more, the FEC games, laser tag and other attractions that we’ve incorporated into bowling centers are enjoying an alltime high popularity. They’ve become mainstream entertainment. Growth is at hand. There is no shortage of great games being released and the playing public loves them. Debit card systems allow us to regulate the cost of the experience and obtain pricing that allows profitability. Redemption is ascendant, games have long lives, merchandise practices are staying ahead of the curve. In short, good times! So we can coast, right? Wrong! We’re in a business that, when we’ve got it running smoothly, we better get up the next day and go to work. The great operators build their strength in good times. If downturns come, they survive on that strength. If they don’t come, they are maximizing their business anyway. Keeping up with industry trends, thinking, finding new products to add to the mix all are important. That’s where Bowl Expo, scheduled for Nashville, TN, next month, plays a part. So much knowledge and experience gathering under one roof! A great opportunity to stay ahead of the curve (pun intended). Speaking of knowledge and experience, check out my interview with Pat Ciniello in these pages. Since falling in love with bowling at the age of 12, Pat has survived and prospered in the bowling business through its ups and downs. I was struck as I listened to a bowling icon tell me about his latest virtual reality attraction. Guess the BEC is maturing. Enjoy, and I hope to see you at Bowl Expo.
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George McAuliffe
Principal, Pinnacle Entertainment Group
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From David’s Desk s some of you know, I grew up in the bowling industry. Starting at the early age of four, my mom, like many ladies in the early 70s, bowled in a league, and I would, by necessity, tag along. I would beg to bowl, even though I couldn’t lift the bowling balls. From that time on, I knew that bowling was my sport. In college at Wichita State, it continued to be my life, even making Team USA for four years. You’re probably asking, so what does this have to do with Beyond Bowling? Well, it has to do with my thoughts on either remaining a bowling purist or embracing a new innovation. The innovation being string bowling machines. This month’s feature in Beyond Bowling is about string bowling machines and how they are becoming a strong competitor to regular pinsetters. As a staunch bowler, you would think that I would only have eyes for traditional machines, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Bowling with string machines is just as much fun for the customer. And for the proprietor, the string machines have fewer moving parts which contributes to its overall safety. Those fewer parts translate to less inventory and overhead. A trained game technician could trouble shoot any issue. When it comes down to it, every center is unique. Some rely on the traditional technology, while some embrace more innovative applications. In the expanding world of entertainment, bowling is one of the best investments you can make as a proprietor to keep people staying longer and coming back often. I love bowling, in whatever form it takes. Enjoy this issue of Beyond Bowling.
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David Garber
Associate Publisher International Bowling Industry
BUSINESS OPERATIONS caption
Pulling Strings Modern string pin machines are a fast-growing trend in FECs. By George McAuliffe
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owling on strings: is that real bowling? It appears that more and more of the bowling audience, including some serious bowlers, are answering yes to that question. As the bowling market changes with league bowling in decline and casual bowlers on the rise, string machines seem to be coming into their own. The love story of the marriage of bowling and FEC attractions has moved primarily in one direction — adding FEC attractions to bowling centers. Traditional FECs have been slower to add bowling, often due to space and cost concerns. Brunswick and QubicaAMF string machines address those issues. We’re not talking small ball or mini bowling here. Those machines have their place. This is much different.
The Manufacturers Speak
String pins are suspended from much less complicated, and therefore less expensive, pinsetters. Players experience the look and feel of real bowling. “Lanes can be shorter than regulation, but otherwise it’s big ball bowling,” as Dan Borgie, Brunswick’s director for new center sales, told me. “Our Epicenter machines still come with many of the features of our GSX machines, including integration of LED lighting and music. We are the only
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company offering on-demand pin selectability, as well as a series of fun, challenging, non-bowling games for the casual bowler.” Borgie went on to say, “We’ve found the string machines allow us to bring the look and feel of real bowling into more locations. Epicenter allows for customizing the length of the lane and approach if space is an issue. We have installed or are in discussion with brewpubs, hotels, resorts, clubs, and all kinds of FECs.” If the string pinsetter is less expensive and easier to operate, something’s got to give, no? Well, yes. String machines are not sanctioned for league play in the U.S., so they are not for every center. However, in the growing number of bowling entertainment centers where league play is not essential, and even centers where it is, string can be part of the program. Did I just contradict myself by stating string can be part of the program in centers dependent on league play? After saying they are not sanctioned? No, and here’s why. They have a place in the hybrid model Dan Borgie
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
The Operator’s Perspective
concept where the majority of lanes are regulation. VIP, private or casual lanes can still be string. “The advantage of string pinspotters is that they enable an investor to deliver the fun of bowling with, less maintenance, labor, and parts costs than traditional free-fall pinspotters, said Neil Pennington, director of performance equipment project management for QubicaAMF. He echoed Borgie, saying that his company sees string pinspotters as a particularly nice alternative for boutique and FEC business models. “Bowling is a fun activity for guests, but not the primary revenue generator in the business. The target customer for these facilities comes to have fun. Most may not even realize that they are bowling on string pinspotters or, if they do, don’t care.” The QubicaAMF pinspotter is well established in the marketplace, with over 3,100 of their TMS machines installed since 2006, the company shares. Features like free-flowing string movement ensure explosive pin action; a unique tangle minimizing system reduces the likelihood of string tangles; and the new CenterPunch LED deck lighting system illuminates pins with exciting lighting effects, combining to deliver the best possible bowling experience. Additional features like a modern control interface make all machine settings and modes easily accessible to operators in a smart design with only six adjustments to maintain. Not to be outdone, Brunswick packs a tremendous amount of features and technology into their string machines. For example, Dan Borgie told us, “We’ve designed our Epicenter string machines to be energy efficient, easy to operate, and low maintenance. Epicenter still comes with a bumper system and a lot of the features of our GSX pinsetter.” For example, LED lighting coordinates with the music. Pin selectability offers 1,023 pin combinations. They also offer unique games like My Shot, Horse, and Angry Birds, with pin combos to make bowling different, more fun, and less intimidating for the casual bowler. Brunswick also offers its Sync Passport scoring system to streamline lane and center management. Both Brunswick and QubicaAMF integrate with the major debit card and restaurant POS providers, essential in today’s bowling entertainment centers. In terms of economics, the consensus is that return on investment for string should match that of traditional bowling, although the lower costs can be offset by somewhat less earning power due to the loss of leaguerelated revenue or slightly less price per game. Operating EBITDA’s should be in line. 44
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Mike Auger, managing partner of Trifecta Management Group (TMG), has designed and managed numerous BECs, including some of the finest, like: Uptown Alley in Richmond and Manassas, VA, Surprise, AZ, and recently Changzhou, China; The Plank, in Oakland, CA; and many others. Mike opened his first location with string machines at The Plank in 2015. That center features 18 lanes, 12 are regulation with Brunswick GSX pinsetters. The remaining six are Epicenter string lanes in a boardroom VIP section. According to Auger, “Our first consideration was space. In the greater San Francisco market every square foot is precious and we couldn’t quite get everything in. In brainstorming for solutions, we started to look at the Epicenter machines. We also had noise concerns. String machines are much quieter.“ So how has that worked out? “Great,” Auger said, “in our second full year of operations, we’re confident we made the right move.” TMG’s fourth Uptown Alley location recently opened in China. The company’s fresh experience with string machines at The Plank was valuable while they were under consideration at Uptown Alley Changzhou. “We had less of a noise concern in Changzhou then we did at The Plank, but we knew we wanted shortened lanes for the significant children’s market,” according to Auger. “The recent relaxation of the One Child Policy is fueling tremendous growth in the 3-7 yearold age group.” Uptown Alley Changzhou, China, features 20 regulation lanes on the first level, including four Brunswick custom themed lanes. Upstairs, the string machines can be found: a total of 13 lanes themed with New York and Hollywood imagery. “We went with lightweight balls, four to five pounds, and established maximum height allowed to bowl in that area,” Auger shared, “and set the lane length at 37 feet.” “It’s really worked out well,” according to Auger. “The easier maintenance means, in some cases, you don’t need a mechanic. The ultimate decision for a proprietor is: do you want only sanctioned, competitive lanes in your center? If the answer is no, they are a very viable option.” Dave Schwartz is a principal owner of Humdingers, a brand new BEC located in Paramus, NJ. Humdingers opened as a boutique BEC and features 12 lanes of Brunswick’s Epicenter string bowling, a good-sized
BUSINESS OPERATIONS arcade with fixed ticket redemption (a holdover from New Jersey’s antiquated redemption regulations) and a laser maze. The center also features an excellent restaurant/bar and eight state-of-the-art batting cages. The owners also operate Bergen Batting Cages, a sports training facility nearby. Dave’s roots go deep in FEC and nontraditional bowling. He started with the ride manufacturer Zamperla in the years when they repped Bowlingo, the predecessor to today’s Highway 66 minibowling by QubicaAMF. Dave also managed some high powered traditional FECs like SportsWorld and FunMania. “In the R&D process for Humdingers, I saw string pins at Bowl Expo. That really resonated with me,” Dave told us. “I liked the low maintenance aspect — something a guy who wasn’t a bowling guy could handle. We started to explore whether we could do a full-size center with string pins and started to lean that way. The bowling reps kept asking us, ‘Are you sure?’ We felt that for our market and concept, we could pull it off.” “We still discuss it,” Schwartz continues, “asking ourselves if it is the right thing, and the answer is yes. Only one league bowler has said he didn’t like it. Obviously we don’t have USBC sanctioned league bowlers, but we do get some serious competitors at the next level down. League bowlers have said the carry, or flight of the pin, is comparable to regulation. String pins are the same size and weight as regulation with the only difference being the hole.” Schwartz estimates that 85-90% of the time, the pin reaction is the same. Schwartz continues, “Our approach is 12 feet instead of 16 feet, so we could add more seating room for our recreational clientele and enhance the eating experience. League bowlers notice the shorter approach but it hasn’t been an issue; they adjust. Our lanes themselves are just two feet shy of 60 feet. Our exit surveys show that many people didn’t even know pins were on strings. If you don’t get a tangle, they don’t know. Between black strings and LED lighting, it’s all fairly well disguised.” The update on the new status of an older 46
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product appears that string machines are here to stay, and we’re certain to see more of them as we tour the marketplace. As Neil Pennington of QubicaAMF told me, “It’s not just a European thing anymore; we’re seeing significant, growing interest and adoption in the U.S.A.” ❖
George McAuliffe has created and operated family entertainment centers from 2,000 to 150,000 square feet as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, and consultant. He is president of Pinnacle Entertainment Group and leads the company’s strategic advisory team. Readers can visit www.grouppinnacle.com for more information or contact George at georgemc@grouppinnacle.com or 314-422-7197.
INTERESTING INTERVIEW
Doing What He Loves A Few Minutes with Patrick Ciniello, Chairman of the Board of QubicaAMF and CEO/president of Bowland Centers.
By George McAuliffe Pat Ciniello has been a bowling proprietor much longer than he has been in manufacturing and his involvement with QubicaAMF. He has had a major impact on both sectors of the industry he loves. We spent some time with Pat exploring his views on the business, focusing on his operating business. 1. How did you get your start in the business? At the age of 12, I started cleaning bowling balls for free games at my local bowling alley in Jersey City, NJ. I continued to bowl competitively through grade school, high school, and college (in 1963 Pat had the highest average in the Eastern collegiate conference which included colleges in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). After four years in the Air Force and a business degree from Monmouth University in New Jersey, I tried working in other businesses before I joined Brunswick as an assistant manager. At Brunswick I had the opportunity to rise through the ranks, managing several different centers. I then joined Treadway Inn, a large public chain of hotels and bowling centers where I ultimately became director of operations. Treadway had bowling centers in 26 states and Puerto Rico. In January of 1980, I put together a group of investors, and we purchased Beacon Bowl in Naples, Florida. On the manufacturing side, I started a small bowling supplier business in the 80s, and in the mid-90s we discovered Qubica, an Italian company specializing in scoring systems. We acquired the rights to North and South America and grew the business to 20,000 lanes. In 2005, we merged with AMF, becoming QubicaAMF. 2. What’s kept you in the business through the years? I love the game and the sport of bowling along with the business and people. It’s been very rewarding financially and has allowed me to live my dream: dealing with people I enjoy, being around the game, helping out. As we’ve moved into family entertainment, I’ve 48
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seen the same DNA. It’s a fun business with great people. I met my wife, Lisa, in the business. We’re now married 32 years, and she works with me handling our HR and marketing functions. Our youngest son, Marc, who is 26, is also a part of the business. Being able to work with my family is a big factor. 3. Tell us about your company. Bowling Management Associates, Inc.(BMA) is our management company. BMA operates two primary businesses. Two HeadPinz Bowling Entertainment Centers, a third is currently under development, and Bowland Bowling Centers, comprised of four traditional centers. All are located in southwest Florida. Our goal is to exceed customer expectations every time. We want to be the best and don’t want our customers to even think of going anywhere else. As we look toward the future, we want to be the one stop shop for families and millennials extending their stay for entertainment and restaurant experiences. 4. Your roots are in traditional bowling. What led you to add family entertainment attractions to the mix? We worked closely with Neil Hupfauer, the founder of Main Event, in the early days. We saw what he and others like Steven Foster at Lucky Strike and, later, Charlie Keegan at Main Event, were doing. We thought the market for
INTERESTING INTERVIEW innovative, multi-attraction entertainment existed in southwest Florida, and we believed that’s where the industry was headed. Our first test platform was in Cape Coral, FL. We bought and converted a 24-lane traditional center and converted six lanes to entertainment space. We added sixty games and a laser maze. We were not able to do laser tag there as we didn’t have the ceiling height. We expanded the restaurant/lounge and renovated the exterior which earned us the Bowler’s Journal Best Renovation Exterior award in 2014. When we bought the center, it was doing under $700,000. After the changes, we tripled those revenues. Prior to that we had purchased land for a new ground-up entertainment center in Fort Myers, but the great recession put that on hold. As the recovery began, we restarted the development process for the second HeadPinz which opened in 2015. Fort Myers has 24 lanes, eight of which are boutique. We feature four old-time lanes with actual pin boys, with other authentic features like a pool table from 1908. On May 18, we are opening our first virtual reality (VR) attraction with four stations, and then we’ll be adding five in HeadPinz Naples. 5. What do you see as the key to the success of the BEC model? The key is melding the amusement attractions and food and beverage with the bowling piece. In order to make that move, you invest in real estate and equipment, but you really need to invest in the people. The BEC business model demands a higher level of management attention. 6. What advice would you give a proprietor who is considering allocating space for an arcade/redemption center in the existing bowling venue? First, do your homework. Go to the trade shows and conferences. Visit other locations to see what’s happening. Second, make sure you are willing to make the additional effort required. Third, know the demographics. If you’re in the wrong market or location, you can’t fix that after opening. I’d also say get help. If you’re going to do it, do it right. And if you don’t know an area, hire someone who does. Get good counseling. 7. Can you boil it down to the top three factors for your success? 1. Luck. As a young guy I didn’t know how to fail. I was fortunate to come to Florida, to have a successful first location where I met my wife. It’s much easier when your wife understands the business. 2. I had good partners. I had no money to speak of starting out, but I had two gentlemen who believed in me. 3. My parents’ support. I had a great childhood and my parents were always very supportive. When I graduated college and told them I was going to work in a bowling 50
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alley, it might have tested that support. But they came on board once they understood I was doing what I loved. 8. Your vision for the next five years? Our company is looking to continue to expand HeadPinz into indoor/outdoor entertainment. We think that will unlock a lot of opportunity for us going forward. There are always opportunities out there; we just have to discover them. We are always looking for other business ideas and go where people are thinking outside the box. Look at what Top Golf is doing for the golf industry as one example. It’s all about keeping it fresh and new and exciting. We focus a lot of our thinking on how to move the millennial age group with items that appeal to them, social media and digital. They will be a big part of the future. 9. How about QubicaAMF Worldwide? Anything interesting on the horizon? Always! We have a constantly evolving roadmap for future developments, but unfortunately I can’t go into detail on unannounced features and projects. We are excited about some of our recently introduced features. We have a new LED pin deck lighting package called CenterPunch. Q-Pad is our handheld device, a management system in your hand that will turn on lanes, order food, pretty much anything you can do at the bowling desk. We are committed to API development so that our systems can integrate with the multiple software tools out there. We apply the same philosophy in both businesses: keep trying new things and invest in R&D. We want to bring the game to the next level, both on the entertainment and the traditional side. We just acquired CDE Software to enhance league scoring systems which shows our continuous commitment to the sport and game of bowling. 10. Any other wisdom you care to share with our readers? It’s all about being open to change. Change is always coming, and those who embrace it will succeed. At the same time, enjoy what you do! Thanks, Pat. Best of luck for your continued success. ❖ George McAuliffe has operated family entertainment centers from 2,000 to 150,000 square feet as a corporate executive and entrepreneur. As a consultant he has helped hundreds of clients add or improve redemption game rooms and FEC attractions. He is currently the principal of Pinnacle Entertainment Group whose clients include Embed, Redemption Plus and Shaffer Distributing Company. He writes for RePlay and International Bowling Industry magazines and speaks at FEC industry conferences.
SHOWCASE
REDEMPTION TIPS E-LETTER
BMI Merchandise, leader in redemption technology, has introduced the “Weekly Redemption Tips from Jimmy Chaps,” a weekly email filled with one or two or maybe more tips that all amusement operators and locations can put to profitable use. “My goal is to share great moneymaking tips for all segments of our industry. I enjoy sharing the many nuances in our industry with others to help them make more money and provide great entertainment to their customers,” said Jimmy Chaps, who joined BMI Merchandise in February. In order to receive “Weekly Redemption Tips from Jimmy Chaps,” email Jimmy at jchapman@bmimerchandise.com. Upon receipt, you’ll receive his email blast. The goal is to grow your amusement business.
THE LATEST JEWEL IN THE ARCADE
Bay Tek’s newest wheel game is Jewel Mine. This sparkling new addition keeps their strongest lineup fresh and relevant as ever. Jewel Mine’s lighting package is a must see. The game is lit from head to toe, starting at the highly placed back lit marquee, down to the back lit wheel targets that spin for great visual affect. The large 32” display creates a bright digital interaction right at a player’s eye level. Bay Tek used new technology in place of traditional t-molding and added addressable LED lighting that is choreographed to attract from afar. Also added was a beautiful under glow on the bottom of the cabinet that really makes the game jump off the carpet. For more information, go to www.baytekgames.com.
CUSTOM FURNITURE SET
BUSINESS REPORTING SOFTWARE
Embed’s card system comes standard with TOOLKIT, a powerful set of resources. Successful FEC and bowling center operators understand the need for real-time data to make educated decisions. Having access to real-time, up-to-the-minute information allows you to make informed decisions. This can help you reduce operating costs, which translates to your bottom line. Export reports from one or many venues to Excel, PDF or have them automated and emailed to you. Find out more at www.embedcard.com/reports.
Brunswick’s new Custom Center Stage™ seating options include diamond-tufted upholstery and brass-colored nailhead trim, for an eclectic, gastropub/nightclub look. The Center Stage custom coffee table features four USB power outlets, multiple cubbies for shoes, etc., elevated center surface for food and beverage, and a modern plinth base. New ball racks save space and can be placed closer to bowlers, or as a divider between lanes and concourse. More info: brunswickbowling.com/products/furniture/center-state/custom-possibilities/
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SHOWCASE
ARCADE MERCHANDISING LAYOUT
Redemption Plus’ Storyboard, a sectioned merchandising layout, allows redemption programs to easily tell a story with product. “Without a visual and intentional story in your redemption room or counter, guests struggle to make a connection with your product and easily make decisions.” Over the next few months, Redemption Plus will be digging into a handful of its 13 storyboards on its new blog, insightsempower.com. Learn how their Storyboards use the five elements of a story—characters, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution—to create a flawless shopping experience for even the most picky players. For more information, go to redemptionplus.com.
BALL RETURN TECHNOLOGY.
QubicaAMF’s Harmony Ball Return solves many of the most critical ball return needs of today’s bowling businesses that can’t be met by the alternatives. With its gorgeous design, it will enhance the ambiance of any center, and offers the widest selection of colors. The Harmony Ball Return also uses less electricity than any other ball return. The exclusive auto-start technology enables the ball return to run only when needed. Electrical consumption is 70% lower on average, while saving power and prolonging the life of the system. Visit QubicaAMF.com/Harmony to learn more.
SPECIAL BOWL EXPO OFFER
Live Oak Bank is offering $500 off closing costs to Bowl Expo attendees for all loans under $350,000 on loan applications completed prior to August 1st. Live Oak’s loans under $350,000 are perfect for modernizations and the purchase of games and equipment. If you are looking to expand, upgrade, refinance or renovate, Live Oak can help with that too! They offer loans up to $5 million to help with all your business needs. Live Oak would love to talk to you about your financing options. Stop by their Bowl Expo booth #636, in Nashville, to speak to a BEC Loan Expert and learn more about how they can help you grow your business. www.liveoakbank.com or (910) 758-2035.
MOBILE APPS
Steltronic Scoring offers its Steltronic Focus software. With this system, apps are available for iOS and Android mobile devices, along with desktop computer website monitoring. View your bowling game instantly on your mobile device or website after each ball is rolled. Also, a complete history of all games bowled and individual scores are always available to share instantly on social media sites like Facebook. For the league bowler, statistical and historical data for every ball rolled, averages, pins most frequently left standing, spares converted, and much more are at your fingertips. For the open play bowler, more gaming type events are available to challenge other players worldwide, with the ability to win awards and prizes. We are YOUR bowling center management specialists. For more information, (800) 942-5939 or www.steltronicscoring.com.
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GOODWILL CENTRAL
HAS BOWLING GONE TO THE
By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson
D GS? V Puppy Jake Foundation and Warrior Lanes Team Up For Veterans In Iowa.
eterans, service dogs, and bowling may not be a natural combination, but all three came together at Warrior Lanes for a good cause. The 16-lane center helped the Puppy Jake Foundation (PJF), a volunteer organization that donates professionally trained service dogs to wounded veterans. “We find organizations and programs that we are passionate about and get involved,” states Kristy Morse, owner of Warrior Lanes in Waukee, IA. “A family involved in PJF also belonged to our Kids Bowl Free program this past summer. We established a relationship with them and offered a fundraiser opportunity. How could we not? Deserving veterans and cute puppies—what an awesome combination!” “Each dog is fostered by a trainer’s family,” explains Morse. “This was a new experience for The Morse family.
everyone involved. Each trainer had pre-event work to do with their dogs to prepare them. The specific lesson they were working on during this event was to push or move an object. Using the shorter ball ramps made this lesson possible.” During this training event, the service dogs learned to bowl. Held on October 18, 2016 from 6-8pm, the fundraiser for the PJF included eight canine bowlers, 39 human bowlers, and spectators including four other dogs in various stages of training. The dogs wore bowling shoes—protective boots meant to be worn outdoors to protect their paws. Many of the 54
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GOODWILL CENTRAL dogs were wearing them for the first time. Becky Beach, CEO of PJF in Urbandale, IA, founded the organization in early 2013. “I was aware of the impact a service dog had on a veteran, and I was determined to provide a professionally trained service dog to those that have given so much for our freedom,” stated Beach. “My lab, Jake, was the driving force in the name. We are blessed to have such strong support in our community. It’s important to PJF to spread the mission so that other injured veterans reach out to us for help. The more financial support we receive, the more veterans we are able to help. Each service dog costs approximately $20,000 for two years of training in the
program. Veterans pay just $150 for an application fee.” PJF got involved with Warrior Lanes through their partnership with Merchants Bonding. Their employees sponsored the event to raise money for PJF. Morse advises other bowling center proprietors considering hosting fundraisers. “Each group has their own unique needs and vision of what they want their event to be. We work with all kinds of groups. Some want
big elaborate functions with big ticket prices to raise thousands of dollars and some need simpler events that are family friendly and affordable. We help each organization custom build a program to meet their needs.” Morse, who co-owns the 15,600-square-foot center Warrior Lanes with her husband Brad Basart encourages other proprietors to “just reach out! Most organizations don’t think of bowling as an opportunity to fundraise until we tell them!” Though not a veteran herself, Morse notes she has many customers who are in the military or are retired. Her grandfathers were both veterans. She feels it’s important to help. “At Bowl Expo, we signed an agreement to participate in the Care, Commit, Contribute Bowlers To Veterans Link campaign to raise a minimum of $1,000 by May of 2017. We did a Veteran’s Day event where we donated $1 for each full-price game of bowling purchased on Friday, November 11th. We have a monthly family doubles bowling tournament, and a portion of each entry fee goes towards CCC for BVL and our youth bowler’s scholarship fund. There are coin collection cans at the cash registers. The list is always growing.” The fundraiser for the PJF held at Warrior Lanes raised $195, but every little bit helps. “This was a simple event for the first time out,” shared Morse. “We just did a 50/50 fundraiser to test the waters of this particular non-profit and their followers. It went over very well, and we believe we will have more events with them in the future.” “We did not do anything special to prepare for the dogs. We learned that some dogs were here for work training (those were the dogs that were bowling and wearing vests) and some were here for social training. The social dogs did not have on training vests so we could pet and interact with them. The idea was to have the most normal bowling center environment possible. We did, however, have A LOT of dog hair to vacuum up from our new black carpet and found puppy treats in interesting places after they left. It was all worth it!” ❖ Pamela Kleibrink Thompson lives in Idaho. In addition to writing, she is a career coach and scenario role player for peace officer training. Pamela worked as a production manager on the Emmy Award-winning animated series The Simpsons, where she bowled regularly with members of the crew. She speaks on career issues at conferences all over the world. You can reach Pamela at PamRecruit@q.com.
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PROFILE Edel and Pierce Murray.
THE MILKMAN
OF SINGAPORE By Paul Lane
I
first met Pierce Murray at AMF’s world headquarters on New York City’s Madison Avenue in the spring of 1972. Pierce was a relatively new recruit at the time, having recently been hired as a sales trainee. I was in New York to review the first cut of the film of the 1971 AMF Bowling World Cup, which was held in Hong Kong and won by U.S.A.’s Roger Dalkin. Pierce came along with me so he could start to learn what the World Cup was all about and gain some insight into AMF’s international marketing activities. What impressed me during our time together was not so much that he never stopped asking questions, it was the depth and thought that went into the questions. I soon concluded that this was a young man destined to go far in the bowling industry. And, go far he did. This is his story. Pierce Murray is the owner and managing director of Associated Bowling Supplies (ABS) in Singapore, which he founded in 1985. ABS is a full-line distributor for QubicaAMF, with responsibility for sales in nine Southeast Asian markets, namely: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Since its founding, ABS has completed numerous projects throughout the region, including installing a mix of new and used equipment for new construction and modernizations. They offer a comprehensive range of aftermarket and consumer products. However, this is just a small part of Pierce’s 45-plus year tenure in the bowling industry and the years leading up to when he joined AMF in late 1971.
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From fresh milk to Associate Bowling Supply, Pierce Murray has truly delivered. A variety of part- and full-time jobs for Pierce included delivering newspapers for the Yonkers New York Herald Statesman; working as an elevator operator at St. Joseph’s Hospital Yonkers, and caddying at various golf courses in Westchester County. “But I spent too much time in the caddy shack playing poker and never learned how to play golf properly,” said Pierce. He also worked the check-out desk at a local A & P supermarket long before computers and had to learn and memorize all the prices to avoid a commotion if he did not know the price of a can of beans when 20 people were waiting in line to check out. Pierce recently found the yearbook from his high school graduation which listed his favorite sport as bowling. This surprised him as, at that time, he expected it to be basketball. One of his earliest bowling experiences was working as a pinboy at a 6-lane center in the CYU Yonkers, a job he held until his mother found out! In 1962 Pierce joined the U.S. Air Force along with his best friend. “The plan was for us to be stationed together, but that never happened,” said Pierce. “I was supposed to be trained in parachute rescue, jumping out of a plane with scuba gear to rescue survivors from downed aircraft by fishing them out of
PROFILE the Atlantic. But it was not to be. The Cuban Missile Crisis hit and I became an Air Force policeman.” Stationed briefly in Rome, NY, Pierce was soon posted to Germany, where he claims his major accomplishment was, “sitting on a nuclear weapon while smoking a cigarette.” He was discharged in Germany and spent the next year roaming around Europe in a Volkswagen Beatle, picking up the odd part- Pierce Murray and Madain Suharto Former First Lady of Indonesia. time job here and there, including painting women’s shoes at a shoe factory in Cologne. Pierce returned to the U.S.A. in 1967 and worked as a personal loan collector for Manufacturers Hanover Trust in New York City. While working there, he attended NYU University four nights a week and graduated with a BS degree in 1971 and then joined AMF as a sales trainee. After completing his sales training with AMF in New York, Pierce was transferred to AMF Deutschland in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1972 where he was responsible for bowling sales to the U.S. military and commercial customers in Eastern Europe including Yugoslavia and Romania. Pierce said, “At that time there were about 1,200 lanes installed in U.S. military bases in Germany, and a similar number in the German civilian market. And, there were approximately 25,000 kegel lanes (small-ball ninepin lanes with string machines) installed, mostly in basements of pubs and restaurants. Average lineage was between 20 to 30 games per lane per day, but the restaurant revenues could reach 150 percent of the bowling income. A lot of it was in beer sales.” During his tenure in Europe, Pierce organized annual exhibition appearances for his U.S. military customers, with professional bowlers including Dick Weber, Dick Ritger and Jay and Cheryl Robinson. “A proven valuable marketing tool,” says Pierce. In 1978, AMF relocated Pierce to its Hong Kong office where he served as AMF’s director of marketing for Southeast Asia and as the liaison with AMF’s joint venture companies in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. From the time he saw the first cut of the film of the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in New York in 1972, he was hooked and became the tournament’s biggest fan. He took the opportunity, while visiting Indonesia on a sales call, to negotiate and sign contracts for a host bowling center and hotel, plus sponsorship for the 1980 event held in Jakarta. The tournament was officially opened by the First Lady of Indonesia, Madam Suharto, who arrived with an assistant carrying her own ball, bag and shoes. She became the first dignitary to roll a strike with the inaugural ball at a Bowling World Cup. The next move for Pierce, in 1981, was to Singapore as AMF’s regional director for all of Southeast Asia, a position he held until AMF closed that office in 1985, but not before he opened up three new markets when he sold the first bowling centers in Beijing, China, Brunei and Myanmar. In his last year with AMF in Singapore, Pierce made the most of an opportunity to introduce bowling to the CISM games. CISM, the International Military Sports Council, is the military equivalent of the Olympic Games, bringing together military athletes from member countries spanning the globe. He invited the members to the late Herbie Lim’s Jackie’s Bowl for lunch, followed by an exhibition by Dick Ritger. 62
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PROFILE Just about everyone came for the lunch, led by the heads of their respective national armed services, most of whom were in their late 50s and 60s. After lunch they were invited to the lanes to try their hand at bowling. That’s when, according to Pierce, “complete pandemonium broke out. 24 lanes were simultaneously attacked by the elderly military leaders from all over the world. Balls were being launched like mortar rounds, being thrown as fast as machine guns, with foul lights buzzing across the house. All we needed was some smoke to make it feel like a war zone.” “Happily, Dick Ritger had just completed an instructor training program and he took charge, dispatching the newly qualified instructors to every lane, and within minutes he had every lane under control: No more lofting. No more foul lights buzzing, and no more attacks on the machines,” added Pierce. Pierce was later presented with a plaque, a citation and a medal of appreciation by CISM. In 1983, the Murrays, recalling that they had fresh milk delivered to their door every day in Germany, formed a company called Murco. “Fresh milk was something we missed in Singapore,” said Pierce, “so we arranged for milk to be collected from Australian dairy farms every morning, sent to a plant for pasteurization, and delivered to Qantas Airlines, to be flown to Singapore. The milk arrived in Singapore by 11:00 pm the same day. Our drivers cleared the milk through customs and delivered the milk, door-to-door, to customers during the night. Many households woke up to the freshest milk in Singapore.” Another claim to fame: Pierce delivered 5,000 liters of milk to the USS Carl Vinson (a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier) in a bumboat, a small boat used to ferry supplies to ships moored offshore and also used as water taxis. Pierce said, “I can tell you an aircraft carrier looks pretty big when you are sitting alongside in a bumboat on top of 5,000 liters of milk.” This is the same carrier that many years later carried the body of Osama bin Laden, when he was buried at sea. Since Pierce incorporated in 1985, ABS has installed more than 2,500 lanes throughout Southeast Asia and has a staff of twenty between the offices and warehouses in Malaysia and Singapore. They maintain an inventory of no less than 2,500 line items ranging from aftermarket parts and supplies to consumer products. “We take pride in being able to serve our customers,” says Pierce, “and our operating philosophy is ‘You can’t sell out of an empty store.’ ” One marketing tool that Pierce and his son, James, who joined ABS in 2006, offer is education programs for proprietors. Pierce says, “Education programs for proprietors are one of the best sales tools available, and the results have always been an increase in sales, maybe not immediately, but there’s typically a significant return on the investment in the long term.” Over the years, ABS has organized seminars including basic, intermediate and advanced instructor classes and basic and
Pierce and his family.
intermediate ball drilling seminars. Dick Ritger has also conducted his bowlers’ academy program plus advanced training for Singapore instructors, many of whom are now recognized as national coaches. ABS has organized seminars on lane maintenance, the AMF Gracious Host program, plus seminars by Columbia’s staff-of-champions, and appearances by Dick Weber. ABS provides technical training to bowling center maintenance staff and management services tailored to suit the needs of an existing or new proprietor to help ensure they are successful or more successful with their businesses. “Our goal is to develop a relationship with our customers where they consider us as a mentor,” said Pierce, “a relationship where customers will talk to ABS first regardless of their needs.” In recent years Pierce has mostly been living in Dungarven, Ireland, with his wife Edel. In fact, Pierce and son James both have dual citizenship in the U.S.A. and Ireland. Pierce communicates with James in Singapore every day, for daily reports and to continue to steer the business. We asked him if that meant James is managing the day-to-day business. After pondering that for a few seconds he said, “Well, yes — but I still sign the checks,” he added with a wry smile. So what’s next for Pierce: a daily door-to-door service delivering Guinness Irish Stout to Irish households maybe? Whatever he turns to next, you can be sure it will be well thought out, meticulously planned and professionally executed. And you can be sure his customers will benefit regardless of whether they are a new investor or an existing customer looking to maintain and improve the business. ❖
Paul Lane is former Director of Marketing and Marketing Services for AMF Bowling, Inc. He has been the director of 18 AMF World Cups, an officer in national and international trade associations, and a pro bowler during a career that spans more than 60 countries and 50 years.
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DATEBOOK
MAY 16-17 LaserTAG360 Indianapolis, IN Russ Van Natta (317) 834-4770 www.lasertag360.com Boot Camp League Development Iowa BPA Bev Van Blair (641) 792-1380 bevvanblair@gmail.com Boot Camp Leadership/Time Management Bowl Illinois Bill Duff (847) 385-8471 billduff@bowlillinois.com
JUNE 5 BPA Pennsylvania BOD Meeting Capital Building, Harrisburg www.pabowling.com 5-16 A-2 Pinsetter Training QC FEC Moline, IL Frank Miroballi (540) 325-7684 www.BrunswickA2training.com 8-9 TrainerTainment Sales Conference BPAA Intl Training Campus (817) 886-4840 cso@trainertainment.net 18-22 BPAA International Bowl Expo Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Nashville, TN www.bowlexpo.com
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Boot Camp Digital Marketing Colorado BPA Chris Gallas (817) 385-8471 www.bowlcolorado.com
JULY 10-21 A-2 Pinsetter Training QC FEC Moline, IL Frank Miroballi (540) 325-7684 www.BrunswickA2training.com 11-13 BPAA Bowling University School Bowling Center Mgmt BCA Wisconsin Dale’s Weston Lanes & Mountain Bay Conf. Ctr. Weston, WI (262) 783-4292 16-18 BCA Michigan 71st Annual Convention & Trade Show Radisson Hotel, Lansing www.michiganbowl.com 27-29 BPAC/GA Convention Sea Trail Golf resort Sunset Beach, NC Beth Smiril (336) 339-1314 bpacga@gmail.com
AUGUST 1-2 LaserTAG360 Indianapolis, IN Russ Van Natta (317) 834-4770 www.lasertag360.com 7-18 A-2 Pinsetter Training QC FEC Moline, IL Frank Miroballi (540) 325-7684 www.BrunswickA2training.com
SEPTEMBER 14-15 TrainerTainment Guest Services Conference BPAA Intl Training Campus (817) 886-4840 cso@trainertainment.net 25-26 Florida State Bowling Assoc. Annual Meeting & Golf Villas of Grand Cypress Orlando, FL www.flstateba.com 26-27 LASERTRON Conference Lasertron Entertainment Center Rochester, NY Ann Kessler (305) 257-3930 akessler@lasertron.us
OCTOBER 23 Kentucky BPA Annual Meeting For info: Jack McCarthy (502) 558-3450 jmccarthy@sasfe.com 23-25 East Coast Bowling Centers Convention Kalahari Resorts & Convention Pocono Mountains, PA www.eastcoast bowl.com
NOVEMBER 13-17 IAAPA Attractions Expo Orange County Convention Center Orlando www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpo BPAA One-Day Management Boot Camps Available to state associations & multi-unit centers Contact Kelly Bednar (817) 385-8462 Kelly@bpaa.com
CLASSIFIEDS
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CLASSIFIEDS MECHANIC WANTED CANOGA PARK, CA: Full-time B mechanic or experienced PinChaser wanted, prefer Brunswick trained, for 32-lane house. Good compensation & benefits. Send resume to wendym@gelbgroup.net.
AMF and some BRUNSWICK PC board repair/exchange. 6-month warranty, fast turnaround. Call or write: WB8YJF Service 5586 Babbitt Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054 Toll Free: 888-902-BOWL (2695) Ph./Fax: (614) 855-3022 (Jon) E-mail: wb8yjf@sbcglobal.net Visit us on the WEB! http://home.earthlink.net/~wb8yjf/
PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70 S.S. & M.P. MACHINES Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. Board Exchange & Repair! A reasonable alternative for Chassis and P.C. Board Exchanges MIKE BARRETT Call for Price List
Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
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EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Six-lane complete package from our house to yours. Steltronic WINS scoring, Elex & SuperElex, all components, flat screen conversion or monitors, will separate. AMF HPL & Brunswick Anvil panels, foul line forward. Powerlifts. B2000 hood/rack. Brunswick A2 pinsetters, refurbished. Can install. Knotritellc@gmail.com. FOR SALE: USED FRAMEWORX SEATING. Ball returns & hoods, modwalls, swivel tables and more. Mickey Cogan (310) 378-2265 or gablehouseusedbowlingequipment.com. Kegel Kustodian Plus. Great condition. Call (208) 344-2695. Two (2) Route 66 Qubica bowling games with extensions. In excellent shape! One owner, 12 years old. $3,500 each/OBO. Call for photos. (603) 455-7010. For REDLINE FOUL LIGHTS, call 1 (888) 569-7845 or visit Bowlingtrader.com, your FREE bowling buy and sell site. NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
CLASSIFIEDS
LOCKER KEYS FAST! All Keys done by code # Locks and Master Keys E-mail: huff@inreach.com TOLL FREE
1-800-700-4539
MINIATURE GOLF COURSES Indoor/Outdoor. Portable/Pre-Fab. Black Light/Traditional/Pro Putter. 202 Bridge Street Jessup, PA 18434 570-489-8623 www.minigolfinc.com
SELL YOUR CENTER
(818) 789-2695
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CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
SERVICES AVAILABLE ATTENTION AMF 82-30 OWNERS! Call us for ANY 82-30 questions. Specializing in motors, guaranteed chassis (58-50s and 65-25s), service calls, extractions & rebuilds. BUY, SELL & TRADE. References available. Call Krew Bowling Supply (303) 953-8339.
REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248) 375-2751.
EQUIPMENT WANTED LANE MACHINES WANTED. We will purchase your KEGEL-built machine, any age or condition. Call (608) 764-1464.
Your lanes needing TLC? We got you! Full sand; screen; recoat, approach only. Lane resurfacing. Knotritellc@gmail.com
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Custom home installations & complete packages. Let us bowl you away. Tenpinartisans.com/Knotritellc@gmail.com.
PRO SHOP TRAINING. Classes always forming. Jayhawk Bowling Supply (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
APPRAISALS APPRAISALS: LARRY DOBBS MAI, ASA. (214) 674-8187. Bowlingvaluations@yahoo.com.
WWW.TEXTBOWLING.COM
AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY ALL AMF BUMPER PARTS, XS Q-BUMP, DURABOWL AND GEN II IN STOCK
SEL L
BUY
Danny & Daryl Tucker Tucker Bowling Equipment Co. 609 N.E. 3rd St. Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-4018 Fax (806) 995-4767
Bowling Parts, Inc. P.O. Box 801 Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-3635 Email - daryl@tuckerbowling.com
www.tuckerbowling.com
Felix Erickson Company Inc. Strike Zone © Family of Industry Leading Lane Products Strike Zone KB Lane Cleaner 5 gal case $ 95.00 Strike Zone Next Generation L.C. 5 gal/case $ 105.00 Strike Zone SuperStar L.C. 5 gal/case $ 120.00 Envi-Cide II Disinfectant/Shoe Aerosol $ 89.95/case Solve-It Orange All Purpose Cleaner $ 69.95/case ®
®
®
®
®
Exclusive Phenolic Kickback Plates Front 15” x 33” Rear 19” x 23 ¾” $ 89.00 each (includes screws and instructions) FESI Solve-It Ball Wheel Liner @ $90.00 /roll 070-011-905 Waffle Distributor Belt w/ lacing $58.00 each Toll Free (800) 445-1090 | P (609) 267-2833 | F (609) 267-466 www.festrikezone.com | Resurfacing-Repairs-Supplies 68
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CENTERS FOR SALE MISSISSIPPI: 20-lane Brunswick center in Jackson, includes real estate. Bad location but really cheap. Great potential. Call Sonny @ Mars & Steel, office (601) 982-2828; cell (601) 954-5527. TEXAS PANHANDLE: 12-lane center in thriving small town. 11,760-sq-ft building on 1.96 acres with 11,760-sq-ft asphalt parking lot. Includes real estate. AMF 82-30 machines, BOSS scoring system, ball drilling equipment, wood lanes. All well-maintained and in excellent shape. Large sitting and recreation area. Beer license. Single family owner for 50 years. Jon King, Attorney, CPA, Real Estate Broker, jonprestonking@yahoo.com or (806) 244-0166. MAINE, FRYEBURG: rare Mount Washington Valley entertainment opportunity. 16 rock maple lanes w/ overhead electric scorekeeping. Simulated golf games, coin games & 26-seat snack bar. 12,000 sq. ft. Equipment included. Lots of parking. Close to Fryeburg Academy/North Conway, NH. Call Badger Realty (603) 356-5757. SW WISCONSIN: 10-lane center, includes bar & grill. New metal roof and paint. Wellestablished leagues. $250,000 OBO. (608) 341-9056. CENTRAL IDAHO: 8-lane Brunswick center with Anvil lanes, 50-seat restaurant with Drive-Thru Window. All new appliances. Only bowling center within 60 miles. Call (775) 720-2726.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
CLASSIFIEDS
SELL YOUR CENTER
(818) 789-2695
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REMEMBER WHEN
1963 REFLECTIONS THAT REFRESH
T
he definition of malt liquor was important to Pearl Brewing Co.’s Country Club Malt Liquor in 1963. The advertiser wanted it to stand out from beer and ale. However, no explanation was necessary for bowling. That’s because bowling spoke for itself with over 4,575,000 ABC members and approximately 5,643 centers, all with scenes and bowlers as depicted here. Bill: There I was staring down that last pin. The league’s reputation was on the line, and I needed to make that spare. Jack: Here he goes… Phil: I’ve heard this before! Bowling stories are even better than fishing stories. We’ve all got them…the pin that got away. Check out that convenient throwaway bottle! Just you wait 1963, plastic is just around the corner. ❖ - Patty Heath
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