CONTENTS
VOL 27.7
THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
6 SHORTS • FOX & Friends will plug bowling in August • Bowling Book Corner – summer reading • Spotlight: Jamie Brooks joins 60-Year Club • Great Wolf Lodge on the prowl • Kegel, IAAPA, and Betson adds and promotions
36 CENTER STAGE Are We Having Fun Yet? Getting into the groove at the new Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge in Little Rock. By Jackie Frager
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38 BUSINESS Taking Care of Customers for 90 Years
By Patty Heath
Shaffer Distributing has been creating memorable experiences for four generations
14 FEATURE The Heart and Bowl of Hilliard
By Robert Sax
Newly renovated Ten Pin Alley gives back to the community with a novel charity program.
46 FUNDRAISER
By Marci Williams
Xtravaganza Strikes Again
22 PROFILE
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Where Do Retired Pro Bowlers Go?
International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame caps off its biggest fundraiser of the year By David Garber
Catching up with Mike Aulby By Joan Taylor
54 REMEMBER WHEN
30 COVER STORY
1953 Shrinkage Woes
Bowling Wild
By Patty Heath
At the unique, safari-style resort, Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands, bowling is part of a much larger family experience. By Paul Lane
49 Showcase 50 Classifieds 36
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ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER David Garber garber@bowlingindustry.com
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com
CONTRIBUTORS Jackie Frager David Garber Patty Heath Paul Lane Robert Sax Joan Taylor Marci Williams
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)
P.O. Box 7350 Overland Park, KS 66207 (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 $60 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, P.O. Box 7350 Overland Park, KS 66207 USA. If possible, please furnish address mailing label. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2019, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:
SHORTS
EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS
CINERGY CINEMAS & ENTERTAINMENT ON THE MOVE
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Cinergy Entertainment opened its first location in Oklahoma and is working on another in Kansas City, KS. Tulsa, OK, is now home to Cinergy’s 60,000-square-foot entertainment center which includes eight multiplex screens with leather reclining seats and food service; a 14-lane bowling center; interactive, virtual, and video games; and five escape rooms. Moving right along, the company is in the throes of building an ambitious 90,000-square-foot venue as the anchor tenant for the Mission Gateway project in Kansas City, KS, a multiuse entertainment and social recreation destination, comprised of a hotel, offices, retail, and apartments. Cinergy plans to be open in 2020 and will offer 10 auditoriums for movies, a 16lane bowling center, plus interactive games, an elevated rope course, zip lines, and axe throwing.
ARIZONA, STANDBY FOR THE GREAT WOLF October is the month, Scottsdale is the city, and Great Wolf Lodge is the treat. Scottsdale is the first resort site for Great Wolf Lodge family destinations in Arizona. Starting in Wisconsin, they can be found across the country. The resort, featuring 350 guest rooms, will begin welcoming guests on October 17. Originally started as a water park, families will now find dozens of entertainment options. Besides the water attractions, there will be several restaurants and food options, including Barnwood and Hungry as a Wolf. A 27,000-square-foot family entertainment center will allow kids of all ages to escape to another world with MagiQuest—Great Wolf Lodge’s exclusive live-action adventure game. The entertainment center will also feature a rock climbing wall, miniature golf course, and a bowling center and arcade.
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LASERTRON AT SANTIKOS ENTERTAINMENT, CIBOLO, TX. Santikos Entertainment, a San Antonio-based theater company, has a new location in Cibolo, TX. It offers 12 auditoriums with recliner seats, and 16 fullsize bowling lanes with lane-side dining and four VIP lanes. An added enhancement is a 3,832-square-foot, multi-level LED arena by LASERTRON, 100% LED interactive and programmable. The attraction can allow one group of 24 while another one is being suited up and prepped for the next game. LASERTRON currently has 187 locations operating with its laser tag equipment.
CATSKILLS BOASTS NEW INDOOR WATER PARK Summer in the Catskills. It’s been going on for generations. However, now there’s a new kid in town—the Kartrite Resort & Indoor Water Park. It is 80,000-square-feet of slides, adventures, observation decks, and spa relaxation. It is all under one energy-efficient, transparent roofing system. It’s a family vacation at 84 degrees all year-round. Check in, and off you go in different directions. There are 10 thrilling waterslides, laser tag, a rock wall, a ropes obstacle course, virtual reality experiences, and bowling lanes, plus eight bars and restaurants. While vacationing is high on Kartrite’s offerings, it will also host meetings, events, and celebrations in an 11,00-squarefoot space.
ALSO HAPPENING Boca Raton, FL, will welcome Strike 10 to Mizner Park, a shopping destination that is in need of a new twist for shoppers. The center will offer 10 lanes and two mini lanes, along with a lounge and bar area. Opening is yet to be announced. Valley River Center is located in Eugene, OR. The mall is on the verge of including a bowling center— Round 1—to be opened by winter. Shoppers will be able to avail themselves of arcade games, billiards, karaoke, and bowling. Main Event Entertainment has opened its first site in Colorado in Highlands Ranch. The 50,000-square-foot center features 22 state-of-the-art lanes with luxury seating, laser tag, a gravity ropes course, billiards, shuffleboard, and a games gallery featuring over 12 interactive and virtual video games. As part of a revitalization project in downtown Salina, KS, The Alley, a 28lane center, will be opening in July. Laura and Geno Seiders have high hopes for their purchase of Hill-Top Lanes in Hodgdon, ME. The 8-lane candlepin center was in need of TLC which the Seiders have begun.
SHORTS
ß BITS & PIECES ß ß ß
UK’s Hollywood Bowl is Up
Hollywood Bowl, a UK leisure operator, reported very strong trading for the six months up to March 2019. It has been noted that sites tend to perform better once they have been remodeled or updated. This bodes well for Hollywood Bowl as it is on track to complete between seven and nine refurbishments this year. While the second half of the year tends to be less strong, according to Shares News, with people spending more time outside in the summer, the company appears strong and, with a pipeline of new centers, future growth looks positive through the end of 2022. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Betson’s Portland, OR, office open
Over 800 people, including 10 manufacturers and customers from over 25 different companies attended Betson Enterprises’ new Portland office opening with a Spotlight Show and barbecue cookout. Betson sales and finance teams were on hand to discuss the new and exciting games’ offers. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ColorSplash
ColorSplash from ZOT has added six more venues to its growing family: The Alley, Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada; All Star Lanes, West Jordon, UT; Strike Zone & Sports Den, Williston, ND; Facenda Whitaker Lanes, East Norriton, PA; Andy’s Altitude 1291, Midwest City, OK; and Joliet Town & Country Lanes, Joliet, IL. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BVL Exhibition
The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame announced its latest museum exhibit, spotlighting the Bowlers to Veterans Link. “This is a unique opportunity to display the accomplishments of this wonderful organization,” said Mike Aulby, president of the BMHF. The exhibition opened Memorial Day weekend and will remain on display through the Labor Day weekend. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global to represent Master Industries
Global Manufacturing has reached an agreement to represent Master Industries Worldwide. The agreement empowers Global to perform all sales and marketing sanctions for the Southern Californiabased bowling accessory manufacturer. “This is a very positive step for the future of both Master and Global,” stated Donna McDermott, GM of Master Industries Worldwide. “Our team at Global welcomes this opportunity. We look forward to adding Master to our offering of performance bowling products for bowlers and pro shops worldwide,” added Wes Pye, Global executive vice president.
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BOWLING BOOK CORNER It’s summer, time to sit on the patio and read a good book. Jonah D. Sandler, CEO of Scene 75 Entertainment Centers, has written a book directed to entrepreneurs: Before the Doors Opened, How One Entrepreneur Captured the Hearts of a Community and the Attention of Facebook, first published in 2014. This read chronicles Sandler’s last ditch effort to build a marketing plan after the entertainment center’s budget had been exhausted by construction and cost overruns. With only three months from opening, he had a plan. For younger readers who love bowling or just love a story about overcoming obstacles, Dan Gutman’s The Million Dollar Strike is a good summer read. Gutman, author of a series called My Weird School, shares the adventures of Ouchie and Squishy, two boys who love to bowl at the local bowling alley. When the Bowl-A-Rama faces the possibility of being condemned by the city, the boys work with the crazy owner Mr. Zamboni to restore the crumbling business. It evolves into a mystery that middle grade readers will enjoy.
MADISON COUNTY BA SHINES The Madison County Bowling Association (MCBA) held its eighth-annual Hospice Charity Bowling Tournament this past April. It was held at Galaxy Bowling Center in Richmond, KY, where the entire day was donated for the cause—Hospice Care Plus! According to reporter David Norman of the Richmond Register, over the past seven years, the event has raised over $60,000. This year alone, with the help of attendees and sponsors, over $22,000 was raised.
SHORTS
THE WHITE HOUSE LANES MAKE-OVER
First Lady Melania Trump unveiled the newly renovated White House bowling lane with an afternoon of bowling shared with the children of Secret Service members. The original was installed in 1973 during the Nixon Administration. It wasn’t until the Clinton Administration that it was quasi refreshed. On this go-around, the original wood lane was restored and electrical wiring, new mechanics, and a fresh interior were part of the Photo credit: Andrea Hans renovation.
SPOTLIGHT: JAMIE BROOKS Jamie Brooks of McKinney, TX, was recognized for reaching a special milestone at the 2019 USBC Open championships. Brooks became the second bowler this year, and 27th in tournament history, to reach 60 years of participation on the championship lanes. The 84-year-old right-hander received a chevron, plaque, and engraved money clip to commemorate his entrance into the 60-Year Club. Brooks made his tournament debut at the 1957 event in Fort Worth, TX. Since Brooks was 21 years old, he has owned a total of 44 bowling centers and still operates three of them, including the wellknown Plano Super Bowl Jamie Brooks and his wife at South which has been a regular Point Bowling Plaza stop of the PWBA tour in recent years. Brooks was recognized in 2010 by the USBC as Proprietor of the Year for his longtime support of various programs, such as hosting charity events for Bowl for the Cure and developing the Senior All-Star Bowling Association. 10
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PEOPLEWATCHING KEGEL, has added to its Kegel Team: David Lance, the new Training Center Coordinator, will manage daily operations of the center, including scheduling lessons, managing the pro shop supplies, and maintaining social media presence. Lane holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration David Lance and holds Collegiate All-American honors with Webber International University’s men’s bowling team. Kegel has also instituted a new level of service to its Spanish-speaking customers with Andraunick “Andro” Simounet. He will assist customers who contact Kegel’s Technical Support Team. Simounet will also do sales visits in areas primarily Spanishspeaking. Simounet has been with Kegel since 2014 in manufacturing. He is a title holder at the World Youth Championships and continues to bowl Andro Simounet competitively. IAAPA announced the promotion of David Mandt to executive vice present and chief engagement officer. The newly created position is responsible for association member engagement, global marketing, communications, and education. Most recently, Mandt had served as senior vice president, David Mandt marketing and communications. Mandt is a 38-year attractions industry veteran. He was with Paramount’s Parks for 25 years. Betson Enterprises has announced the promotion of Richard Zayas-Bazan to president of Betson Imperial Parts & Service Company. Zayas-Bazan has been with Betson for 22 years, starting as a customer service representative. He will oversee full operations of this growing division. Betson Imperial Parts & Service offers a full-line of parts and service to the amusement, vending, office coffee service, gaming and billiard industries. Richard ZayasBazan
SHORTS
Media
WATCH JUNIOR GOLD CHAMPION ON LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN Celebrating “Lil’ Champions Week,” hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest welcomed Katelyn Abigania and her father on the show. Katelyn won the girls 12and-under title at the 2018 Katelyn Abigania, San Diego, on Junior Gold Championships, and set with Kelly Ripa and Ryan she is preparing to defend her Seacrest. title this year. Other guests for Lil’ Champions Week included the winners of the 2019 Scripp’s National Spelling Bee, a Masterchef Junior Champion, and a reigning Raytheon Mathcounts champion. A bowling lane was specially installed to allow Katelyn to show off her skills and give tips to Kelly and Ryan.
BIG SLICK CELEBRITY TOURNAMENT
Olivia Wilde (L) with Selena Gomez at
Actress/director Olivia Wilde and Selena Gomez participated in a tournament to help raise money for pediatric cancer research. Started in 2010 by Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle, and Wildes’ fiancé Jason Sudeikis, Big Slick has donated over $8M to the nonprofit hospital, Children’s Mercy Kansas City.
Pinstripes, Kansas City
GO BOWLING RETURNS TO FOX & FRIENDS IN AUGUST The bowling industry returns to the set of FOX & Friends to celebrate National Bowling Day on Saturday, Aug. 10, and GoBowling.com will again offer a coupon for a free game of bowling on its website. Go Bowling supports National Bowling Day which is celebrated on the second Saturday of August each year, and will provide consumers with free bowling game coupons that can be redeemed at participating centers across the country throughout the month of August. 12
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ANOTHER FIRST FOR MY FAIR LADY To mark the first anniversary of My Fair Lady at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in NYC, a party was held for the cast and crew plus friends at Lucky Strike. The evening was full of bowling, pizza, sliders and chicken nuggets.
PHOENIX, OREGON Phoenix, Oregon, a feature-length, independent film, was shot in Klamath Falls, OR, and premiered there. The world premiere was held at the Ashland Independent Film Festival in Ashland, OR, where Richard Herskowitz, artistic and executive director of the festival, said Phoenix, Oregon is “the best bowling film since The Big Lebowski.” The film tells the story of two friends who, amid a midlife crisis, choose to leave their jobs to restore an old, rundown bowling center and serve what they consider is the world’s greatest pizza. The film stars James Le Gros and Jesse Borrego, both of whom are veteran actors of film and TV. Produced by Joma Films and directed by Gary Lundgren, Phoenix, Oregon will go on a 50-city tour to various film festivals and special screenings. Watch for it at a film festival near you.
PAYING IT FORWARD Owners, Denise and Jim Baures, of J & J Fireball Lanes in Portage, WI, know a thing or two about cancer. Denise, who is a cancer survivor, and her husband decided two years ago to use the center to raise money for charity, and the charity of their choice was cancer. Each year from inception, they raised more than $10,000. One year, it went to buying waiting room chairs, as Denise knew just how hard it was to wait in uncomfortable situations. This year, their efforts went toward lung cancer, in honor of the former owner of J & J Fireball Lanes who passed from the disease; the outcome was $17,000.
FEATURE
The Heart and Bowl of Hilliard Newly renovated Ten Pin Alley gives back to the community with a novel charity program. By Marci Williams
I
f you ever need a reminder of what is great about bowling, talk to Sarah Purdy, proprietor of Ten Pin Alley in Hillard, OH. Hilliard is a suburb about 14 miles northwest of Columbus and the address of 5499 Constitution Boulevard has housed a bowling center since the 1960s. When Purdy bought the property in 2006, she had big plans for bowling and for charity. The 16-lane, 14,600-square-foot center was closed in July 2017 and, with an investment of approximately $5 million, re-opened in February 2018, more than double its original size. The renovated center now has 24 lanes, with eight lanes designated as a VIP bowling room. Additional new amenities include a two story, 2,300-square-foot laser tag arena, arcade, a 70-seat restaurant which serves meals from scratch, a bar with 15 rotating taps along with a full wine and liquor selection, and a 3,000-square-foot patio featuring two bocce ball courts, a fireplace, and direct access to the main bar. Support from the Hilliard City Council was evident
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with a generous property tax abatement which helped to make the remodel possible. They also renamed the street where Ten Pin Alley sits from Constitution Boulevard to Ten Pin Alley; the new address is 5499 Ten Pin Alley. But the real winner in the remodel was charity. Purdy and her staff take their motto, “Not just entertain families but help families,� very
FEATURE seriously. At the time of the re-opening, they established Heart & Bowl, a charitable program where 2% of sales center-wide is donated to charity. Whether you’re bowling, entertaining the kids with laser tag, a birthday party, an office party, or dining, 2% of the bill goes to charity. What’s unique about the program is that when settling the bill, the patron is able to select which of the three annually pre-selected charities receives the 2%. There is no rounding or adding. Ten Pin Alley approaches Heart & Bowl as a partnership rather than a strictly donation-based program. The participating charities are encouraged to help market the center to their supporters who then patronize Ten Pin Alley because they know they are directly supporting a cause that is important to them. The more active a charity partner is in educating supporters and donors about the partnership with Ten Pin Alley, the more opportunity they have to raise funds throughout the year. How Ten Pin Alley selects the charities annually is a collaborative process. Charity representatives meet with Andy Beougher, the marketing director, and Sean Rogers, the general manager, to introduce themselves and share the who, what, where, and how of their particular program. Beougher and Rogers communicate that Heart & Bowl is a partnership, and Ten Pin Alley is looking for aggressive organizations to help promote the program. The center prefers to support regional charities whose
participation in Heart & Bowl will have local impact. Beougher admitted that it was interesting and sometimes difficult in the decision meeting because there are so many worthy causes, and the center wants to make wise choices. It is important, however, to support programs that support their customers. Beougher and Rogers received approximately a half dozen requests this
Proprietor Sarah Purdy
year, but know this number will grow as the program grows. In 2018, Heart & Bowl donated close to $60,000 to their three charities: Action for Children, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, continued on page 20... 16
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FEATURE ...continued from page 16
Jules Verne-inspired laser tag arena
and Hilliard Food Pantry. The charities selected for 2019 are: Dot’s Tots Foundation, supporting central Ohio foster families, children with debilitating disease and/or injury, and teenagers pursuing higher education; Families for a Cure, funding cancer research, patient care programs, and patient experience grants; and Friends of the Shelter which helps sick and injured dogs at the Franklin County Dog Shelter where, on average, 350 dogs are rescued, nursed to health, and adopted to their forever-homes annually. The center’s accounting for the charity donations is straight forward: when the server is settling the bill with a customer, the three charities pop up on the top of the screen. The customers decide which
Ten Pin Alley’s marketing director Andy Beougher
charity they would like to support, and the back-end software program magically takes care of the financial reporting. Thank you Ten Pin Alley for reminding our industry why bowling is such a great, family business. We applaud your passion to give back to your community and to not just entertain families, but to help families. Bravo! ❖
Ms. Williams worked at Learjet Inc. (now Bombardier Learjet) for 33 years before retiring in 2005 as a corporate tax accountant. She served on the USBC board of directors for nine years, the BPAA board of directors for four years and the BVL board of directors for seven years. Her high game is a 300, and she is a proud supporter of the Wichita State and Newman University bowling programs.
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PROFILE By Joan Taylor
WHERE DO RETIRED PROFESSIONAL BOWLERS GO? Catching up with Mike Aulby
D
o you ever wonder where professional bowlers go after leaving the tour life? Do they have college degrees or enough experience to begin a closer-to-home, non-traveling, and maybe non-bowling profession? For example, where is Mike Aulby, the left-handed sensation and PBA Rookie of the Year from Indiana who won 29 titles, including eight majors, and more than $2 million in his 25-year career? Aulby received entry into his first professional bowling tournament as a Christmas gift from his parents when he was 18 years old. He went on to win the PBA National Tournament the following summer at age 19. Early in his tour days, he met Tami Canepa, sister of Candy Canepa Cook through what he calls a setup. The couple married in 1984, and six years later, had a son, Christopher Jay (CJ). Eight years later, the couple welcomed daughter Danielle. The tour proved successful for Aulby but once CJ entered high school and Danielle was entering first grade, he decided to retire from full-time professional bowling. He added, “I lost the desire to keep up with the [younger men touring with the PBA], and I felt I was missing all the stuff my kids were doing.” Aulby is a member of many Halls of Fame, from the local level all the way to the two most prestigious national levels at the PBA and the USBC; he left the tour life at the top of his career. So where is he now? Many bowling pros want to own their own bowling center, and Aulby was no exception. Enter Mike Aulby’s Arrowhead Bowl in Lafayette, IN, in which he is the majority owner. Fellow former pro Scott Devers is a part owner and runs the center. Mike said, “It’s all about what I like doing and the people in it. Don Mitchell found this center for me so I’d have something to do after throwing
Aulby in th e early ye ars
Mike Aulby 22
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lby delivery Classic Au
PROFILE a ball. Don was a partner until he passed away in 2012.” The late Don Mitchell, an extraordinary proprietor and promoter, was in Mike’s life early on as a father figure and a five-year sponsor. It was only natural that their lifelong friendship would lead Aulby down the same path as Mitchell who had been a proprietor with a solid success rate. Steve Coo k, Many pros want to marry and have a family with a more normal life than that winners in Mike Aulby showb oat PBA D 1 989 of a road warrior with countless weeks away from home. While Tami was oubles supportive of Aulby’s chosen career during the long weeks when he was away from home, the couple welcomed quality family time once Aulby settled into his own businesses back home in Indiana. Unlike his peers, Aulby thought it would be a kick to build one skating rink and buy another. He is now an operating partner and 1/3 owner in The Arctic Zone Iceplex and Carmel Ice Skadium. By investing in the bowling center and rinks, he transitioned smoothly into becoming a businessman while maintaining a more normal home life. A typical Mike Aulby day consists of
with siness partner Scott Devers, bu Bowl head Aulby at Arrow
seeing to the day-to-day operations of the ice rinks. “Whatever comes up,” is Aulby’s typical day, “whether it’s a conference call or something at the bowling center. We hosted our 16th state tournament in the 20 years we’ve owned the center. We are hosting the women’s state championship, both this and next year, and will be back into high school championships, too. We have 24
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PROFILE
Don Mitch ell
and Aulby, 1980
y’s mentor, ell was Aulb first ch it M y. lb s the h Au Mitchell wa ell (left) wit Don Mitch er, and close friend. Fame. of artn business p cted to the PBA Hall le e r to e ri p pro
also hosted a couple of collegiate tournaments.” At age 58, he is giving back to the sport by hosting tournaments and growing the sport for high school bowlers. As if that weren’t enough to keep one man busy, Aulby was recently named the president of the International te Night with Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame (IBMHF). The path that o his show, La llway nt o y b ul A d io ha invite id Letterman two bowled down the stud led him there started around the time he retired from the tour. In 1989, Dav e th re he w man, “I was on the board of directors since 2005, and when Bob David Letter Guldoff was about to retire, I was asked if I would take over the presidency. For my duties with the IBMHF, I go to the The Aulbys are still able to enjoy traditional USBC convention and Bowl Expo. I will probably do the East and West family gatherings. “For the past 34 years,” Aulby Coast shows, too. I go to the big annual fundraiser in Las Vegas for the Hall. said, “we were fortunate to spend each Christmas I met with the staff in Dallas and there’s more to this position than I thought. in California with Steve Cook and his family. Last I have to check off on the audits, and check with the director of business year, Tami and I took our first trip without the development to see what he’s doing. Fortunately, there is lots of help from kids, to the fundraiser for the museum and Hall in the BPAA, especially from Bart Burger and his staff. Our board mainly does Las Vegas.” fundraising. It’s flattering and I am honored to be the first bowler asked to With all of these businesses, and his presidency head the organization. Jim Bennett did the first Salute in St. Louis back in the of the NBHFM, and trying to balance each, will ‘70s as a black tie event. I only hope I can do the job half as well as he and Mike Aulby ever truly retire? my other predecessors have. Our board is strong and its people are dedicated. “I don’t see it,” Aulby said. “We have so much They do more than what people may realize. We get great backing from the going on here in Indiana, I can’t see it ever USBC and BPAA, who provide resources and assistance.” happening.” And that’s not a bad thing either. ❖ That’s not to say that Aulby doesn’t bowl at all anymore. “I bowl mainly in charity events, and for the last seven years, I bowled in the USBC Open championships with Frank DeSocio, Pat Ciniello, and Bill Chrisman. Bill is my doubles partner. My brother-in-law, Steve Cook, and I bowl with Bill. We have Joan Taylor is a multi-award winning bowling writer based in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. two teams.” Scott Devers, as part of their bowling family, was on the national board of the BPAA and is the executive director of the Indiana BPA. Tami Aulby does the artwork for their ice rinks and maintains their websites. 26
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S P O N S O R E D BY C R E AT I V E WO R K S
HOW LASER TAG BECAME THE NUMBER 1 ATTRACTION AT THE TOP FEC IN THE WORLD
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n the past several years, entertainment businesses having been popping up all over the United States. To keep up with this increased competition, existing operators have reinvested in order to stay relevant in their marketplace. Jake’s Unlimited, formerly Amazing Jake’s, was in this exact situation. The business had been a staple in the Phoenix area for years, but newer entertainment competitors opened nearby. Jeremy Hoyum, one of the owners, saw the need for change and began an entire rebrand and remodel of the facility in 2017. In addition to rebranding, his team doubled down on the goals and vision for Jake’s Unlimited. “We’re not just button pushers for rides. We provide a needed service to the community and we create a place where people can come and have an experience,” said Hoyum. Jake’s Unlimited reopened as a 95,000 square foot family entertainment center with bowling, laser tag, rides, video games, a buffet, and much more. Some of these attractions were newly added during the multi-million renovation. But other attractions, such as laser tag, were existing amenities that needed a facelift. “Our laser tag arena that we had before was a smaller, older version of laser tag.” At the time, his laser tag capacity was ten people. With a facility
that saw 300,000 guests each year, the small attraction didn’t allow for the throughput Hoyum wanted. More importantly, it didn’t create the memories he wanted for his guests. With a new laser tag attraction, he wanted, “to create an experience that people talked about, remembered, and wanted to do over again.” When it was time to select a laser tag arena vendor, core values and relationships were important to Hoyum. Not only did he want to work with companies whose core values resembled his own, he wanted people he could depend on. During his career in the entertainment industry, Hoyum had built a relationship with Russ Van Natta, the VP of Sales at Creative Works Relationships aside, money is an important part of the equation and Hoyum completed his due diligence in the market. “I still had to create bids to make sure that everybody was being honest. But at the end of the day, the pricing made sense...I felt like [Creative Works] was our best road for success.” The team at Creative Works focused on Hoyum’s goals and brought his vision to life. He wanted to incorporate bright and vibrant colors to make the attraction more inviting for female customers. And most importantly, regardless of who played, he wanted them to come back again and again. “I would say that we for sure accomplished the goal. Our repeat plays in a day are crazy. It’s our number one attraction now.” His facility has an unlimited model where guests pay a single fee and get access to every attraction. Because of this, he can’t necessarily assign revenue values to any particular attraction. Instead they look at total plays for all attractions and then assign a percentage of overall revenue based on those numbers. Before the renovation, the facility was at a $15 per-cap (revenue per capita). Afterwards, with everything they added and enhanced, they increased to a $25 per-cap. If you’re looking to renovate or add attractions to your mix, Hoyum thinks you should focus on the details and high end finishes. “Those higher end finishes deliver a higher per cap and higher spend for events.” Hoyum is happy he didn’t skimp on the finishes for his own facility because they have made a huge impact on the guest experience. Jake’s Unlimited is getting a lot of industry attention for the success of the renovation. In fact, the facility won the IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Top Family Entertainment Center of the World in 2018. This reward is proof that Hoyum is doing something right. “It’s a win-win to where we’re able to create more jobs and influence the young lives of the people that work with us. And at the same time we’re creating experiences that people aren’t going to forget.” ❖ To learn how laser tag can get customers off the couch and boost your revenue, download a free report at www.thewoweffect.com/ibi
CREATIVE WORKS CAN HELP YOU MAKE A LONG-TERM PLAN.
COVER STORY
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COVER STORY By Paul Lane
C
owling while on safari? This may sound like a dream, but at Safaripark Resort Beekse Bergen, Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands, bowling has gone wild. Bowling is just one of multiple attractions included in this larger-than-life family experience. From actual safaris in Safaripark, to Speelland — the children’s attraction so vast it is called a country —, to Holiday Park where accommodations run from tents to deluxe cabins, to the Event Center which is large enough to hold 20,000 souls, Beekse Bergen is a real game-changer in the family entertainment space. The land where the Holiday Park and Speelland are located today started off as Natural Park for Peaceful Recreation in 1964. The Safaripark, where visitors were able to drive through a gated community where 50 lions walked freely among the cars, was added and opened in 1968. Today, there are over 150 species roaming the Safaripark that is home to more than 1,000 animals. Visitors can experience the wildlife from their car, just like an African safari, or take a bus tour where a ranger will guide and explain about the animals encountered. Visitors can also download an app that identifies the various species as they are spotted. The Speelland Children’s Play Country is exactly that: a playground for children of all ages. At Speelland, children experience a wonderful day full of fun playing on slides, swings, seesaws, trampolines, water slides, paddle boats, and much more. And while the children are having fun playing in the various attractions, parents can relax on the sandy beach until sunset. The Holiday Park is a great place to spend a night or two, surrounded by forests and water. Guests can choose what they prefer to do: a day of swimming in the covered Jungle Pool; climbing and scrambling on the playground equipment; fishing in Lake Victoria; enjoying lunch and dinner; or do nothing at all. As with the Safari Resort, the Holiday Park offers a variety of accommodation options ranging from log cabins, chalets, themed ‘jungalows’ and safari tents, either close to or alongside the water, or in deeply wooded areas.
The Event Center evolved and grew gradually over the years, and, in 2018, the €100 million ($111.6 million) Safari Resort Beekse Bergen opened. The Safari Resort Beekse Bergen is an area where you can become at one with nature by spending the night sleeping with wild animals close by in a variety of accommodation options, including one of 206 luxury lodges (including a kids and group lodge), two tree-houses, and 17 luxury safari tents. Each type of accommodation comes fully equipped with kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, and can accommodate between six and 14 people. Food and beverage service IBI
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COVER STORY
The Restaurant Moto
is also available on request. Guests at the Safari Resort will experience waking up among zebras, giraffes, rhinos, and a myriad of other animal species — an experience that seems like something out of a travel brochure, magazine, or a travel documentary. At the heart of the resort is Karibu Town, a bustling center where guests will find everything needed for the ultimate vacation. Nearby, the Maji Springs, with a lap pool and a children’s water playground, rev up the fun. After a day full of activities, guests can enjoy delicious dishes in Restaurant Moto. The word moto is Afrikaans for fire, and at Restaurant Moto, fire is an important ingredient. The sounds and aroma of meats sizzling on the grill is an experience to savor. It’s also an opportunity to get to know a variety of new and different types of exotic dishes that the whole family will enjoy. The Guest Services and Market is the place for visitors to stop by when they first arrive before driving directly to their reserved accommodation. Before guests arrive, they are Niels de Wildt, director of given a unique code which gives direct access to the resort Libéma Holiday Parks and room without having to wait in line to check in — there’s no delay to starting their unique safari experience. The Market supplies provisions for an overnight stay. Among other things, guests can find pre-packaged, fresh sandwiches and meals, small-service groceries, and souvenirs. The Pamoja Lounge in Karibu Town is the place to head where guests can enjoy a cocktail, a glass of wine or beer, and enjoy atmospheric African music while enjoying a snack and drink at the bar with friends. The Pamoja Lounge is home to a six lane bowling center which is available exclusively for overnight guests within the resort. With the average length of stay being three nights, the Pamoja Lounge and bowling center has proven to be a popular place for guests of all ages to get together. The safari-themed ambiance of the bowling center fits seamlessly with the rest of the resort and park. It is equipped Folkert Nievelstein, manager with QubicaAMF’s SPL Boutique English walnut lanes, TMS string of Bowltech’s sales and pinspotters, BES X Bowler Entertainment System, and, to service for Benelux (Belgium,
Netherlands and Luxemburg)
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COVER STORY ensure the lanes are in tip-top condition, a new QubicaAMF EZ Touch lane machine. All the QubicaAMF equipment was supplied by the Netherlands-based Bowltech Group. Niels de Wildt, the director of Libéma Holiday Parks division, the parent company of Beekse Bergen, always planned for bowling and safari park. Niels said, “In the early stages of development, when the facilities in Karibu Town were being considered, a bowling center was always part of that discussion. Beekse Bergen strives to provide a yearround family fun experience.” Niels explained that bowling at the Dierenbos location was a hit with customers. “Bowling provides a fun and interactive activity for the whole family,” he continued, “so it was a logical choice to add bowling to our central building at Beekse Bergen.” Folkert Nievelstein, manager of Bowltech’s sales and service for Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), adds, “As part of a major €100 million investment, Libéma has extended the activities with a resort where people can stay overnight, [with] the wild life. Obviously, those guests need to be entertained, so we helped them create a unique bowling facility that seamlessly fits into the African-themed environment” The construction of the new bowling center was planned with military-style precision. “As an example, transportation and unloading of equipment had to be precisely planned, scheduled and executed as there was little room to maneuver in the natural environment of the park. Any contractor who damaged even one of the trees would be fined immediately [in order] to protect the natural surroundings to the maximum. This and many other stories are what made this project pretty unique,” added Folkert. Guests who stay in a rental or tent at the Safari Resort or Holiday Park receive a complimentary Attraction Pass. The Attraction Pass includes free Wi-fi and
unlimited access to six different day attractions: the Safari Park; the Speelland play country; the Animal Kingdom park; the Zoo Park; an aviation theme park; and an aqua zoo. Another major and popular attraction at Beekse Bergen is the Event Center. The Event Center consists of six attractive halls and an outdoor area occupying about 100 acres. There are two more structures located in the outdoor terrain: The Cabin and The Lodge. The other locations in the Event Center differ in size, atmosphere, and layout, and can be used for all types of events, ranging from children’s parties, to anniversaries, to weddings, to family celebrations, to school trips, and theme parties. It’s also a popular venue for corporate team-building events and employee gatherings. “We can
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COVER STORY accommodate corporate [and party] groups in from a 20 person minimum up to 1,000 guests in our Adventure rooms,” Niels de Wildt adds. “We average around 15 plus such events a month. To promote our corporate and party events, we develop marketing campaigns through online channels like Google AdWords, and we also make online presentations on showcase websites like www.locaties.nl. Furthermore, we have an active and highly effective sales team.” The outdoor spaces at The Event Center consist of extensive sandy plains, woodland areas, large lawns, and 28 acres of water. The outdoor area is ideal for tough motorized activities and exciting survival trips. The Cabin and The Lodge are designed to host special events. The size and diversity of the terrain makes it suitable and popular for music festivals. Niels says, “The site offers space for tens of thousands of visitors. Festival organizers such as Decibel
The Pamoja Lounge is a casual bar next to the bowling lanes
residential tourism and employment in Brabant province Presently, there are about 600 full- and part-time employees at Beekse Bergen, a number which will increase as there are Bowling provides a fun and interactive plans for a Phase II Expansion to the Safari Resort in of accommodation and activities.” activity for the whole family, so it was a terms With more than 20 locations, Libéma, the parent company of Beekse Bergen, is one of the largest leisure logical choice to add bowling to our concerns in the Netherlands. The company consists of central building at Beekse Bergen. three divisions: amusement parks; holiday parks; and - Niels de Wildt trade shows and events, each of which operates a variety of venues. The diversity of these locations offers Outdoor, Best Kept Secret and WOO HAH Festivals have been entertainment opportunities to families and the business market on the site at Beekse Bergen for years, each of which have with over 8,000,000 visitors a year. attracted 20,000 visitors for up to three days and nights.” With bowling being such a small yet highly successful part Given the sheer size and complexity of the overall Beekse of Libéma’s overall business at Safari Resort Beekse Bergen and Bergen Safari Resort, the complex is obviously important to the Holiday Park at Dierenbos, one cannot help but wonder how local community and economy, including in terms of employment. many of the seemingly huge number of guests that pass through Niels de Wildt says, “Beekse Bergen guarantees a unique, the door discover bowling for the first time in this unique high-quality one-day and overnight safari recreation in the setting. And, of those who enjoyed the experience, how many Netherlands. The opening of the resort reinforces the (multi-day) would be motivated to visit their local bowling center in their home town, not only throughout Benelux, but the rest of The on-site market in Karibu Town Europe, as visitors are attracted to the park from across the entire region. Maybe the bowling industry in Europe owes Libéma a vote of thanks? ----------------A Special thank you to Marlies van Steenoven: Team Lead Travel, Libéma Fun Factory BV, for all her help in gathering information for this story. ❖
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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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CENTER STAGE
e W e r A g n i v Ha ? t e Y n u F
Getting into the groove at the new Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge in Little Rock.
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CENTER STAGE
By Jackie Frager
T
he Dust Bowl Little Rock isn’t just about bowling. It’s a unique entertainment destination that can accommodate a variety of events. The Dust Bowl Little Rock includes a lounge, full-service bar, patio, and private VIP room with two lanes. It is a retro-inspired tribute to the classic bowling alleys of the 1970s. The Dust Bowl brand is part of McNellie’s Restaurant Group which owns and operates a total of eleven restaurant concepts in Oklahoma and Arkansas. “We believe that our passion for hospitality, customer service, and employee well-being allow us to play a small role in improving the communities where we operate,” says Elliot Nelson, founder and CEO. For a groovy time in Little Rock, visit the Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge. You will be having fun! ❖
Elliot Nelson, founder and CEO of McNellie’s Restaurant Group
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BUSINESS
TAKING CARE OF CUSTOMERS FOR 90 YEAR S Shaffer Distributing has been creating memorable experiences for four generations By Robert Sax
W
hen a person reaches the advanced age of 90, it’s reasonable to expect them to slow down a little and celebrate their achievements. But as Shaffer Distributing enters its 90th year in business, everyone there is too busy to linger over the birthday cake. As one of the leading game distributors, the company remains firmly focused on the present, as well as the future of the family entertainment industry. Bill Kraft, vice chairman of the company, has spent more than 40 years working at Shaffer and has seen a lot of change in that time. “When I started off, there were approximately 50 or 55 of what I would call distributors in the industry. And now I’m going to say that there might be four or five distributors that are well capitalized. That’s it.” Kraft has worked with two generations of the family-owned company which is in its fourth generation of ownership. “Only three Bill Kraft, vice chairman of to five percent of fourth-generation businesses Shaffer Distributing 38
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make it, so we’re in a very unique stratosphere in terms of longevity in American industry,” says Kraft. “We are in tremendous shape financially, our businesses are very robust, and we’ve got a great bunch of people working for us. So we’re very well positioned going forward.” The company has weathered several boom and bust cycles over the decades, from the Great Depression, to the Golden Age of arcade video games, to CD jukeboxes, and more. Each time they would review the situation and press on. “Over the years, Steve Shaffer and I would laugh over a beer or coffee [and say] well, the industry’s dead,” says Kraft, but they always kept focused on the next opportunity. The evolution of the bowling industry is the big wave they are riding now. “The entrepreneurs within the bowling sector are seeing Steve Shaffer that they have to change, and they have got to be more of a multiple entertainment venue. And henceforth that bodes well for us,” says Kraft. That means lots of game sales for Shaffer Distributing and lots of deals for sister company Shaffer Entertainment, which focuses on revenue-share arrangements with proprietors. Shaffer’s long experience with games, jukeboxes,
BUSINESS
The Shaffer team
and vending machines gives it special insight into what strategies and tactics will work best for its customers. “There’s a difference between a good game and the creative concept behind it,” says Kraft. “What we call a good game is one that provides a huge return on investment, almost like a stock or some kind of an investment vehicle for our industry. That’s what all of our customers are looking for, a product that makes the most amount of money and is the most reliable.” Kraft and current president Scott Shaffer often describe the company as supplying ‘return on investment vehicles’ rather than just games. The advent of better manufacturers and better games support this investment metaphor. “In the old days, a lot of the product we used to sell had a 90-day lifespan,” says Kraft. “[Today’s] products now are five, six, seven years old and they’re still churning out good money. You’re looking at an annualized return on your investment that’s staggering, you know it’s 40, 50, 60%.” Tim Corley, president of Tim Corley Spare Time Entertainment and a Shaffer customer, sees Shaffer’s role in the FEC industry as helping their customers to make money. 40
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“Games and attractions are an essential aspect of our FEC model and we look to [Shaffer] to provide us with the insight and expertise to make the right investment in our game rooms so that we can realize our highest return,” says Corley. Shaffer began in 1929 as a distributor of pinball machines and jukeboxes, when founder Estel Shaffer quit the pharmacy business to sell games and music machines to restaurants and taverns. By the 1950s, under the leadership of Estel’s son Ed, Shaffer had become one of the largest distributors of the iconic Seeburg jukeboxes in the world. They still do a lot of jukebox business, but now their marquee music products are Touchtunes machines that stream millions of songs from computer servers to individual locations and allow customers to pick tunes and pay for them from their smartphones. In games, Shaffer is bullish on virtual reality games and rides. Kraft says they are doing very well with HologateVR and LAI’s Virtual Rabbids ride, which are increasingly popular with consumers. As game manufacturers increase their spending on research and development, including licensing fees for rights to big TV and movie franchises, their products have more replay appeal for consumers. “We’ve gone from the 90-day hit to strong pieces with much greater longevity,” says Kraft. “‘Jurassic Park’ Shaffer Distributing’s founder, Estel has been a huge, huge hit, and it’s been “Pop” Shaffer, at Shaffer’s 50th out for three or four years. The game is Anniversary in 1979 still a must-have in every new set.” Spare Time Entertainment, which operates 17 FECs in New England and the South, is also a family-run business. That’s another reason why Corley is so enthusiastic about working with Shaffer. “Spare Time and Shaffer are a lot alike in their histories, culture and the way we work with our customers,” says Corley. “And because we are both familyrun companies, we share the values of a familyrun company, especially when it comes to treating customers with respect.” Corley also appreciates the expertise of the Shaffer team. “I believe Shaffer has been the best games vendor we have used to date,” he says . “What differentiates them from their competition is their professionalism, expertise, and quality of service. From the moment we ask George Speakman for a proposal to the day we open our Game Zones, Shaffer works closely with us to ensure we get a competitive price, the right games mix, best layout for the space, and an installation that works with our schedule.” Shaffer has played an important role in the development of the Lucky Strike chain, having worked with them exclusively since 2004. In recent years, Shaffer has helped Lucky Strike create and roll out several locations
BUSINESS
From left: Scott Shaffer, Steve Shaffer, Bill Kraft, and Andy Shaffer
featuring their game-centric FTW (“For the Win”) concept. Jim Bennington, national games and redemption manager for Lucky Strike, praises Shaffer’s “wealth of industry knowledge, both as a distributor and as an operator. Confidence is what they bring to the project and confidence that they’re proposing the right equipment and we’re purchasing the right equipment and we can operate it within profitable boundaries.” Bennington calls Shaffer’s role in the industry “absolutely vital” especially to proprietors converting bowling centers to modern FECs. “They have an entertainment offering that’s competitive, and the ability to scale from working with small mom-and-pop operations all the way up to a national chain such as [Lucky Strike].” Andy Bartholomy, owner of Bartholomy Bowling Centers, says Shaffer is really, really good at the service side of the sale. He relates a story about one of the jobs Shaffer did for his company. “We had them scheduled to come in on a Friday Peter Gustafson of AAMA morning, and work through the day. We had a last minute school [customer] that said we have to come in Friday morning,” recalls Bartholomy. “So we called Shaffer and said ‘We’ve got to have you guys come in at 11 o’clock Thursday night after we close and work the late night
shift to set up the room. And they said no problem. Most companies aren’t going to do that so readily.” After a long night with Bartholomy’s team, Shaffer had the game room ready to go on time. Shaffer is also highly regarded among its peers, and this year the members of the American Amusement Machine Association chose Shaffer as its Distributor of the Year. “Award-winning distributors are recognized for outstanding accomplishment in several key areas including customer service, promptness of payment, marketing expertise, and product representation,” says Peter Gustafson, executive vice president of the AAMA. “Shaffer has excelled in all these areas for many years. We’re proud our members
A Shaffer-supplied arcade
elected Shaffer as this year’s AAMA distributor of the year. It’s truly well deserved.” Asked what the next five years might hold for Shaffer, Kraft says the company will continue to do what it’s currently doing while expanding to cover a wider territory. “Our name is starting to get out there on a national basis,” he says. “We have traditionally been a Midwest, maybe a five-state, distributor. And now our name is known in the bowling industry and the trampoline industry. We’re maxed to the gills with orders and that’s a wonderful position to be in.” It looks like the Shaffer team will have to eat that birthday cake on the run. ❖
Robert Sax is a writer and PR consultant in Los Angeles. He grew up in Toronto, Canada, the home of five-pin bowling.
The Shaffers proudly carry on the business 42
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FUNDRAISER
HALL OF FAME
PARTY!
The annual fundraiser for the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame was, as usual, an Xtravaganza.
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FUNDRAISER
By David Garber
T
he International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame just concluded its biggest fundraiser of the year, the 2019 Xtravaganza event at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas, NV. This year’s event featured more than 100 doubles teams who raised over $70,000. This was the 8th year of this unique tournament, in which throwing strikes is mostly a bad thing. Just like Vegas, random chance and luck make the games fun for all bowlers, giving them an opportunity to win. Check out some of the great people who made the event a success. �
All photos courtesy of Randy Gulley IBI
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SHOWCASE LIGHT IT UP!
Brunswick has captured lightning in a bottle with Spark™ Augmented Reality Bowling. Electrify your lanes and turbo-charge your traffic with the industry’s first immersive, interactive scoring experience. Spark surrounds the bowler in a mesmerizing, oneof-a-kind experience as it delivers the latest technology and entertainment trends to the lanes. Spark engages every segment of entertainment seekers with software-driven technology and innovation that’s built for tomorrow but delivered today. Only from Brunswick. Are you ready to light it up? Visit brunswickbowling.com or call your Brunswick representative today.
TOUCH SCREEN CONSOLES
Steltronic continues the evolution of the touch screen built for your satisfaction! It is made to withstand daily use and sometimes abuse in any bowling center. It is built entirely with steel, no plastic to break and fall apart, plus this touch screen console has the ability to rotate the screens to just about any preferred angle. New for 2019, two cell phone charging ports and LED lights have been added to enhance the laser-cut logo of your bowling center. This touch screen system is built with industrialgrade, 19-inch monitors and 100% made in America. For more information, call (800) 942-5939 or email: info@steltronicscoring.com.
HIGH-ENERGY ARCADE GAME
Betson Enterpises’s NERF ARCADE is a high-energy, fastpaced game that is exciting for kids of all ages and familyfriendly. Players grab hold of two oversized NERF Blasters and shoot as many targets as possible to win tickets or reach a high score. NERF ARCADE features a giant, 65inch, commercial-grade LCD for stunning visuals, two highreliability and versatile patented Blaster guns, seats, and a massive 500W sound system. LED lighting effects and vibrant cabinet artwork complete the design. NERF is a trademark of Hasbro and used with permission.
INTELLIGENT CAPPING ILLUMINATION
QubicaAMF’s CenterPunch Capping Lighting is the first and only intelligent capping illumination system. It illuminates a full length of capping with a continuous beam of color, changing colors if desired to create sweeping patterns that are easily visible across the entire center. Designed for Conqueror Pro users, it is the only capping lighting system that can be controlled through a bowling management system, delivering powerful control benefits that add unique value to the guest experience. Learn more at www.qubicaamf.com/centerpunch.
REDEMPTION STATION
Ticket Station V2 with Token Eater/Card Redemption Station upgrade is now available from Benchmark Games. This new Ticket Station fits any size FEC and is particularly valuable to the small footprint FEC operator, allowing locations to customize. Here are some of the innovative updates: adaptable card swipe and thermal printer within the same station; accepts and recognizes tickets of different lengths, values, and bar codes; counterfeit mode will automatically shred and not count competitors’ paper tickets; ease of programming, updating, and customizing with kits available; and new curb appeal with monitors, light effects, and sounds. All these features will facilitate flexibility to change and upgrade to meet evolving needs without incurring additional investment. For Bowl Expo attendees, operators can include a Redemption Station side within their Ticket Station cabinet, eliminating a separate kiosk. For more info, visit benchmarkgames.com. IBI July 2019
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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
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CLASSIFIEDS
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EASY WAYS
to place your Classified Ad in International Bowling Industry Magazine
Call (818) 789-2695
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your ad to:
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CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT FOR SALE NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com. 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.
EDUCATION & TRAINING PRO SHOP TRAINING. Classes always forming. Jayhawk Bowling Supply (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
SERVICES AVAILABLE Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
CENTERS FOR SALE SOUTH FLORIDA: Rare opportunity to purchase 30-LANE, fully upgraded FEC center. $2M annual revenue; $250K+ net with absentee ownership; owner/operator potential is HUGE; all new everything including scoring; full liquor license; kitchen; arcade & much more. Fantastic location. Will consider all reasonable offers. NICK (954) 684-7066. ILLINOIS: BUSY 20-lane center in excellent condition, strong consistent earnings (solid leagues and parties), pro shop, and snack bar. Real estate included. Ken Paton (503) 645-5630. CANADA, Carman, Manitoba: 8-lane, 5-pin center with 6 Brunswick 81 5-string pinsetters & 2 Double Diamond 2B freefall pinsetters. Includes snack area, alcohollicensed, and 5,950 square-foot building. $250,000. Call Kos Realty (204) 745-7710. NE PENNSYLVANIA: 8-lane center. Includes commercial rentals, great location & great opportunity. Owner retiring. Center4sale@yahoo.com. NEBRASKA: 16-lane center in a nice town, Ogallala. Remodeled bar and kitchen. Asking 250K. Contact Jacob. cornhuskerlanesNE@gmail.com.
PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70 S.S. & M.P. MACHINES Save $$ on P.C. Boards Exchange & Repair!
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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/
LOCKER KEYS FAST! All Keys done by code # Locks and Master Keys E-mail: huff@inreach.com TOLL FREE
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REMEMBER WHEN
1953
‘SPARE YOURSELF SHRINKAGE WOES’
Y
ou have to be of a certain age to relate to this Saturday Evening Post magazine ad, placed in November 1953. The give-away, of course, is NOT the sanforized cotton but the bowling ensemble. Women bowled a lot n 1953; WIBC had 630,421 members and 21,020 leagues. Today, women also bowl a lot, yet the attire is more casual and conducive to ‘action!’ However, it’s nice to revisit and know we’ve come a long way, baby! ❖ - Patty Heath
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