Olympia Lanes, a 40lane center in Hammond, IN, opens to long lines and a reduced capacity house

By Cameron Linder

My family and I finally got out of the house and went bowling! Olympia Lanes in Hammond, IN, is a 40-lane center in northwest Indiana that opened for the first time in three months on June 14. As valuable customers of WBPI, I wanted to support the Loxas family by taking my family out to bowl.

On opening day, business at Olympia Lanes was BOOMING! Even though the bowl didn’t open until 11a.m., there was a line at the door as early as 9:30 a.m. When we arrived, the house was packed, and there was an hour-and-half long waiting list. With Indiana mandating businesses to operate at 50% capacity, the bowl ran an empty lane between each pair of lanes, allowing them to use about 30 lanes. We got on a lane at 1 p.m.; when we left at 2 p.m. the bowl was still filled with customers. Olympia Lanes owner, Nicholas Loxas, estimates that he had 300 bowlers on opening day.

Loxas planned the reopening of his center with the new guidelines in mind: in addition to the social distancing mandate, he also continually communicated with customers to remind them of the social distancing etiquette because, “Floor markings were generally ignored,” Loxas said. All staff were required to wear masks, but customers use of masks was voluntary; most chose to bowl

The little Linders enjoy their first day out at Olympia Lanes

without one. Olympia Lanes’ hours were reduced in order to have extra time to sanitize and clean the center every morning. House bowling balls, shoes, and all seating areas are disinfected between each use. Each lane’s high-touch areas are cleaned before reissuing it to a new customer.

As amazing as his opening was, Loxas remains focused on the health and safety of his staff. “So

Cameron Linder, CEO of WBPI

far all of the staff has remained healthy. They are taking their health and well- being seriously and are protecting themselves and their loved ones,” remarked Loxas.

I couldn’t be happier for Olympia Lanes and I hope their experience is indicative of what’s to come for other centers when they reopen. In the midst of all the chaos of 2020, I hope this opening day report will give you encouragement and optimism going forward! ❖

Olympia Lanes proprietor Nick Loxas

Cameron Linder is the CEO of Western Bowling Proprietors Insurance, serving 300+ bowling centers in 30 states for the past 30 years. After graduating from the Air Force Academy and serving as a Captain in the Air Force, Cameron joined his father in the business. After doubling the size of the bowling program, he purchased the business from his father in 2017. With his passionate team of agents, which includes two professional bowlers, he continues to grow the program and fight for bowling proprietors in every way he can.