THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
CONTENTS
VOL 20.3
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Chris Holmes
6 ISSUE AT HAND
29 SPECIAL REPORT
The Wine Glass Half Full
Bowling Challenge New York City is the backdrop for a unique and fun bowling-filled day (and night!)
By Scott Frager
By Chris Homes 20
8 SHORTS 34 OFF THE CLOCK Tango in Grand Junction From the cha cha to the waltz, Bill Walters has all the moves By Anna Littles
46 REMEMBER WHEN
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Coke and bowling went together
By Fred Groh
20 COVER STORY
36 Showcase
Celebrity Lanes
38 Classifieds
Where getting the star treatment is just the beginning of a great entertainment experience.
45 Datebook
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keer@bowlingindustry.com
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com
CONTRIBUTORS Fred Groh Patty Heath Chris Holmes Paul Lane Anna Littles
fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)
13245 Riverside Dr., Suite 501 Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 (818) 789-2695(BOWL) Fax (818) 789-2812 info@bowlingindustry.com
www.BowlingIndustry.com
HOTLINE: 888-424-2695 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, 13245 Riverside Drive, Suite 501, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 USA. If possible, please furnish address mailing label. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2012, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:
By Paul Lane
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EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Gregory Keer
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Fisher
Kenneth Brammer remembered BWAA launches Youth Challenge BPAA announces 2012 Service Awards Puzzles and bowling: two strikes against dementia
A preview of the “Trio of Heroes” keynote speakers for Bowl Expo 2012
holmes@bowlingindustry.com
THE ISSUE AT HAND
The Wine Glass Half Full? If you’ve never been to Napa, you’ve never been to paradise. I’m truly envious of those fortunate enough to live in Napa and those who have embraced the Napa lifestyle. Make no mistake, there is a unique and special type of person who makes that part of our country their home. A certain zest for life, food and wine is found in that region and for a guy who rarely uncorks a bottle of vino, I find that area quite intoxicating. This year, bowling proprietors from around the country, and even some from Europe, descended on this quaint little town to gather and discuss some of the big picture issues affecting our industry. Of the past 18 Summits I’ve attended, I’m convinced this was the most exciting and vibrant ever. The BPAA staff, leadership and volunteers really did their best to make this session relevant and topical. And, like a world-class vintner, the BPAA added a sweet fragrant flavor of theater and drama to the meetings. Building up to this event were two major releases of new and innovative products. Both
have been recently and proudly featured exclusively in the pages of IBI. If BPAA’s new Customer Connect customer relation management software were a wine, it would be a big, bright and beautiful Cabernet. The new program launched with great fanfare was a standing-roomonly, sellout crowd. This CRM software should produce a wonderful yield for BPAA members and is exactly the type of added value benefit that a trade association should offer its members. Then, almost as soon as the Customer Connect grapes were pressed, filtered and ready for aging, Summit attendees were treated to a taste of the future by presenter and tech guru, Jeff Martin. Martin, a former Apple Computer executive, is currently the CEO of Tribal Technologies, Inc., a company that helps people and companies communicate their ideas through the use of technology. He spoke about the trends in technology and how they may be applied to the business of bowling. His work now is like the first vintner planting the seedlings that will become great vines. It takes a lot of time to allow nature to do its thing. The good news is that the seeds are planted. Virtually unanimously, the guests who attended this year’s BPAA’s Bowl Summit left the event with their heads held high and looking forward to a bright 2012. Like our friends who are lucky enough to live in Napa, the industry should view its business as the glass half full. – SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR frager@bowlingindustry.com
THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com MICHAEL MONROE, you are a winner of a FULL registration to Bowl Expo for inviting your industry friends to join IBI online! CONGRATULATIONS! Ideas beget ideas and enthusiasm comes from trying out new things. Take the time to promote your center and the programs that you have found successful. As a member of IBI online you can upload your own promotional flyers and material to share and make the bowling industry a better place. If you are not a member, this is the perfect time! To help get this started, IBI will offer one free 2012 Bowl Expo registration ($350 value) to one lucky person who adds one or more flyers to this forum by March 31. Don’t hesitate; act now! Go to the homepage and click “Forum” and then the +ADD button and just follow the prompts. 6
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GOODWILL CENTRAL
SHORTS
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Looking across the board at the bowling industry’s activities during the holidays, there was no respite from good deeds, charity events and community support. Below are just some of the doings that took place in December and January. Sports Page Bowl & Grill in Medford, WI, hosted an afternoon of bowling to benefit Taylor County’s Project Lifesaver according to Tim Hansen. Project Lifesaver supports local autistic and Alzheimer patients and others suffering from traumatic brain injury. Raising money for Easter Seals was just one of the goals for Strikes for Tykes held at Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl & Grill in Peoria, IL. Organizers led by Paul Prest and Mike Joyner hoped the event would also begin a conversation about ways kids can look out for and accept their peers. Easter Seals is a national organization that provides services and advocacy to children and adults living with disabilities. Eric Loeb of Orchard Mesa Lanes in Grand Junction, CO, hosted “Bowl with a Cop,” an event which has been held for nearly 15 years. “I think it’s a good thing for the kids to meet police in a little different setting where it’s not imposing,” Loeb said. The goal is about kids making a positive relationship with police, and bowling seems to break the ice. The Farwest Rotary Club hosted its annual Frames for “Fun”ds bowling tournament. The event was held at Midway Lanes in Mandan, ND. More than $4,000 in scholarship money was raised during the third annual Robby Hague Bowling Event at Fair Oaks Bowling Lanes in Fair Oaks, PA. To date there have been three recipients who are all attending four-year colleges. The BVL, Bowlers to Veterans Link organization, received $7,013 from six local Bowland Centers and partner center All Star Lanes in southwest Florida. BVL will use this donation for VA clinics in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. Goodwill is good business. Tell us what your center is doing. Email: info@bowlingindustry.com
March 2012
Unbelievable Tale Prompted by the passing of North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Cindy Boren, a writer, reporter and now blogger on The WashingtonPost.com, PostSports, pointed out in her blog, The Early Lead, some of the self-created myths around Kim Jong Il’s sports acumen. It was purported that he excelled at golf and bowling. Cindy states, “In his very first golf game in 1994, Kim finished an 18-hole round at 38 under par.” According to state media, Kim had at least a stellar five holes-in-one. Another “legend” was bowling a perfect 300 in his first attempt at bowling. Well, it is something to think about or not.
High-end Accoutrement JohnHoushmand, contemporary furniture designer situated in the Catskill Mountains of New York, is known for custom-made, limited edition furniture and interior design solutions. Many of the pieces juxtapose wood and glass. The newest offering is No. 0223 – The Bowling Alley Table. This item boasts antique mahogany buttons and ribbon inserts with a thick, butcher-block weight and crisp, clean edges. Reclaimed and salvaged materials, including vintage bowling alleys sourced from upstate New York were used. It was initially created for Ralph Appelbaum Associates for its expanded offices with the idea to help foster creativity and collaborative design.
I didn’t know that! What do puzzles and bowling have in common? A small, new study in the journal BMC Medicine shows that doing puzzles, bowling and singing help to make dementia-slowing drugs more effective and seem to be effective at slowing down the brain decline of people with dementia. As reported by The Huffington Post, researchers from the University of ErlangenNuremberg in Germany had 61 dementia patients enrolled in the study. The treatment called “MAKS,” which includes daily activities and cognitive stimulation, was effective at stopping the dementia from progressing further. One more reason to hit the lanes!
SHORTS
PEOPLEWATCHING
Media
WATCH
BOWLING FOR VOTES Bowling was front and center in a new episode of Parks & Recreation, “Bowling for Votes”, starring Amy Poehler on NBC, January 26. Characters Leslie (Poehler) and Ben (Adam Scott) decide to hold a casual bowling party to garner votes for Leslie’s Pawnee City Council campaign. Of course, everything goes as unexpected, but as quoted by Damian Holbrook of TV Guide, Poehler points out “there’s kissing and punching in this episode. Kissing, punching and bowling. It’s like the perfect Thursday night.” There was, and it was!
The BPAA announced the recipients of the 2012 Bowling Industry Service Awards, the most prestigious awards presented by the bowling industry, at its Town Hall Membership Meeting at the Meritage Resort in Napa, CA, January 24. Jeff Bojé, Brandon Crossroads Bowl, Inc., Tampa, FL, has been selected as the 2012 BPAA Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Victor Lerner Memorial Medal. The Lerner Medal is the highest honor in the bowling business. Bojé is being cited for his many years of service to the USBC, involvement in BPAA programs, events and tournaments on the local, state and national levels as well as his center management in Florida and Missouri. With his induction, Bojé will make history with his father, Bill—honored in 2003—as the first father-son duo to be enshrined in the Jeff Bojé BPAA Hall of Fame. John Losito, Sun Valley Lanes, Lincoln, NE, will be honored with the President’s Medal for his leadership and years of service to BPAA, especially in the area of tournaments, one being Bowling’s U.S. Women’s Open. John Losito Bev Van Blair, Cardinal Lanes, Newton, IA, will be recognized with the BPAA Special Projects Award. Van Blair is being acknowledged for her initiative and continued work on Bowling’s Organization for Women’s Leadership (BOWL) as well as contributions on numerous projects. Bev Van Blair
OPENS #2 Round 1 Entertainment is opening its second location in Moreno Valley Mall in Southern California. This high-end family facility will have 20 lanes of bowling plus a wide variety of activities such as billiards, arcade games and ping pong. It is due to open in Summer 2012.
John Davis, The Kegel Company, Winter Haven, FL, will receive the coveted V.A. Wapensky Award, named after BPAA’s long-time chief executive officer, “Chief” Wapensky. Davis is being recognized for his innovation and contributions to improving the game and sport of bowling as well as for his strong support of BPAA events over the years. John Davis
Norm Duke
Outside view of Moreno Valley Mall in Southern California
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Norm Duke, Clermont, FL, rounds out the announcements with the Dick Weber Bowling Ambassador Award for his contributions to the game and sport of bowling both on and off the lanes. BPAA president, John Snyder said, “The BPAA is proud to recognize these industry leaders.” The awards will be presented during International Bowl Expo 2012 in June.
Garrad March, co-owner of McHenry Bowl, was elected mayor of Modesto in a run-off election held February 7. He will be sworn in February 28. According to the press release at the time of the victory announcement, Marsh has promised to make City Hall more accountable to the public and less receptive to special interests. “I will work hard to make Modesto a better place for all of its citizens,” he said after Tuesday’s win.
Garrad March
REMEMBRANCES Kenneth A. Brammer lost his battle with cancer this past January. For the past 14 years, he owned and operated The Alley Bowl in Osceola, IA. Along with his business partner Craig Doren, he owned Leon Lanes & Café, Adel Family Fun Center and Indian Lanes, all in Iowa. Brammer was also a repair/installation technician. As quoted in his obituary, “Bowling was not just a job to Kenny; it was his passion.” It was through that passion that Brammer offered his input to others to improve their game and was instrumental in getting kids interested in bowling. He also helped develop the high school bowling program. “We sure lost a good proprietor and a real asset to bowling,” stated Doren. Brammer leaves his wife, Rhonda , his son Weston and daughter Brenda plus a large family and a host of friends.
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EXPO PREVIEW
By Fred Groh
L
ittle tornadoes spin off the wing tip of a cruising jet plane. They’re called jet wash. If you’re flying too close to another aircraft and run into it, you are suddenly in very, very turbulent air. “That threw us into a Dutch roll,” remembers Lt. Col. Kevin Sweeney (Ret.), who was commanding a KC-135 tanker about an hour out from base at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The plane is a Boeing 707 fitted for air refueling operations. Five miles above the desert floor, Sweeney and the other three men in the crew were flying Air Force support for Desert Storm. Three miles ahead of him and 500 feet above him in the night sky, another tanker was one degree off the same heading. In combat, planes fly without radar traffic control. Sweeney hit the jet wash. Rotate your hand back and forth at the wrist. That’s a Dutch Scott O’Grady
Mark Kelly
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roll. Imagine 144 tons of airplane and fuel twisting back and forth over 110 degrees of arc every 1.1 seconds. Imagine you’re in charge. On the panel, the engine instruments “looked like Times Square on New Year’s Eve—everything lit up,” Sweeney recalls, including the lights that come on if the two engines on the left side of the plane are on fire. He raised his boom operator, the man who manipulates the refueling pipeline, on the interphone. “‘Steve, run on back and scan that left wing. Give me an idea how bad the fires are.’ He comes back very quickly over the interphone and says, ‘They’re not on fire. They’re gone.’” When two of your four engines are torn off the wing, you lose various systems for flying the plane and you can’t get them Kevin Sweeney
EXPO PREVIEW “If we didn’t get the gear down,” says Sweeney, “you could bring the hot dogs and marshmallows, because [you wouldn’t want to] waste the fire after we cartwheeled down the runway.”
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Photo courtesy of Kevin Sweeney
back. Wires are broken, connections are ripped apart. You have to devise work-arounds. And if you are Kevin Sweeney at this moment, you also have to turn the plane around and get it back to home base about 400 miles away, because the first landing strip where you could normally set down a plane is blanketed by a sandstorm. An hour and 15 minutes later, on final approach to Jeddah at last and calculating the timing for a landing, you call your boom operator again. He will have to lower the landing gear manually. This takes seven minutes, he tells you. You tell him he will have three or four.
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Twenty years later and half a world away, BPAA E.D. Steve Johnson talks about how quiet the occasion was at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day. He and USBC executive director Stu Upson had joined the solemn annual ceremony at the invitation of the Bowlers to Veterans League. Johnson calls BVL “our number-one charity in the industry.” The two men and the BVL contingent—proprietor and BPAA past-president Wally Hall, USBC past-president Darlene Baker, and BVL’s Elizabeth Montanya—had had breakfast with President Obama at the White House. Everyone then adjourned to the courtyard at Arlington where the Unknowns lie. The President lays a wreath each year, as does BVL. “It wasn’t a celebration. It was humbling,” Johnson says. “A time for observance, to reflect. “I realized how lucky I am and have been my entire life. I don’t look at anything I’ve had as hardship. Hardships are out there where you see all those white headstones. All those young men
EXPO PREVIEW
HEROES FOR THE DAY:
EXPO’S KEYNOTERS
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U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly (Ret.) Recently retired from the Navy and NASA, Kelly flew four space missions, including Endeavor’s final mission. A degreed marine and aeronautical engineer, he has logged 6,000 flying hours in more than 50 different aircraft, 375 aircraft carrier landings, 39 combat missions, and has spent more than 50 days in space. He sprang into prominence last year when his wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), was shot. Kelly’s talk about his career will illustrate the leadership, courage and initiative that identify a hero.
USAF Capt. Scott O’Grady (Ret.) An F-16 fighter pilot during his 12 years of Air Force service, O’Grady was helping enforce NATO’s no-fly-zone policy over Bosnia when his plane was hit by a Soviet-made anti-aircraft missile. He’ll talk about how he survived behind enemy lines for six days before he was rescued by U.S. Marines.
USAF Lt. Col. Kevin Sweeney (Ret.) Interweaved with the suspense of his Desert Storm flight and stories from his college sports career and his 25 years in the services division of IBM, Sweeney says, “I’m going to talk about how you properly prepare for what you need to do. How do you have that passion to do it every day? How do you focus on the right thing at the right time? How do you become the team mate that your team, customers, vendors, that everybody covets? How do you have the charismatic confidence that you can get the job done? What would you do if you lost your life dream?” (The Colonel has a bowling background, by the way. His paternal grandfather, Dennis Sweeney, helped organize WIBC. His father, Ed, was ABC president in the 1980s. Around age seven, he and his brother would spend a Sunday at granddad’s center in St. Louis. “We would bowl 10 or 15 games until I couldn’t pick the ball up. Bowling was the first sport I ever did like that.” And in high school and college, he certified lanes for ABC.)
and women that didn’t get to appreciate the day-to-day things.” Johnson says the theme for the keynote and featured speakers at this year’s Bowl Expo had already been chosen. He thought it was time to get away from politicians and sports stars. Time “to recognize people that help lift this country up on their shoulders and make people feel good.” Thus the theme, “United We Bowl,” and the sub-theme, a salute to heroes. People like Kevin Sweeney, one of the keynote speakers on the Expo slate. And like Mark Kelly and Scott O’Grady, coincidentally also retired military pilots, who will also address the convention (see sidebar). “You kind of know [heroism] when you see it,” Johnson reflects. “They’re people who go above and beyond. When times are tough, heroes shine a light that people gravitate towards. They come from all areas of the country—small towns, big towns, rural, urban. Sounds a lot like bowlers. Our bowling centers are homes to many of these heroes on a daily basis. And proprietors, by providing what they do and the sacrifices they make for these bowling centers—they’re the hardest 18
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working people in the world—you could say proprietors are heroes for doing that.” The current state of the economy was not a conscious part of deciding on the theme. “A couple of the past years I think a lot of people were living on hope, hoping that the economy was going to turn around, that jobs would come back, and that it would get back to the way it was. This year I believe the mindset is different. We know it’s going to be [more] of the same, [but] I believe proprietors are more prepared than ever to deal with those challenges. “Maybe subconsciously that helped us pick the salute to heroes and talking about the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, but that wasn’t what we went into that theme for.”
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Sweeney’s plane was on the ground before the after-shock hit him. “Then you got a little nervous,” he says about himself, impersonally. “You couldn’t allow yourself to think about it when you’re under that pressure. You have to focus on what you can control, ignore the immaterial, and command your mind.” That lesson, and the full story of his adventure over Saudi Arabia, will wrap around his keynote talk at Bowl Expo. For his feat, Sweeney, his co-pilot, his navigator and his boom operator all received the Distinguished Flying Cross for “extraordinary achievement or heroism while participating in an aerial flight combat mission.” Steve Johnson returned from the Veterans Day ceremony with the thought that he most likely would not go again. “If the invitation came, I would pass it to somebody else. It’s something I wish everybody had the opportunity to be a part of, because it makes you feel very proud to be an American. I would want somebody else to be able to have that experience.” ❖
Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and former managing editor of the magazine.
COVER STORY
By Paul Lane
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COVER STORY
I
n its day, Celebrity Lanes in the city of Glendale, CO, along with the likes of Frank Esposito’s Paramus Lanes in New Jersey, was one of a handful of bowling centers that was well known both nationally and internationally. The original investors included such luminaries as Walt Disney and his brother Roy, Bing Crosby, Charles Laughton, Jack Benny, George Burns, Art Linkletter, Burl Ives, and Spike Jones, to name but a few. Hence the name: Celebrity. The 80-lane Celebrity Lanes opened its doors in 1960 and operated continuously for 34-years, before closing its doors in 1994 and being demolished in 1995. Today it’s the site of a Home Depot store. I clearly remember watching extensive news coverage of the closing of Celebrity Lanes on local Denver TV channels with loyal customers tearfully lamenting the closure of the family-oriented landmark facility that had been like a second home to them for so many years. But happily for metro Denver’s bowling community, there is good news. After a 17-year hiatus, a new facility opened its doors on September 9, 2011, and yes, it’s called Celebrity Lanes! The owners/investors of the new center, Robert Koontz, the principal of Kenmore Development Corp., and Cal Eichinger, with 35years of coast-to-coast experience in the bowling industry and, for the past 9-years, the owner of Elitch Lanes in Denver, put much thought, research and planning into creating the new facility. The concept was not just to call it Celebrity Lanes - that would have been too easy. They had a whole new concept, a whole new idea. The original Celebrity Lanes was owned by celebrities. In contrast, the new Celebrity Lanes is designed and managed to make its customers feel like celebrities. “If you want to have a Celebrity experience, all you need to do is visit the new Celebrity Lanes in the city of Centennial, which is a part of the Aurora/Denver Colorado metro area,” said Eichinger. The Celebrity Experience starts immediately when you walk through the entry canopy into the facility’s entry hall where a long red carpet leads you to the reception counter. As you negotiate the red carpet, already beginning to feel like a celebrity, you can visually experience many of the centers amenities and venues, most of
which are accessible even before you reach the reception counter. The center houses 40-lanes, a split house with a concourse and 16-lanes on either side, plus two 4-lane themed and branded VIP suites. To the right of the red-carpeted entry is Rocky’s Arcade and Soft Play (named and themed after the Denver Nuggets basket ball team mascot called Rocky) which features a mix of arcade and redemption games, including a nostalgic section of vintage arcade games such as Galaga and Pac-Man. Rocky’s Kids Zone features “Playtime” soft climbing forms and equipment for toddlers, a 50-foot long Rocky mural and lots of interactive Nugget’s related toys, plus an upper mezzanine for children’s party functions. A redemption display area and a retail merchandise area sell sports memorabilia and goods. To the left you will find the Altitude Sports Grill & Taphouse, a sports bar and full-service restaurant offering forty beers on tap and an extensive food and beverage menu. In addition to traditional restaurant and bar seating and large screen TVs, the Altitude Sports Grill and Taphouse features two “snugs” in the dining area. Popular in Ireland, a “snug” is a small enclosed booth, perfect for private meetings or dinners. Each snug will seat 10-12 guests. There’s also a mezzanine that’s available for private parties and meetings, or where patrons can simply sit and relax. Wander outside and you’ll find a full-service patio where customers can enjoy a beverage around a pit-fire and take in a view of the Rocky Mountains. Or, they can test their skills on one of two adjoining bocce ball courts. The two themed and branded VIP suites, named after the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, are available for private parties, either as self contained four-lane units, each with plush seating, a bar and separate audio/video capabilities, or opened up to become one 8-lane suite (fourlanes back to back). When the lights are turned off, UV projection in the hockey themed Avalanche Suite makes the lanes appear as if they are covered in ice. And the UV projection in the basket ball themed Nugget’s Suite gives the lanes the appearance of center court at the Pepsi Center. For a final touch of authenticity,
Cal Eichinger (left) and Bob Koontz (Principal of Kelmore Development Corp.), co-owners of Celebrity Lanes. IBI March 2012
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COVER STORY the house balls resemble basketballs. Bob Koontz personally undertook the research required to develop the special effects lighting and UV image projection to create the basketball court and ice illusion in the Nugget’s and Avalanche VIP suites. Working closely with lighting and sound vendor, Jason Goetz, Bob says: “I had no idea how much there was to learn about pixels and DPI (dots per inch), it was a whole new learning experience for me.” Although the center has only been open since last September, it’s been long enough for Architect Kevin Mills, principal of Denver-based Architectural Concepts, to collect a couple of architectural awards, one for Best Exterior and one for Best of Centennial. However, Celebrity Lanes does not rely on the center’s design, amenities and venues to provide the Celebrity Experience. “That’s a management and center staff function and responsibility,” says Cal Eichinger, “It’s about the level of customer service we provide our patrons. And this cannot be accomplished without having a policy of only hiring (and
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The Avalanche suite.
training) the very best employees available in the market place, and rewarding them accordingly,” added Bob Koontz. “We are very selective in who we hire, and demand the best from every employee, including those who do not interact directly with customers, as even employees who work behind the scenes are equally responsible for creating and maintaining the Celebrity experience.” The new Celebrity Lanes has generated 85 new jobs in the Centennial marketplace. continued on page 26
COVER STORY
The Nuggets VIP suite.
continued from page 22 To make it easy for customers to check in and enjoy the celebrity experience to the fullest extent, customers can have their credit card validated just once, and thereafter take to the lanes, order food and beverages from the Celebrity Lanes servers, enjoy fine dining in the Altitude Sports Grill & Taphouse, or order a beverage on the patio. No matter which or how many venues customers visit they only need to have their card validated when they sign in, and when they close out their visit. For ultimate convenience, customers do not have to sign out from the venue in which they started. For example, if a customer starts at the reception counter and finishes in the Taphouse, he can close out his bill in the Taphouse without having to return to the reception counter. Ninety percent of customers choose the plastic (credit card) option and what’s interesting is that they typically leave a larger tip when they close
Lucky Strike Kansas City, Missouri We congratulate Michael Ducat and Paul Barkley on their purchase of this fine facility and thank Steven Foster for trusting us to handle the sale. We wish Michael, Paul and Steven all the best in the future.
Bowling’s Only Full-Service Brokers, Appraisers & Financial Advisors 28200 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI 48076
(800) 222 • 9131
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Taphouse Lounge from the Mezzanine.
out their visit in any venue other than the reception counter. Audio visual technology is used extensively (another project undertaken by Bob Koontz), with 48 large flat screen TV monitors throughout the various venues that can be driven individually from a control system with 32-outputs. This includes sixteen 3-D HD 65” TVs providing entertainment on the lanes. As an example, during a mixed league they may show “Dancing with the Stars” and an NFL football game on alternate screens across the house, to appeal to both their female and male league bowlers. On Friday and Saturday nights, from midnight until 2:00 am, Celebrity Lanes features a “Tweet, Hop & Roll” program, where customers can rock, roll and experience the latest videos and glow-inthe dark bowling while texting their “Tweets” on the 65” HD TVs for all to see. Audio visual technology is also used for meetings and corporate functions, projecting custom corporate logos, videos, and provide all forms of audio
COVER STORY
The Red Rocks Wall.
The Rocky’s kids zone arcade.
visual equipment for meetings and corporate sales conferences. In the few short months the center has been open, it has become a well- established and popular venue for corporate conferences and parties, company cookouts, team building functions, fundraising events, meetings, holiday and birthday parties, and more. With options like the outdoor patio, Altitude Sports Grill and Taphouse, the Avalanche and Nugget’s VIP suites and meeting facilities, Celebrity Lanes is able to accommodate events of up to 500 people. Expert chefs ensure events include a mouthwatering food experience with options to satisfy every taste bud, Italian feasts, Mexican meals, good ol’ brats and burgers, and custom menu offerings if requested. “The celebrity experience also extends to the telephone,’ says Eichinger, “as there’s nothing worse than being put on hold by a busy receptionist. To relieve the burden on the reception counter staff during those peak times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we have established a dedicated phone bank with multiple lines and telephone receptionists. It’s unlikely that a call will be put 28
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on hold during those busy times,” he added. While the emphasis at Celebrity Lanes is on family recreation, corporate and party functions and hospitality, Cal Eichinger has been in the bowling business long enough (35-years) to appreciate the value of league bowling. Unlike many Family Entertainment Centers (FECs), Celebrity Lanes has a league schedule that runs from Sunday through Thursday between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm and Monday through Friday during the daytime. Indeed, this writer was delighted to see a league winding up its weeks activity when I arrived at the center at noon on a weekday to interview Koontz and Eichinger. An interesting feature on one of the centers two concourses is “Red Rocks Wall,” featuring the names of all the major acts that have appeared in concerts at the Red Rocks Amphitheater located at Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado — some 15-miles west of Denver. The plan is to develop a Celebrity Wall on the other concourse. A few names of celebrities known to have been bowlers come to mind that may help kickstart the program, including Roy Rogers, Dinah Shore and Jerry Lewis. In terms of cross promotion, Celebrity Lanes is closely allied to Altitude Sports and Entertainment, the most watched regional sports network in the Rockies, created by Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche owner Stan Kroenke — hence the facilities naming of the two VIP suites and the Altitude Sports Grill & Taproom, from where Altitude Sports plans to host broadcasts in the future. This would bring sports celebrities to Celebrity Lanes. Altitude Sports and Entertainment cross promote Celebrity Lanes on its website and during games at sports arenas. As you can see, Celebrity Lanes has taken the concept of a family entertainment/recreation center to a new level, a level where every customer experiences that “celebrity” feeling. ❖
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.
SPECIAL REPORT
Our own Chris Holmes hits the bricks for 12 hours to accomplish his goal of bowling in every one of the five boroughs of NYC. By Chris Holmes
W
e all know New York is the city that doesn’t sleep and on a recent trip to The Big Apple, I decided to put the moniker to the test by setting out on an aggressive adventure: bowl in each of NYC’s famous boroughs in one day. The day to day grind of running a company can be a challenge. Sometimes it can be hard to see the forest for the trees when working on the front lines every day. It can be invigorating to take a step back and look at our industry from that of a visiting tourist to gain new perspective on how we can better ourselves and our business. So, I became a “bowling tourist,” and I had a great adventure. Has it ever been done? Could it be done? How would you get around the city of over 8 million inhabitants? What centers would you visit? All these questions my supportive wife and two of my amazing friends set out to answer on a warm Saturday in October. We wanted to be strategic in our attack to hit each of the boroughs and some simple Googling gave us a handful of target centers. Starting at my friend’s apartment near Times Square, we all agreed heading to Staten Island was the best choice for stop number one since it required the longest travel time. Hopping on the 5 train, we made our way to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan and boarded the Staten Island Ferry. Probably one of the best kept secrets is the free Staten Island ferry. It offers some of the best views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It is hard not to reflect on the history as you pass by these two monuments. It can be argued that these waters served as a gateway for the sport of bowling. Millions of
immigrants brought the passion and their own cultural flare of the game to America and helped transform it into what we know it as today. Exiting the massive ship, we hopped on a local bus that took us through the winding suburban streets to an area that couldn’t feel any farther from Wall Street. The bus dropped us in front of Rab’s Country Lanes. We walked in to find the traditional, 48-lane center packed on a Saturday afternoon. The straight-talking desk clerk convinced our group that a half hour of play would be best for our quick-stop needs. We made our way to the lanes and I was introduced to proprietor Frank Wilkinson. An active member of the East Coast Bowling Convention staff, Frank shared some of the highlights of the center including the recently installed My wife Allison and I embarking on our great journey.
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SPECIAL REPORT Funovation laser maze catering to many birthday parties that had a line of kids about thirty deep. As we laced up for the game, to our surprise the lights dropped and the entire center went to glow blowing for the rest of the afternoon. Frank mentioned it’s a great change of pace and kids love it. After a sub-par performance on the lanes, we flagged one of the few Staten Island cabs and made our way back to the ferry. Back in Manhattan, we decided to head to the Bronx at the other end of town, giving us the opportunity to work the rest of the boroughs from the outside-in. Getting off the subway in the shadows of the new Yankee Stadium, we stood in awe of the modern-day cathedral of baseball. As we strolled past the Little League fields where the old stadium sat, we came to Ball Park Lanes only to find it was recently closed for renovations! Not to be deterred, I grabbed my iPhone and luckily found another center a few miles away. A short taxi ride later we arrived at Van Nest Lanes and walked into another era. Featuring original Brunswick equipment, this manual scoring house had challenges for customers both with its authentic wood lanes and having to do the simple algebra on the scorecards. I tracked down manager Jim Farago and he shared that his league base really enjoys the classic setting. The mellow yellow and burnt orange motifs take customers back to bowling’s golden years and that retro feel resonates perfectly. Dusk was setting and as we step back into the 21st century, we had a harsh realization; our little detour to this area of the Bronx left us in the middle of an unknown neighborhood with no idea how to get back to the subway. Luckily my crafty New Yorker friends knew of a new city-friendly car rental service called Zip Car where you can take a vehicle in their fleet for as little as one hour. We found highway 678 that took us past LaGuardia Airport and the new home of the New York Mets, Citi Field. A few tolls later we ended up in Queens and pulled in front of the welcoming lights of Astoria Lanes. We entered the split house, with twelve lanes a side, as an early Saturday night league was ending. We were greeted by energetic manager Jorge Lopez who proudly showed off the newly renovated sports bar featuring nearly a dozen flat screen televisions and the intriguing frozen beer tap that pipes suds directly through a block of ice. Jorge shared with me how Astoria’s focus on bowler experience has brought bowlers to his place from all over the city. He also talked about some unique marketing ideas that bring support to local businesses. This community outreach has already proven successful with a neighborhood pub bringing in their regulars to start a league. In need of food, our group found a trendy Thai restaurant, The Golden Elephant. If you are ever in this neck of Queens, I recommend the pad thai and the pineapple fried rice… delicious! Fueled up, we stayed on surface streets and made 30
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Our crew for the adventure: Allison and I are joined by Christie and Ramen Edwards.
Rab’s of Staten Island has birthday business booming thanks to their recently installed Funovation laser maze.
The Bronx’s Van Nest Lanes captures the Golden Era of bowling with classic Brunswick equipment.
our way to Brooklyn. Following the GPS through a dark industrial area, we almost drove past The Gutter, which was labeled with nothing more than a simple “BOWLING” sign out front. As quiet as the streets were, the inside was equally as loud.
SPECIAL REPORT The Gutter is definitely a hipster hangout that finds its sweet spot with the feeling of an old-time highway roadhouse. The bar is the focal point of the operation with over twenty beers on tap. In the backroom, an indie rock band was tuning up for the night’s set list. On the bowling front, despite having circa 1980’s black and white, boxy scoring monitors that matched the worn down lanes, there was an hour-long wait to play. This is the new era of “retro” bowling centers. As Generation Y enters the workforce, they look for experiences like this that brings them back to their Reagan-era upbringing. Hopping back in the Zip Car, we made the short drive across the Brooklyn Bridge with a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline at night. We dropped off the car and reached our final destination: The Port Authority. This building that brings thousands of people in and out of New York’s nucleus everyday, is a self-sustaining miniature city. You can shop for groceries, get your nails done and even bowl all while waiting to catch the next bus to Atlantic City. After some careful navigation through the multi-level structure, we found Frames tucked away in a corner of the building. Once inside, this “Lounge meets the Lanes” concept center we had plenty to be impressed by. The onsite manager walked us through the $20 million transformation from Leisure Time Bowl to Frames. The flare of Midtown Manhattan is personified in Frames with a high-end restaurant and two chic bars that include a VIP area that gets patrons primed for fun. When customers are prepared to hit the lanes, they visit the unique rental shoe wall where they are free to pick out the perfect fit without having to make any return trips. A bumping video and sound system keeps the party going and if you wanted to kick it up a notch, a two-lane party suite is available for private events. We each bowled our last frame and came to the harsh realization that our average score over the course of the day was nothing to write home about. Nonetheless, we exited The Port Authority just after midnight. Over twelve hours later, it was done… it can be done. We all looked at each other with a sigh of relief and nodded with approval that this was something special. New York City is a metropolis that offers experiences like no other place in the world. While the stereotype of the city as a concrete jungle can scare people, it is also the type of place where even the crazy journey I dreamed up could be completed. The wide variety of centers that we visited matched the personalities of each neighborhood from the hard-nosed Bronx to stylish Manhattan. More importantly, the people that operate and patronize these places are truly the lifeblood of The Big Apple that makes it one of the greatest cities on earth. The next time you are traveling, I encourage you to stop in at the local bowling center. The knowledge you gain from 32
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Astoria Bowl proudly serves the Queens borough.
The old warehouse feel of The Gutter in Brooklyn attracts a young crowd.
The eye-catching rental shoe wall at Frames gives customers plenty of choices.
interacting with proprietors from outside your area code can give you a new outlook on ways to improve your operations. At the very least, it is nice to spend a few hours at a bowling center without having to worry about who is manning the front desk! ❖
Chris Holmes is IBI’s Director of Advertising. He is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara where he received his degree in Economics/Mathematics. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Allison. To learn more about advertising opportunities, email him at holmes@bowlingindustry.com.
OFF THE CLOCK
Shall We
Dance?
Fred Astaire has nothing on Bill Walters! Along with his partner Penny Lyons, Bill Walters is dancing his way to the top. By Anna Littles
B
y day, Bill Walters is a mild mannered facilities manager at a bowling center. By night, he rips up the dance floor! Tango, Cha Cha, Rumba, Disco Hustle, Salsa. . . the list goes on and on. This transformation was ignited eight years ago when Bill went on a cruise with his wife. Just for fun, they took a few ballroom dance lessons and Bill was hooked. Though the marriage waned, ballroom dancing captured his heart forever. When the music plays, Bill can be across the room from his dance partner of 2 years, Penny Lyons. One look and they take on the character of the dance and glide across the floor. Penny, his dance partner, is petite; Bill is tall. Visually they may be a bit of an odd couple, but when they hit the dance floor they are a force to be reckoned with. They command attention and have a great time doing it. Swing dancing (East coast swing that is) is one of his favorites. Bill gets caught up in the music. Once he’s in the moment he has a great time improvising steps. According to Bill, “You can’t do that with the waltz!” Penny says, “Bill was the first man who asked me to dance.” Not only does she feel privileged that she and her husband Dan have such a strong friendship with Bill; she prides herself on being smart enough to have asked Bill to be her dance partner first. She knew it would not be long before he would be considered a hot commodity in Grand Junction, Colorado. Especially at La Puerta Dance Studio where they both take lessons. The respect and admiration Penny has can be heard in her voice, “Bill is a gentleman, a wonderful man. Dancing with him is a lot of fun.” As much fun as they have dancing and competing, is as much fun as they have practicing. Bill and Penny have even been spotted practicing after hours in the bowling center Bill manages. They surprised and delighted the clean-up crew with a show in the approach areas. Last June Bill and Penny competed for the first time at the Colorado Star Ball. Cautiously, they signed up for only four dance competitions: Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba and Bolero. Bill explains that “you’re being judged the moment
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OFF THE CLOCK
Christmas fundraising toy drive for the Salvation Army and has been known to donate dance shoes for kids who can’t afford it. Dave is impressed with Bill’s generous spirit and feels that he brings a lot to the studio. Dave says, “We like having him here.” Tango, Cha Cha, Rumba are part of the fascinating rhythms of life that inspires a tall man with a big heart, who at times dreams of being Fred Astaire! ❖
your feet hit the floor.” In spite of all that pressure, he and Penny finished a stunning second in all four groups. Next year, they plan on competing in more categories. They’re even going to take on the pasodoble, so look out! Bill has observed that ballroom dancing gives people the chance to be someone else. He embodies Fred Astaire, Penny becomes Rita Moreno. Ballroom dance competitions are especially exciting. They are filled with people from all age groups and some who struggle with physical challenges. Bill watched a woman well into her 90s exude elegance as she danced with her partner. He was moved when he saw a blind man beautifully compete with his coach. And then there was a woman who suffered from cerebral palsy. She danced on air and smiled the whole time. “To look out and see people have so much fun and do the best they can do is inspiring.” But there’s still more to Bill Walters than meets the eye. As light footed as he may be, he is also known for having a big heart. According to Dave Reilly, owner of La Puerta Dance Studio and Bill’s teacher for the past two years, “Bill is a great student. He puts in a lot of time and effort.” Bill also helps set up a
Anna Littles, a screenplay and freelance writer and producer originally from the Bronx, New York, now resides in Santa Monica, California.You can see her work on YouTube, IMDB, or on her website at www.alittleLA.com.
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SHOWCASE PIN CLEANER
KARAOKE CONTEST
BAR EQUIPMENT
DISPOSABLE SHOE PAD
ON-LANE REDEMPTION
NEW PINSPOTTER
INCENTIVE VACATIONS
CARPET SELECTION
One of the first things a customer sees when walking in a bowling center is the pins. Kegel’s Pin Shine bowling pin cleaning machine provides the easiest and best method for cleaning your pins. Clean pins last longer, reduce pinsetter problems, transfer less dirt to equipment and bowlers, and convey a nice clean look to your bowling center. For best results, use Kegel’s Pin Shine pin cleaning solution. Visit www.ebonitebowlingcenterdirect.com to order.
StockTheBar.com – The Bar Store With So Much More! Shop for thousands of bar accessories and equipment at deeply discounted prices. You’ll find a huge selection of bottle openers, pour spouts, garnish trays, bar stools, management books, training DVDs, neon signs, floor mats and just about anything you could possibly want for your bar. Make sure to check out our website. We’re the guys for your bar supplies! www.stockthebar.com
Your center will offer more FUN and EXCITEMENT with the new Ticket Depot! Whether you already have redemption games or are looking to cash in on the popularity and growth of redemption games, if you have Vector scoring, Ticket Depot is right for you. Bowlers are rewarded with tickets based on their score, spares and strikes. Ticket Depot is available for centers with Vector Plus version 5. For more information, contact your Brunswick Representative, call 1-800-YES-BOWL or 1-231-725-4966.
Vacation Adventures International has been providing high-end promotional vacation packages for more than 25 years. Trips include a Bahamas Cruise Excursion and Air/Resort packages to Aruba, Cancun, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas and more. Vacation Adventures provides global operations and full administrative support for $99 or less! Bowling centers have been able to increase their bottom line with this promotion. Call today for 20% off & free vacations! Call (888) 448-3980 or visit www.vacationadventures.biz. 36
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The Lighting Store presents the karaoke competition. Designed exclusively for bowling centers, it brings excitement and people to your center. Singers bring their friends and family, and they all spend money at YOUR CENTER! NEW FACES in your center! Singers will come out of the woodwork to win a trip to Reno, NV, sing on The Eldorado Ballroom Stage, at the Eldrorado Hotel and Casino, and have a chance at winning big money. Visit www.soundandlightkaraoke.com for more details.
BowlSoles are an alternative for customers who dislike wearing rental shoes. They are designed to fit all types of footwear, are easy to apply, do not come off while bowling, and tested by the USBC. Centers worldwide are enjoying the added income and repeat customer satisfaction that BowlSoles offer. Millions of customers love this option and happily pay a premium of $1-$2 over a standard rental shoe fee. See Increasing Your Income video at www.bowlsole.com.
QubicaAMF is excited to introduce the XLi EDGE Pinspotter, the most advanced pinspotter ever. The innovative design of the XLi EDGE makes running your business easier by solving the most prevalent problems around pinspotters. We invite you to learn more by watching the product video at www.bowlinginnovation.com.
Astro Carpet Mills offers the largest selection of unique blacklight, glow in the dark, fluorescent carpet and neon carpet patterns for bowling centers, skating rinks, and family entertainment centers worldwide. It's also fun carpet for your new game room. Call 800-5424189 or visit www.astrocarpetmills.com to check out the entire selection of new, upscale patterns with vivid colors that your customers will love!
CLASSIFIEDS
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248) 375-2751. NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-2556436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
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CLASSIFIEDS MINIATURE GOLF COURSES Indoor/Outdoor. Immediate Installation. $5,900.00 & up.
"Bowling Center Construction Specialists" New Center Construction Family Entertainment Centers Residential Bowling Lanes Modernization Mini Bowling Lanes Automatic Scoring CONTACT
2021 Bridge Street Jessup, PA 18434 570-489-8623 www.minigolfinc.com
BRIAN ESTES
(866) 961-7633 Office: (734) 469-4293
Toll Free:
Email: build@capitalbowlingservice.com
www.CapitalBowlingService.com
SERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL
AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • Frameworx NEW KEYPADS • FRONT DESK LCD MONITORS
Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849
291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940 on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: mike@bowlingscorer.com
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CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
CENTERS FOR SALE
FOR SALE: 24 HPL synthetic lanes, foul line forward; 16 lanes BOSS scoring w/ BOSS desk only. (712) 253-8730.
EQUIPMENT WANTED 17 inch Magic Score tabletop monitors. (419) 668-9933.
CENTERS FOR SALE 16-lane center in Southern Colorado mountains. Great condition. 18,000 s/f building w/ restaurant & lounge. Paved parking 100 + vehicles. Established leagues & tournaments. $950,000 or make offer. Kipp (719) 852-0155. CENTRAL WISCONSIN: 12 lanes, auto scoring, Anvilane synthetics, 82-70s. Great food sales. Yearly tournament. Attached, large 3 bedroom apartment w/ fireplace. $550K. (715) 223-8230. NW KANSAS: 12-lane center, AS-80s, Lane Shield, snack bar, pro shop, game & pool rooms. See pics and info @ www.visitcolby.com or contact Charles (785) 443-3477. SOUTHWEST KANSAS: well-maintained 8-lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant. Includes business and real estate. Nice, smaller community. Owner retiring. $212,000. Leave message (620) 397-5828. NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor & Bowling. Established 8 lanes between Mpls & Duluth w/ large bar, dining room, banquet area. Two large State employment facilities nearby. High six figure gross. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089. www.majesticpine.com.
UPSTATE NEW YORK: 8-lane center/ commercial building built in 1992. Synthetic lanes, new automatic scoring, kitchen and room to expand! Reduced to sell @ $375,000. Call (315) 376-3611. SOUTHERN INDIANA (close to Indianapolis): 18-lane Brunswick center with lounge, liquor license & movie theater on 4+ acres. Turnkey business. Owner retiring. Great investment! (765) 349-1312. NORTHWEST LOUISIANA: 12-LANE Brunswick center. REDUCED TO SELL NOW! Includes auto scoring, glow bowling, pizza, large dining area & video poker. Good income. Long Lease. Great opportunity. Call Mike (318) 578-0772. NEW YORK STATE: Thousand Island region. 8-lane Brunswick center w/ cosmic bowling, auto scoring. Established leagues + many improvements. $309,000. Call Jill @ Lori Gervera Real Estate (315) 771-9302. GEORGIA: busy 32-lane center, real estate included. Great location in one of fastest growing counties in metro Atlanta. 5 years new with all the amenities. Excellent numbers. Call (770) 356-8751.
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
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CLASSIFIEDS
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CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE
CENTERS FOR SALE
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: One of the top five places to move! Remodeled 32-lane center. Good numbers. $3.1m gets it all. Fax qualified inquiries to (828) 253-0362. CENTRAL IDAHO: 8-lane center and restaurant in central Idaho mountains. Small town. Only center within 60-mile radius. Brunswick A-2 machines; Anvilane lane beds; automatic scoring. (208) 879-4448. EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA: 6-lane Brunswick center, bar & grill, drive-thru liquor store in small college town. Also, 3 apartment buildings with 40 units, good rental history. Call (701) 330-7757 or (701) 430-1490. GEORGIA: 32-lane center – strong leagues & good demographics in suburban Atlanta. Leased building with opportunity to expand. Jetbacks, synthetics, Accuscore all in good condition. Call Ken Paton (503) 645-5630.
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
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WISCONSIN: Three centers from 16 – 48 lanes. Must sell. Great opportunities. Broker: (262) 901-1333. CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TO SELL!! 8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, full service restaurant, pro shop. Plus pool tables, karaoke machine & DJ system. Asking $125,000.00 with RE. (217) 3515152 or toms-uvl@sbcglobal.net.
NE NEVADA: New 2001. 16 lanes, 19,200 square feet, 1.68 acres paved, sound & lighting, lounge w/ gaming, arcade, full service snack bar & pro shop. Call (775) 934-1539. SOUTHERN IDAHO: Profitable, WellMaintained, Family Oriented Bowling Center. 12 wooden lanes w/ AMF 82-70s, Qubica scoring, Cosmic Bowl & automatic bumpers. Food/beverage (58% of revenues); open bowling (37%). Asking $360,000 includes RE. Call Dave, Arthur Berry & Co., (208) 639-6167. SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN: LARGE center. Priced at severe discount due to unique situation. Excellent physical condition. Solid revenue. Perfect turn key opportunity. Contact (248) 252-1427 or bowlingcentersales@gmail.com.
CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE MINNESOTA: 8-lane Brunswick center w/ liquor license. Good condition. Great opportunity. $99,000. Call Ray, Xtreme Trophy Properties, (218) 790-1468. IDAHO, Rigby: 8 lanes, Brunswick A-2s; refinished wooden lanes, snack bar, many upgrades throughout. Dropped to $65,000. Long term lease. VERY MOTIVATED!! (208) 535-9905; www.arthurberry.com. SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA: Clean RETRO 8-lane bowling center, lounge, food, liquor store & established leagues. Call (402) 224-4725.
SERVICES AVAILABLE See a list that will help centers fill lanes w/ 1200+ New Bowlers, Birthday Parties & Corporate Outings that generate $15,800 – a 600% ROI from 4 payments starting at $278. Visit mcprs.bmamkt.com or call (888) 243-0685. Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800255-6436 or Jayhawkbowling.com. AMF 65-25 CHASSIS: Conversion, Repair, Replace & Exchange. Includes rewiring, requested repairs, conversion to MK 30 board system and converting chassis to new PR system where applicable. Cash customers—buy 3, get one FREE. TOTAL SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! References available. CHASSIS DOCTORS (330) 314-8951.
MANAGER WANTED Don't miss your chance to grow with an Industry Leader! Looking for Experienced, Service-Oriented General Managers for our U.S. bowling retail center locations. Please check us out at www.brunswickcareers.apply2jobs.c om for more details on our current openings. Act Now! Apply Today!
MECHANIC WANTED For 82-70 pinsetters with FrameworX scoring. Frankfurt, KY. Daniel (502) 8753610.
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM IBI
March 2012
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CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
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@earthlink.net Visit us on the WEB! http://home.earthlink.net/~wb8yjf/
OPERATING PARTNER WANTED! PA OR NJ. Experienced, skilled and energetic person looking for a challenge. Full-service, Entertainment Facilities. Must have great customer service skills, smile and ability to grow business. Own a piece of the Rock! Send resume to: PartnerWantedNow@gmail.com.
POSITION WANTED Seeking managerial position: EXPERIENCED manager/district manager of single & multiple unit centers; specializing in turn around centers; great customer service skills, inventory and payroll controls and P & L controls. References and resume available upon request. Email: schronce.tony@yahoo.com or leave message @ (817) 232-2219.
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
Former center owner with 15 years all around experience as GM, league promoter, A-level Brunswick mechanic, scoring system installer and lane technician. Well suited for many positions. Call Mitch at (808) 443-3868.
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
We could not have gotten our loan without him.
(570) 346-5559
LOCKER KEYS FAST! •Keys & Combo Locks for all Types of Lockers.
Max Cook and Fred Kaplowitz North Bowl Spokane, WA
•One week turnaround on most orders.
The leading source for real estate loans with low down payments
•Used locks 1/2 price of new
Ken Paton (503) 645-5630 www.kenpaton.com kpaton@kenpaton.com
•New locks All types
All keys done by code #. No keys necessary.
E-mail: huff@inreach.com FAX YOUR ORDER TO US AT:
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CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-700-4KEY INT’L 530-432-1027 Orange County Security Consultants
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CLASSIFIEDS For FLORIDA CENTERS Call DAVID DRISCOLL & ASSOCIATES 1-800-444-BOWL 3800 Lake Center Loop, Suite B1, Mount Dora, FL 32757-2208 AN AFFILIATE OF SANDY HANSELL & ASSOCIATES
DATEBOOK 24-29 BOWL EXPO 2012 Silver Legacy, Eldorado & Circus Circus, Reno, NV Trade Show: Reno Sparks Convention Ctr. 800-343-1329 www.bowlexpo.com
APRIL 21-24 70th Annual BBIA Convention Hilton LaJolla Torrey Pines LaJolla, CA 800-343-1329 answer@billiardandbowling.org
MAY 7-11 Brunswick European Pinsetter Training Sessions GS Series & Vector Scoring Hungary. For info email: Siggi.Hill@brunbowl.com www.brunswick.com 21 Illinois State BPA Board of Directors Meeting Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Normal, IL Bill Duff – billduff@bowlillinois.com 31 – 6/3 2012 Hall of Fame Extravaganza (BPAA & USBC)
Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa Las Vegas, NV David Garber, 702-495-4249; david.garber@stationscasinos.com
JUNE 3-5 Kansas State BPA Annual Meeting Chateau on the Lake, Brandon, MO Mary Thurber, 913-638-1817 23 Pairings Party – Bowl Expo Eldorado Hotel Casino, Reno, NV Pre golf tournament mixer for team selections Info: 888-649-5585 www.bowlexpo.com 24 Bowl Expo Golf Tournament 8 a.m. Wolf Run Golf Club 7 a.m. transportation from Eldorado Hotel Info: 888-649-5585 www.bowlexpo.com
25 8th Annual Bowl Expo Karaoke Contest presented by The Lighting Store Eldorado Showroom, Reno, NV CJ Fox, 888-746-54383 email:cj@soundandlightkaraoke.com
JULY 20-22 Independent Bowling Organization Show Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth, MI Scott Bennett, 248-408-0200 Scott@bowl-mail.com 30 – 8/1 Striking Sixties Bowling Centers Association of Michigan Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, Mt. Pleasant, MI Ken Prokopec, 800-833-2695
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REMEMBER WHEN
1960 A
nyone who watched TV in the 50s and 60s must remember “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” which ran for 14 years. Viewers watched the Nelsons, Ozzie and Harriet, herd their two sons, David and Ricky,
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through the teenage years. They saw Ricky, son #2, go from funny, trouble maker to the singing heartthrob of teenage girls everywhere. The Nelsons were the quintessential American family. Coca-Cola used the back cover of National Geographic magazine, which took its readers all over the globe, to pay homage to family togetherness and refreshment. The Joneses could very well have been the Nelsons, albeit a better mix of boy and girls. They were perfect in every way: matching league attire; an athletic son who definitely knew his way around winning; the dazed princess in pigtails; helpful big sis; and two warm, involved and enthusiastic parents. But, the cherry on top was, of course, BOWLING— family, league bowling! Coke couldn’t have been more on the mark. In 1960 there were 135,041 certified lanes. YABA had over 400,000 members, and the ABC touted 108,444 leagues and over 4,000,000 members. Life was good! And, bowling and Coke went together. ❖