THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
CONTENTS
VOL 19.5
6 ISSUE AT HAND
26 OPERATIONS
Intrigued or Intimidated?
BPAA’s Y.E.S. Taking lessons from other youth sports might hold a key to growing youth bowling
by Scott Frager
by Mark Miller
8 SHORTS Jayhawk is 50! Warren Hardie retires Rab’s Country Lanes’ audacious fundraising BVL’s “We Salute You”
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28 OPERATIONS Fighting City Hall One city’s “No” is another’s “Yes” by Joan Taylor
An open letter from a Japanese proprietor by Hiroshi Funaki with Patty Heath
33 PROFILE Rainbow Lanes Family Fun Center Touched by a guardian angel 22
by Fred Groh
Grand Central, Oregon Portland’s “casual upscale” hot spot by Fred Groh
46 REMEMBER WHEN Bowling needs no words in The New Yorker
22 COVER STORY Sparians
32 Showcase 38 Datebook 39 Classifieds
Raleigh’s “Meet, Eat and Compete” A total entertainment venue By Robin Breuner
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Cover by Adam Ting, Marketing Director for Sparians IBI
May 2011
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Chris Holmes holmes@bowlingindustry.com
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Gregory Keer keer@bowlingindustry.com
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com
CONTRIBUTORS Robin Breuner Hiroshi Funaki Fred Groh Bree Gutierrez Patty Heath Mark Miller Joan Taylor SPECIAL PROJECTS Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)
Japan’s disaster
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frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
14 SPECIAL REPORT
16 CENTER STAGE
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager
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 2011, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
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THE ISSUE AT HAND
Intrigued or Intimidated? The bowling industry has always enjoyed a strong and rich tradition of marketing and promotions. Over the decades, proprietors have found intriguing and fun ways to pony up free cars, chances to roll and win a million dollars, offer free bowling for kids all summer long, take bowlers to sporting events, on cruises and to destinations far and wide. Centers have even turned to tattoo’s in their never-ending list of merchandise and instantgratification promotions. Now, as we’ve rolled into the era of new media marketing and promotion, a whole new expanding universe of options is being presented to our industry. Just when we got comfortable enough to invest in a website, we’re told that it, simply, isn’t enough. We need to “Search Engine Optimize,” and we also need to advertise the site on Google, Yahoo and the like. Then, we’ve learned that in order to engage and earn our customers’ scattered attention, we must create our own Facebook Fan Page. But, be careful, there are many netiquette rules not to break on Facebook. I won’t wax on about Twitter, You Tube, Groupon, Living Social, and the myriad of other sites that are billed as the next new thing. I will, however, attest to a few things I’ve learned during the most recent edition of IBI’s Free Webinar Series held last month. The focus of this learning event was dedicated to Social Media. I was very impressed with the two presenters 6
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and their powerful presentations. First, since the new media world is moving so fast, it’s virtually impossible for any bowling center proprietor to stay abreast and to accurately judge the effectiveness of these new opportunities. Perhaps we should leave this to the pros? Second, there are some extremely exciting technologies that have already been developed, tested and ready for use by our industry. On our webinar, we had a chance to hear from Kurt Benjamin, CEO of Yowza!!, a leader of mobile coupon marketing. “What is mobile marketing?” you ask. Well, you’ve got to read below and then check out the recorded version of IBI’s webinar to find out the full story. It’s live under the video section on <www.BowlingIndustry.com>. It’s fast, free and easy to sign up. Are you slightly intimidated, or confused, about the above? No worries. Just take a deep breath and call one of the industry professionals who understands bowling and social media. But, if you find all of this as exciting and as intriguing as I do, congratulations! I think we’ve got so much to learn and experience together. And that, my friends, is what social media is all about. – SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR frager@bowlingindustry.com
THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com As presented by IBI’s webinar series, Yowza!! brings the world of location-based, mobile couponing technology to the bowling market. If you missed “Is Social Media a Fad?”, the webinar stream can be heard on www.bowlingindustry.com. Yowza!! creates digital coupons that appear on customers’ smart phones. Once shoppers download the FREE app, they immediately see all the special offers from local retailers—and your center-- around their location. Full-service reporting and analytics are included for centers, so you can tell, in real-time, how many impressions and redemptions each coupon has had. No lead time and no production costs. Centers are in full control. Just one more way to increase business in your center.
SHORTS
LETTER TO THE EDITOR In Appreciation I want to express my sincere appreciation for the wonderful article and interview Fred Groh did with Chuck Pezzano for the Bowling Industry magazine, March 2011 issue. Fred [along with Chuck] did an excellent job capturing the story of Eddie, the PBA and all the “Great Bowlers.” Chuck has always said, “Pictures say a thousand words.” I am tremendously grateful for the selection of photographs used in the article. Chuck has been, not only, an astute columnist but also the Historian in the “World of Bowling”. He has more knowledge than a Dictionary/Encyclopedia. What a guy! Most sincerely, Peggy Elias
Media
WATCH
JUSTIN BIEBER’S HAIR ON DISPLAY AT LUCKY STRIKE, MIAMI. You too can have your picture taken with Justin Bieber—his hair that is. The Bieb’s hair is on display at Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge in Miami. All you need to do, besides getting there, is make a donation to the Japan Tsunami Relief Fund and “click”, you’ve got your photo op! Justin Bieber’s hair on display at Lucky Strike, Miami.
Jamie Buckner’s “Split” moves forward Making a movie is a journey. Just ask Jamie Buckner. Nine years ago he had an idea. Today, he has raised over $20,000 to get the proverbial camera rolling on his production. “Split,” a romantic comedy about a woman who can only fall for avid bowlers, takes place in Kentucky which is right where Buckner took his idea for the locals’ reaction. He produced a short based on the first seven pages of his feature-length script. After getting rave reviews from the Louisville crowd, Buckner decided to raise the money needed to move forward with the project. He used Kickstarter, an incentive based fundraising platform. He plans on filming “Split” on location in Louisville since the Kentucky legislature just passed a new law that gives tax breaks to productions in state. The short featured “30 Rock” co-star Keith Powell. Professional bowlers John Petraglia and Pete Weber not only have roles in the feature, but they also worked as advisers on the script. Buckner, who grew up bowling with his parents and watching it on TV, said it was important to him to do this project right and to involve the right people. Let the cameras roll! 8
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Jayhawk celebrates 50 years of bowling service Jayhawk Bowling Supply just celebrated its 50th anniversary in the bowling industry. Jayhawk bowling supply was founded in 1960 by Chuck Hardman and started out of his family’s garage. Slowly moving up from small rented properties to larger warehouses, Jayhawk’s original focus was distributing balls, bags, shoes, trophies and expanding its proshop line. Jayhawk’s first taste of fame came from its world famous Jayhawk Measuring Ball, and grew with the additions of the Jayhawk Drill Jig, Ball Spinner and High Speed Sander. Still today, Jayhawk is known as the leader in ball drilling equipment, offering products such as the Tri-Oval, Determinator, the Improved Jayhawk Measuring Ball and The Digital Scale. The company expanded in 1977 to also offer lane resurfacing. The first ABC sanctioned 900 series and the world record, WIBC series (878) were bowled on lanes maintained by the Jayhawk resurfacing crew. 1982 marked a crucial milestone for Jayhawk: they were selected by the Brunswick Corporation as one of the five original Brunswick Parts Distributors. This advancement transformed Jayhawk from a ball, bag and shoe distributor to a maintenance specialty company. In 1996, Jayhawk was selected by the Brunswick Corporation again for a new distributor program that awarded Jayhawk the Brunswick Capital Equipment sales and installations in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa. It has turned the company into the Midwest’s leader in bowling center remodeling.
SHORTS
Kegel’s Open Down Under
Picture credit: Wendy Rose
Australia’s Caboolture Bowl just north of Brisbane hosted the inaugural Kegel Queensland Open tournament March 4 – 6. A full field ensured that the well presented 18-lane center was really buzzing. Graeme Rose of Tenpintec, the Australian Kegel distributor said, “This is our first foray into tournament sponsorship, and we’re really happy with what has been achieved here. We’re planning to support this event for many years to come.” Kegel touted Caboolture Bowl for all the hard work. The bowling was of a very high standard on lane conditions that were set up to be challenging. George Frilingos and AnnMaree Putney were the winners in their respective categories and six women were selected in a roll-off to represent Australia in the upcoming Women’s World Championships. Results can be seen at www.tenpinevents.org.au.
Brunswick President Warren Hardie to retire Brunswick Corporation announced the retirement of Warren N. Hardie, president of Brunswick Bowling & Billiards as of May 1, 2011. Hardie has held this position since February 2006. He joined Brunswick in 1997 as senior vice president of Brunswick Indoor Recreation Group and in 1998 was promoted to president of Bowling Retail, where he was responsible for the management and performance of more than 100 Brunswick-owned and operated bowling centers around the world. “Warren has made significant contributions to our bowling retail, bowling products and billiards businesses,” stated Brunswick chairman and CEO Dustan E. McCoy. “We will miss his insight and experience in many areas.” Following Hardie’s retirement, Brunswick Bowling & Billiards will report to Peter B. Hamilton, who will continue to serve as Brunswick’s senior vice president and chief financial officer.
Graeme Rose of Tenpintec presents Ann-Maree Putney with trophy for winning the Women’s Division.
Big Hair is a Striking Success Where else but in New York! Rab’s Country Lanes in Staten Island, NY hosted a wildly audacious fundraiser to benefit The Trevor Project, an organization providing a national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth. The goal of the evening was to select semifinalists for My Big Gay Italian Wedding’s “The Higher the Hair, the Closer to God” contest. Anthony Wilkinson, whose family owns and operates Rab’s Country Lanes, has written and produced the Off-Broadway show, “My Big Gay Italian Wedding.” Thirty ladies walked Lane 25 which was transformed into a Red Carpet Runway, showing off their “dos” for judges and 800 attendees. Celebrity judges included Tabatha Coffey of BRAVO’s Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, Elvis Duran, Z100 syndicated radio host, and Dina Manzo of Real Housewives of New Jersey. Master of Ceremonies was Ron Corning of News12 Long Island. $20,000 was raised for The Trevor Project and 12 top contestants were selected to compete in the finals where each contestant will get a walk-on role for one night in the Off-Broadway show with the audience voting for a Vildana Ficci of AF Bennett Salan & Wellness Spa shows winner. The high-haired winner will receive a $5,000 Grand Prize presented off hair-do created by Jennifer Christie. at the winner’s salon by Tabatha Coffey. Credit: Steve White, Staten Arts Photography
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SHORTS An Anniversary Gift for the Chambers of Cloverleaf Lanes To celebrate his 32nd wedding anniversary, Jim Chambers, proprietor of Cloverleaf Family Bowl in Fremont, California, and his wife Janie bowled at the White House! Well, not exactly. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB for those in the know) houses the twolane Truman Bowling Alley which is actually located on the White House grounds not in the White House proper. For historical background, the first bowling alley was built on the ground floor of the West Wing as a birthday gift for President Truman in 1947 and then relocated to the EEOB in 1955. There is also one other lane situated in the East Wing which was built by President Nixon for his wife and him in 1969. “In” or “on the grounds”, it was still a great experience. Jim and Janie were afforded this by the Director of Correspondence to the First Lady who is a friend of their daughter Jennifer. When an opportunity arises one must not falter, so off they went. According to Jim, while the equipment is up-to-date Qubica-AMF 82-70s, no oil is put on the wooden lanes. However, side stepping the lack of oil, Janie managed the only strike of the day! A very special wedding anniversary indeed!
Janie Chambers celebrates her strike with Karen Norris on the Harry S. Truman lanes while Jim looks on with pride.
WALTER REED BOWLERS PARTY WITH BVL Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL)’s inaugural “We Salute You” bowling party took place at the National Naval Medical Center bowling lanes attended by service men and women from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It was an afternoon of bowling competition and camaraderie. “Our ‘We Salute You’ parties truly represent what BVL is all about,” explained Darlene Baker, Chair of the BVL Board of Directors. “Our goal is to show the troops we honor their sacrifices for our country; and our approach here is to utilize bowling as a recreation therapy vehicle to create a positive environment featuring fun, physical and mental fitness, and fellowship.” Separated from friends and family, the participants at this inaugural event represented a cross-section of the nation—from California to New York; Arkansas to Ohio. The levels of bowling experience really didn’t come into play as the event’s purpose was to give a respite from the often-stressful hospital setting and provide an outlet to have fun. Some of the service people fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, stood watch on the USS Enterprise, and did tours in Guantanamo Bay, Panama, Pakistan and Japan. Lunch was served and swag bags included T-shirts with the BVL logo, playing cards, and an assortment of candies and other treats plus the USBC publication “The Bowler’s Guide: An instructional and education guide to bowling.”
Isle of Man Gets A New Bowling Center There is a new bowling center in the town of Ramsey on the Isle of Man, a 572 square kilometers island located between Ireland and Great Britain in the Irish Sea. Alan Price, whose company Buffalo Bowling is behind the project, selected the old Ramsey swimming pool as the new location. The £500,000 transformation of the property into Sure Strike tenpin bowling alley and leisure center opened to the public on Good Friday, April 22, 2011. In addition to 10 lanes of tenpin bowling, Sure Strike features a gym, an 88 seat American-style bar and grill, supervised soft-play area for children under 10, air hockey tables, video games and a pro shop. A 100-person capacity conference room will be added in a 12
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second development phase. Sure Strike is the only bowling center on the island after Manx Superbowl closed a few years ago. “It will be a leisure center the likes of which we haven’t had on the island before. It will be a real benefit for the island and will attract people from all over to come and enjoy it,” says Mr. Price, “We wanted it to be worth while traveling from Port Erin [a town on the island] by making it possible to spend the day here.”
SPECIAL REPORT
Earthquake, Bowling and Japan by Hiroshi Funaki with Patty Heath
he bowling industry is a very large, small community. Its neighbors are found throughout the world. What affects one affects the others. Kaori Muramatsu of Bowling Journal of Japan has sent the following letter from a Japanese proprietor: My name is Hiroshi Funaki, a proprietor of two bowling centers in Japan. I am writing this on March 25 which is my 58th birthday. Two weeks have passed since northern Japan was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. I still feel like I am on a rocking boat due to strong aftershocks every day. I live in Akita which is northwest of Fukushima on the Sea of Japan and away from the effect of the tsunami. But electricity, phone and internet were cut for two days, and I was shivering in cold darkness with my family and my dog. Traffic signals and all lights went off in all the cities in northern Japan for at least two days and are not yet available in devastated areas. There is a shortage of gasoline, oil for heating, flashlights, dry batteries and some foods such as bread and noodles because the traffic network has been cut to pieces. There is also a shortage of bottled water due to the contamination of water by radiation. My two bowling centers were not damaged, and I could reopen them after the electricity was recovered. March is a busy month every year with kids/students bowling
T
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parties because the school year ends in March. However, all reservations were canceled and all scheduled tournaments in Akita were canceled at least for this month. The situation in the northeast area and around Tokyo is desperate. The tsunami reached two centers. No one was injured but a large quantity of mud was left on the lanes and machines. Recovery will be very difficult. The whole ceiling of a 32-lane center on the 8th floor which was newly built two years ago in Yokohama collapsed and some bowlers were injured. A total of 99 bowling centers were damaged in Japan. According to information dated March 18 by BPAJ, 45 bowling centers were seriously damaged by the quake/tsunami. Some of them are closed due to the threat of radiation near the nuclear power plant but most of them are closed due to the collapse of ceilings or water damage from the sprinklers. Another 54 centers were partly damaged but are operating. The shock of the tragedy and the threat of radiation will have a major effect on the bowling business. People will refrain from going out due to the shortage of electricity particularly in Tokyo where the Fukushima nuclear power plant is no longer able to supply
Portion of Miyako, a city destroyed by the earthquake/tsunami. Compliments of Kaori Muramatsu, The Bowling Journal of Japan.
SPECIAL REPORT electricity and no end in sight. In 1973, Japan’s bowling industry had a sharp drop due to what was termed Oil Shock [OPEC embargo]. Bowling centers decreased from 3697 to 879 in four short years. With the present low growth rate of the Japanese economy, recovery will be more difficult this time, but I am sure that we will not lose hope. We are concerned about our friends at the seriously damaged centers and the victims in the devastated areas. We are making donations by bowlers and by sales in bowling centers for the victims. I am also going to propose “free bowling for refugees” for their physical and mental health. There are 240,000 refugees who lost their residences. Long range help for them will be necessary. Lastly, I appreciate this opportunity to report and inform you that we Japanese are most grateful to all the people around the world for warm encouragement and prayers for the victims. ❖
Hiroshi Funaki owns two centers in Akita,Japan.He is also president of BPAJ in Akita; president of Tohoku Brunswick Kai; and vice president of Brunswick Kai Japan.
Hall of Famer Marge Miyoda gathers funds for Japan’s bowling community Southern California bowler and local Hall of Fame member Marge Miyoda is gathering funds for the bowling community in Japan. 100% of the funds are going directly to Japan without any “administrative fee” involved. The Bowling Proprietors Association of Japan (BPAJ) will be distributing the funds to those families of the Japanese bowling community hardest hit by the disaster. As of April 7, over $6,400 has been sent. Ms. Miyoda, acting since the 1980s as translator and liaison for the BPAJ, has graciously agreed to continue to relay donations. All donations are welcome and will receive a receipt. For more information email: miyodame@aol.com.
Japan remains epicenter of inspiration Devastation has many faces. We have seen the chaos in Haiti and the loss of natural habitat along with livelihoods and communities in New Orleans among just a few. Japan after more than a half a century is again faced with overwhelming destruction. However, the world can only take inspiration from the Japanese people themselves as they move through the mire and begin to look forward. Following are selected quotes translated and sent to IBI by Don Hillman a retired proprietor who received them from Marge Miyoda. She said to Don, “I was just sent a block of Japanese messages submitted by people throughout the country. I needed to share these, as they brought tears to my eyes, so here is my best translation.” • It’s so dark that I can see stars that I’ve never seen and it’s so beautiful. People of Sendai, look up! • My two-year-old son put on his shoes by himself and started to head out the door. “I’m going to go arrest the earthquake!” he told me. Let’s all take strength from the courage and sense of justice coming out of
such a small body. Everyone, let’s all pluck up and get through this! • People are picking up scattered things at stores and putting them back on shelves, then standing in line silently to wait to pay. When the trains started running, despite the crowded conditions, elderly people were giving up their seats to pregnant women. Foreigners seeing this behavior are getting all choked up. It’s all true, all of those stories! Japan truly is an amazing place. • Last night, as I made my way home from the university on foot, I saw an elderly woman out in front of a closed bread shop giving away free bread to people. It is moving to see people who have found what little they can do to help in the middle of this clamorous situation. It warms my heart. Tokyo is not lost! • I saw some small children speaking to the train conductor. They said, “Thank you for working so hard yesterday to keep the trains running.” The conductor started to cry.
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CENTER STAGE
CENTER
STAGE by Fred Groh
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John Plew isn’t shy about fessing up to the inspiration for his Grand Central Restaurant & Bowling Lounge, Portland, OR. He studied Lucky Strike at two of its Southern California locations and Yard House, a high-volume restaurant chain with an especially extensive menu and selection of beers. Result is a “casual upscale” house with 12 lanes and an impressive beer selection, “which in Portland is really important.”
CENTER STAGE
The mezzanine has four seating areas. Its own bar overlooks the lanes.
Inclined to the adult trade, like Lucky Strike, Grand Central does a nice slice of business in kids’ parties, but little ones are only welcome until 9 p.m. and never unaccompanied by an adult. Twenty-somethings and corporate/banquet business are about 60% of the $3.5 million annual gross. Plew is president of Concept Entertainment, an operating group that owns Grand Central and eight restaurant brands. He spent more than two years restoring the 1929
building that housed the old Grand Central, a bowling venue dating to 1955 and one of the city’s oldest. He did the interior design himself, including the use of old lanes for several walkways and bar tops in both lounges. Plew doesn’t plan to add bowling to his other restaurants but, “yeah, we would consider” building other Grand Centrals. Meanwhile, three years after opening, he keeps at it, “still refining the model.” ❖ IBI
May 2011
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PROFILE
Pondra Byrd (left), Jimmy Askey (center) and Billy Byrd (right)
The Byrds’ Guardian Angel Suppose you owned a bowling center, had no manager, and knew practically nothing about bowling. by Fred Groh
A
sk Pondra Byrd whether she and her husband made the right move when they got into proprietorship and she’ll tell you it depends on what day you ask. “Sunday, no!” she laughs. “We had about eight different employee issues. I was ready to pull my hair out and everybody else’s. Yesterday, no. Today, yeah.” She laughs again, and one of the big reasons is Jimmy Askey, the head mechanic at Rainbow Lanes Family Fun Center, Raleigh, NC, which Pondra and her husband, Eddie, have owned for 10 years. Pondra’s family were route operators in the arcade business. In the ’90s, they were servicing arcades, pool rooms, and restaurants 18
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at 300 locations. The family ran a barbecue restaurant as well. But the long shadow of home video games was falling across the arcade business and when Pondra’s father died in 1994, the route was more than they wanted to deal with. “In the county where we’re located, the only thing to do with your family at that point was one little movie theater in downtown Smithfield. We had three children, we knew what worked well in pool rooms and arcades and what didn’t work well, we knew the food industry to a certain extent, and we wanted something that [people] could bring their families to.” Bowling won out over other options like skating because Mom and Dad were more likely to stay and play with their kids and run up a tab for the family.
PROFILE The Byrds planned a ground-up project–“from the wet, muddy ground up,” as it turned out, and they opened in July 1997 with a partner who was also brand new to them, though experienced in bowling. He became the manager. The partner didn’t take too kindly to the Byrds’ hands-on approach, however, despite his modest financial stake in the project. After six months, he packed up. This left the Byrds with a six-monthold, 32-lane house, no manager, and knowing next to nothing about bowling. They had a legacy, though, and it came from the skedaddled manager. Its name was Jimmy Askey. The old manager had recruited Jimmy as a mechanic. Jimmy had a legacy of his own, of sorts. His mother-in-law was still managing an AMF center in nearby Wilson, where he had cut his teeth on the bowling business. In 1988, he went to work as a mechanic at another AMF house, where he entered a company cross-training program for managers and mechanics. Managers got personal with the machines and mechanics learned where the money in a bowling center goes, what capital is for, how leagues are floored. Jimmy had retained what he learned in the two-week course when he joined the
Byrds and their manager a year later, 1997. Not long after that, he had taken the Byrds by the hand. He saw how things were turning and knew they were not going right. “It was long hours,” Jimmy says of his mentoring role. “Any help I could give them. AMF had taught us a little bit, so I knew a little about trying to floor leagues and ideas to draw open bowling and did little, well, sometimes called gimmicks, to get people in the door.” He spent a lot of time in impromptu meetings in the restaurant or on the concourse, answering the Byrds’ questions. He didn’t have to give up his machines, but at the same time, “Thank God we had brand new equipment and it didn’t require a whole lot of maintenance.” Jimmy helped out with every aspect of the business, Pondra says. “We were here from open to close; he was here from open to close. He was hired as our mechanic and he supposedly had set hours, [but] once he committed to help us carry forward without a manager, he was here pretty much from open to close.” That was 9-11 on the weekdays, and until 2 or 3 in the morning on Friday and Saturday, with two hours or so cleaning up after close.
Gil Hodges Lanes Brooklyn, NY (34 Lanes) We congratulate Lou Seda on his purchase of this fine center and thank John LaSpina for trusting Marcel Fournier to handle the sale. We wish Lou and John all the best in the future.
Bowling’s Only Full-Service Brokers, Appraisers & Financial Advisors 28200 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI 48076
(800) 222 • 9131 Check out our current listings at www.SandyHansell.com.
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The human relations part of a bowling business Pondra and Eddie knew. She had worked in social services for 17 years; Eddie worked the family games business. Both were familiar with F&B operations from the family restaurant. But they did have to learn about bowlers. Bowlers’ demands, as Pondra says. “I was thinking of a couple of them. No matter how well they bowled, they had complaints about the lane condition. One gentleman bowled a 300 and still bitched about how bad the lanes were. You knew every week he was going to come in and complain about something. “They were very, very ready to give us their thoughts on how we should run our center. We had to learn to filter the good from the bad.” Says Jimmy, adding to the familiar litany, “If you met them at Walmart they’d talk to you and buy you a sandwich and wouldn’t even talk about bowling. But when they come in and put on the bowling shoes, it was more like, ‘I own this place and I’m going to tell you how to run it. I’m paying you’—because they put in their league fees.” A formula was worked out before very long, he relates. The league would dictate how the league is run; the owners would dictate the price, the time, the number of lanes. “All he had was our promise that we would take care of him if he would stick with us. He committed to us despite the fact that he did not know us that well, did not know our habits, if we were sincere. That commitment has carried us through,” says Pondra. “Mrs. Byrd is hard-headed and she [doesn’t] believe in failure. I’m just as boneheaded as they are,” he says, and they all laugh. Billy says, “I made him a promise. When I made it, he’d make it, and we’re still trying to get there.” “He’s still waiting for that to happen,” says Pondra. They all laugh again. ❖
COVER STORY
RALEIGH’S
SPARIANS: THE UN-BOWLING
CENTER by Robin Breuner
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COVER STORY
parians Bowling Boutique and Bistro represents the new face of modern S bowling. Located in the upscale North Hills district of Raleigh, North Carolina, it’s a place for the casual bowler to enjoy the sport in a vibrant, social atmosphere. While the attitude is all about fun and entertainment, the atmosphere is all about quality. “It’s never been about bowling,” said Alan Fluke, COO of Sparians. “That’s
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COVER STORY
Fluke said that more than 95 percent of the people who live in Raleigh had never heard of a Sparians-type of entertainment concept before, and that the landlord had to do his homework to identify if this was something they would want. “Most people hear bowling and think, ‘bowling alley,’ and we all know what that connotation means: bolted furniture and marginal food,” Fluke said. “Now people say, ‘Las Vegas style has been brought to Raleigh,’ and for us, that’s pretty significant.” Brent Dyer, director of operations at US Bowling Corporation, helped design and oversee the 18-lane installation at Sparians. Twelve lanes are grouped together just to the left of the main entry. Four more are located in a private bowling lounge tucked behind the main restaurant. Two others are in another section that can be used as a large meeting or banquet room, complete with a 180-inch drop-down
what’s beautiful about this concept - bowling is an ancillary venue within an entertainment product. It’s all about these types of centers – all about coming out and socializing and meeting friends and having a good time. “Our motto is ‘Meet, Eat and Compete,’ and oh by the way, we also have bowling.” While Fluke has been in the entertainment industry for more than 35 years and has developed more than $100 million worth of projects, Sparians is his first venture into bowling. The North Hills district is a new urban mixed-use lifestyle area with restaurants, a movie theater, a hotel, condos, and shops that Fluke said had eight million visitors last year. “We are in a very dense area,” Fluke said. “We’ve got over a million people in this county. Demographics are huge. Household income within a five-mile radius is $80,000 per household. It’s just unheard of.” Sparians occupies nearly 30,000 square feet on the ground floor of a 412-unit apartment complex in the district, along with a two-story grocery store, retail shops and restaurants. The entire project will embrace one million square feet when completed in another four years, including office and retail space, 2,000 apartment units, two hotels, an amphitheater and a retirement community.
screen and private bar. The entire back area can be opened up to create a huge event space that includes the six lanes, private bar and lounge, private bathrooms, and the meeting/banquet space. “You can actually transform from a business meeting to a bowling afterparty,” Dyer said. “It’s like nothing that I’ve seen before in any of the bowling centers we’ve built. You can go straight from the business aspect to the fun. “A lot of the facilities that we’ve built just have four lanes of private bowling with maybe a couple of unique pieces of furniture,” he continued. “This really brought a whole different feel to it and made it a lot more marketable for the bowling center.” Dyer said that the architecture and design of the place is phenomenal. “It has great appeal and very unique lighting. The audiovisual system is bar none compared to a lot of other facilities.” 24
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Dyer said that intelligent lighting is featured throughout the space both in the public and in the bowling areas. Mega 1,000-watt speakers are recessed across the ceiling and multiple 1,000-watt subwoofers are buried throughout the flooring.
COVER STORY
55-inch HD LCD screens span the space along with several ceiling mounted drop down screens. Each screen has the ability to feature its own video output. Entertainment such as sporting events, music videos and movie clips can be shown simultaneously on the different screens. Control for all of this technology is contained in a dedicated sound room which functions as a command center for 15 zones and oversees all of the sound, lighting and video systems. Fluke said Sparians intentionally made the space flexible so that they could change things to accommodate the needs of whoever might want a special private function. The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and their
“What any entertainment venue tries to do is to keep people in their facility longer,” Fluke said. “We put [the video games] in there for the sole purpose of trying to keep people in there longer. We’ve also taken one of our private suites, which is more of a banquet hall, and put in ping pong tables and cornhole [beanbag toss games] and servers back there with tables.” Fluke said that even without a traditional arcade, the additional revenue streams have been critical in managing the long waits for the bowling lanes. “Like most brand-new businesses do, we’ve taken our licks from the general public on the things they’re unhappy with,” he said, “and we continue to read these things and try to get better with it. “We knew upfront, based on opening other facilities, that the waits can be really long. We’re working on every avenue that we can from a marketing and community relations standpoint to try to keep that energy going.” The challenges in the restaurant are different but still related to the bowling lanes. “When somebody comes in [and goes on the bowling wait list] and eats first, and there’s a three-hour wait and they’re done in two hours,
wives watched this year’s Super Bowl there. “Our target audiences are Mom, Dad and the kids, but also corporate entities, because we have three fabulous suites in the back room that can accommodate collectively over 300 people at one time. We did a fashion show with over 250 people in the back space,” Fluke said. “The flexibility that we have to do the number of things that people need is tremendous. With our private suites, we have a private entrance for people like celebrities, people like the Carolina Hurricanes.” Raleigh’s nightlife starts seeping into Sparians after 9 or 10 p.m. The clientele doesn’t have to wait for leagues to finish bowling, because there are none. Even so, there is often a waiting list for lanes. In fact, threeand four-hour waiting lists on weekends have been common since Sparians opened in December. Beyond a full service restaurant and bar, Sparians offers video games such as Nintendo Wii and Xbox to keep people entertained while they wait (there is no coin-op arcade). IBI
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COVER STORY
Patrons playing electronic game on table.
they camp out on that dining room table [until their lane is open],” Fluke said. Sparians is trying to resolve this by moving to an hourly rate for bowling. In addition, instead of using a reservation software product, they are switching to a wait list reservation product that they can use for both the restaurant and the bowling. Fluke said that one of the biggest challenges was hiring servers for the restaurant. He said that with a new business like this, until word gets out into the local server network that it’s possible to make money at this venue, it’s difficult to entice experienced staff. “You have to train these people, and a lot of times you get everybody’s throwaways,” Fluke said. “Not until it gets out into the network that you can make some serious money as a server, do they start even walking in your doors. They don’t want to be in a start-up.” In contrast, due to the current job market, Fluke received more than 500 resumes for the general manager position, many from people formerly making six-figure incomes like lawyers, engineers, architects and accountants. “This is not like any business if you’ve not been in it before,” Fluke said. “It’s not like opening up just a restaurant, or a bar, or a nightclub, or a bowling alley. There are a lot of components here, like you have to have catering or a banquet division. We opened Dec. 13 and did 60 Christmas parties from the 13th to the 23rd, all booked before we opened.” Sparians has been staying closed until 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to allow time for retraining and to give the staff a bit of a break. It also gives management an opportunity to get some of the little things done that can maximize efficiency during business hours. That downtime is something everyone – including Fluke – appreciates. “As many years as I have been in this business and as many businesses that I have opened, this one has kicked my ass,” Fluke said. “It’s very difficult to put one of these together if you have limited or no experience. For somebody with experience - meaning me - there were enough overwhelming challenges that I knew were coming,” he continued. 26
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“For the people that I have met that have no background in operating something like this, or even a regular bowling alley that is transforming itself into a bowling entertainment venue, there’s a lot to think about.” One thing Fluke doesn’t think about twice, however, is a lesson he learned from his other business ventures. “You can have all of the policy and procedure manuals,” he concluded. “You can have all the standard operating procedures and everything known to man, but it’s all about execution.” ❖
Today’s Design Combines Drama and Flow US Bowling Corporation, which played a major role in interpreting Alan Fluke’s vision for Sparians, is one of the companies helping bowling reshape itself to appeal to a 21st-century market. US Bowling Director of Operations Brent Dyer said the company is interested in more than just bowling leagues and keeping lanes busy. US Bowling, he said, likes to create a different flow that will allow the clientele to be able to sit, relax and spend some money in places like a bar or restaurant or arcade when there is a waiting list. Such “waiting areas” can generate significant revenue streams on their own. “We don’t want to just put up 24 lanes or 32 lanes or 48 lanes if it doesn’t make sense,” Dyer said. “We will actually be the first ones to talk you into doing fewer lanes, to talk you into putting in more additional revenue streams.” Dyer also praised Sparians for extending its hip persona to all facets of the operation seamlessly. It’s not just the bowling installations that capture patrons’ attention and dollars. “The food that they offer is very upscale,” he said. “It’s very unique from that standpoint. The bar is upscale but very inviting. Casual, but upscale. It’s very open, you don’t feel closed in. “
Robin Breuner is a freelance writer who lives on Mt.Tamalpais in Marin County, California with her husband, two kids and two dogs.
OPERATIONS
To the future of
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OPERATIONS
youth bowling, BPA A says Y.E.S. Could following the lead of other youth sports be the key to growing bowling? by Mark Miller
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ike so many other bowling proprietors, Tom Rutherford was perplexed. As part of a family that had owned Rose City Bowl in New Castle, Ind., for more than 40 years, he had seen the number of bowlers in his area and nationwide dip for a long time. After so many ideas failed to change that, he was scratching his head. “I wanted to know what I could do to reverse the trend,” Rutherford said. “Turned out I was in the right place at the right time.” That place was the East Coast Bowling Centers Convention last October in Atlantic City, N.J. That’s where he heard a new idea from then-Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America Director of Youth Development Chad Murphy. The idea: mimic the successful youth programs of soccer and baseball which emphasize coaches for every team, practice sessions before starting competition, payment up front and commitment of only 8-10 weeks. Plus, they had fun while developing team unity. “I heard it again at the BPAA Board meeting and it finally sunk in the second time,” Rutherford said. “You have to treat your Saturday morning youth program like other sports. “For years we’ve said to kids ‘you can go here and there to play other sports during bowling. You can just pre-bowl. If you’re no good, it doesn’t matter because we’ll give you handicap.’ “There is not another sport where you show up and the
other team says, ‘you are short and we’re tall so we’ll give you a handicap.’ Like in basketball ‘you take your shots under the basket and we’ll take ours at the free-throw line.’ In baseball, ‘you get an extra out or four strikes because you are not as good.’ ” So Rutherford told his youth to choose between bowling and other sports during bowling season. And he agreed to heed Murphy’s request to test the new concept with some initial reservations. “Eliminating handicap is a radical idea,” Rutherford admitted. “That’s like saying grandma wears army boots. That’s almost un-American.” Other challenges included not having enough trained volunteer coaches, finding new bowlers or setting practice times. But the test centers all were willing to try the concept. “Everyone tends to be reluctant to change especially when you’ve done things for years,” said Georgia Wiggins, director of youth development at West Acres Bowl in Wichita, Kan. West Acres has conducted tests both last fall and this spring. The 10-week program broke down to three Saturdays of coaching and practice followed by six weeks of competition and one day for awards. “I like the short season format for parents and kids because it gives them a break like other sports,” Wiggins said. “The parents really like the coaching. We had one coach per team in the fall and two per team this session. That includes some
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OPERATIONS current Wichita State and Newman University players and director of youth development for the International Bowling Wichita State alumni.” Campus, come up with the new option? In most tests, youth bowl a combination of regular team “The whole thing came from me watching my son (Joshua) games and Baker format where players alternate turns within playing other sports,” said Murphy, a former collegiate bowler the same game. and certified coach who worked for At Fox Bowl in Wheaton, Ill., Kim Sims Ebonite International and Columbia 300 incorporated the test into a curriculum prior to BPAA. “They emphasized skill she wrote to transition youth from Ininstruction, fun and the social element.” School bowling to the lanes. She offered It was in October 2009 that Murphy five weeks of coaching/practice and five told then United States Bowling Congress weeks of competition for the 17 bowlers Director of Youth and old friend Brian who participated in January and Graham his idea. Graham invited Murphy February. to join a committee that was looking into “This program emphasizes instruction growing youth bowling. After the so we’re not just throwing the kids on committee met in November and January the lanes,” Sims said. “In some places, the 2010, BPAA was impressed enough to youth bowling program is a baby-sitting hire Murphy last April. service.” By August, he put together a plan Fox Bowl employees served as the based on the success of the other sports. team coaches and like West Acres, “We had to appeal to the nonincluded a bowling ball with the program. bowlers,” Murphy said. “Bowling has Sims is a big fan. historically been passed down from “This new program is wonderful because grandfather to son to grandson and the Chad Murphy who is now BPAA’s Director of Youth same for the ladies. But that was when we of the new emphasis on coaching,” she said. “It’s attractive to those who want to Development for the International Bowling Campus, had nine million bowlers. We skipped introduced the idea of Y.E.S. in 2010 at ECBCC in improve.” two generations.” Atlantic City. Sims sees the new program as Still, surveys said there a large potential something that’s ultimately added to, not replacing, current audience to change that. youth programs. “There are 20 million youth under age 18 who bowl at least “I think the traditional youth league will be more for people once a year,” Murphy said. “That’s it in a nutshell. Bowling is in club sports who are seeking scholarships,” Sims said. “For the No. 1 destination for birthday parties. We needed to people who don’t want to or can’t make the commitment, the figure out how we get them to bowl for a lifetime. We needed new program is best. to give them a format they were familiar with and incorporate “This is part of the changing times. We understand we it into bowling.” have a new generation of kids so you have to offer a lot of While the new BPAA and USBC leadership liked Murphy’s options.” plan, there initially was no way to pay for it. That’s when the So exactly how did BPAA, and specifically Murphy, now idea for the Youth Education Services Fund started.
OPERATIONS to use it. That’s one of the barriers we have but we can get past that.” With funding in place, the next step was to secure the initial test centers last fall. More centers were added for Phase 2 tests early in 2011 with more than two dozen on board by March. “We didn’t have any new kids so we took eight from our existing leagues,” said Debbie Haggerty, youth coordinator at Fireside Lanes in Sacramento, Calif. “When they were done we were extremely pleased with the outcome. They liked the team aspect, Baker format and skill drills. Their improvement was amazing.” The test centers reported Larry Peyton, a dad and coach at Lake Lanes in The Colony, Texas helps kids sign in on the scoring unit on Saturday morning. their findings in April then refined the program in time to launch it nationally at Bowl Expo. The YES Fund started when Brunswick, Columbia 300, Rutherford will be there to sing its praises. Ebonite, 900 Global, Hammer, QubicaAMF, Roto Grip, Storm “No matter how many show up, nobody can tell me this will and Track agreed to contribute a combined $250,000. Other not be the way we’re going to grow,” Rutherford said. “I just companies joined later. hope other proprietors around the country get the same vision “The stumbling block, if any, is that youth bowling always I got from Chad.” ❖ has been on a long schedule,” Murphy said. “This is where we needed to get them in, hopefully excited and committed and eventually bowling in longer leagues.” The program aims to start with youth at age 8. Mark Miller is a freelance writer from Flower Mound,Texas. He is the national and Dallas-Fort Worth bowling writer for “Kids physically struggle to play our game until they are Examiner.com and a columnist for the Bowling News 8 or 9 because of the weight of the ball,” Murphy said. “Our Network. lowest weight ball is six pounds which based on 10 pounds per year means the kid would need to be at least 60 pounds
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E-MAIL COUPONING
MASKING UNITS
BMA Marketing has introduced a new feature as part of their Merchant Coupon Program. They now help centers communicate with their past customers each month by sending a recurring thank you email that includes a simple email coupon. This service applies to a center's existing email list and the new email addresses generated from their BMA Merchant Coupon campaigns. Contact Chris Swanson 800-603-3985 x42 or Chris.Swanson@BMAmkt.com.
Colorfully and unmistakably decorate your center with Brunswick’s newly redesigned masking units, sure to capture bowlers' attention and heighten the all-around sensory experience. Massively vibrant, high-quality printed panels cover adjacent pinsetters with continuous graphics that dramatically energize your center. Choose from hundreds of Brunswick designs or custom design your own. For more information, stop by and see them at Bowl Expo.
VIRTUAL WAITRESS
MAD LANES
New Center Consulting has developed a Point of Sales system that is simple and easy to use. It allows any customer with a Smart Phone to order, pay, or run a tab from the system by acting as a "virtual waitress". They can order from the table or lane for up to 8 patrons; split the ticket, split the items, and add a tip, all from their phones. Waitstaff can use phones or Ipads to enter orders. All starting at just $3995 per work station. Call Glenn at 248-375-2751 for more information.
Mad Lanes by QubicaAMF deliver an unforgettable glow-inthe-dark bowling experience with high impact glow designs covering the approach lane. Choose from two exciting patterns, Highway or Spider, or mix them in your center for added uniqueness and excitement. Visit us today at www.qubicaamf.com or contact your local sales representative.
PLATFORM EVENT
GIFT CARDS
Emagine Entertainment has purchased GKM's Profit Platform to showcase special performers on the lanes at their new 16-lane bowling and cinema center. Located north of Detroit, Emagine Royal Oak will celebrate its grand opening on May 13, with a starstudded gala to benefit Variety the Children’s Charity. For more information on the Profit Platform go to www.profitplatform.biz or call GKM direct at 310-791-7092.
“Bowling Fun Bucks” gift cards are easy to use for new and existing programs. The card includes a “card carrier” dangler that folds into a bowling bag envelope. The card can also be used for loyalty and rewards programs, and allows centers to use their current credit card processing terminal, or a Windows-based operating system. Contact Matt Gohla, Murex Services, 847-982-1305 or matt@bowlillinois.com for a sample, brochure, and pricing information.
YOUTH SHIRTS
BALL RACK & HOOD
Bowlingshirt.com has cool, retro-styled youth-sized bowling shirts. They can show you how to make more money from your birthday parties with these shirts. Bowlingshirt.com has a great selection of stock printed designs that centers can customize the decorations to meet your client’s specific needs. Youth-sized bowling shirts are available in 2 styles and 4 color choices with sizes extra small through youth Xlarge. Visit www.bowlingshirt.com today!
US Bowling’s Reflections Ball Rack and Hood System is the quintessential leader in the bowling industry when it comes to style, durability and functionality. Whether you are building a new upscale bowling lounge, a family entertainment center or upgrading your existing center, US Bowling’s Reflections Ball Rack and Hood system has all the style and features you desire. Learn more at www.usbowling.com or call 877-858-2695.
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OPERATIONS
Fighting City Hall When Daphne, Ala. said “No,” Butch and Sonya Cole crossed the highway where Spanish Fort said, “Yes.” by Joan Taylor BA great Michael Jordan said, “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or go around it.” That is exactly what Butch and Sonya Cole did when, after seven months of planning and designing a new family recreation center, their petition to the City Council of Daphne, Alabama was turned down in a narrow vote by the City Council, 4 votes to 3. One of the “for” voters said, “I was one of 3 in a 4-3 vote who wanted to change our Land Use Ordinance to allow ‘Planning Commission’ approval of a family entertainment center in a ‘B-1’ zone area. The Cole's business would have brought 40 plus jobs and about $80,000 a year in sales taxes and business license.” The biggest question before the vote concerned changing the zoning to accommodate a “family recreation
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center,” but there were other concerns from residents and council members as well. The opposition was a concern for the new facility to be built adjacent to a residential area as well as near Daphne High School. It was felt that such a facility belonged in a higher-density, business-zoned area. The existing zoning allowed for bars, nightclubs and skating rinks. Apparently a family recreation center wrapped around a bowling center did not qualify for B-1 permits. Currently, bowling centers (or “alleys” in the description presented to the council and planning board) come under B-2 zoning (car dealerships and big-box retailers). Another council member said, “The project was rejected due to vocal opposition from adjoining neighbors. The challenge to the City of Daphne is educating homeowners and businesses on the planning process. I think there were
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OPERATIONS too many land use issues and variables that most folks could not understand.” Another concern, without foundation, indicated that the new center would be a “hideous huge metal building.” Sonya Cole says that opponents were thinking of the Coles’ Gulf Bowl (Foley, Ala.). But the proposed center’s front would be brick and stucco with landscaping for a pond and trees. Sonya added, “We were disappointed, but maybe things happen for a reason. We didn’t want to upset the neighbors.” And so, undaunted, they found an area in Spanish Fort, Ala., and started their quest again. “It’s funny,” Cole said. “Daphne is on one side of the road and Spanish Fort is on the other.” The planning board of Spanish Fort reviewed the plans, made some recommendations, and once the Coles modified the plans, the board gave the $4.6 million proposed bowling and entertainment center a “go,” appropriately on Valentine’s Day. “We felt welcome there, starting with our meeting with Mayor Joe Bonner.” Butch and Sonya Cole are no novices to the bowling center business. When Sonya married her Foley High School sweetheart, Butch, she “married into the business.” Butch’s parents, Barbara and Hugh had taken over an unfinished center in 1959. While they didn’t know anything about the industry, they attended the Brunswick Management School in 1960 and kept the first center open until 1982. They followed that with building a new center a half-mile from the original location. Butch and Sonya took over in 1986, attended management school, and stayed with that location until 2008, then closed it down. That same year, they built Gulf Bowl in Foley. Over the years they added upgrades from bumpers to automatic scorers to replacing equipment, some of which had been in their center since 1959. While considering more upgrades to Gulf Bowl they were approached by business people in Baldwin County to be partners with them to build a new center. “We thought
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it would be too tough to be partners, but we also saw a need for a new center. Our son, Dusty, 28, has done a great job managing Gulf Bowl, so we felt we could do it ourselves. Dusty is IBPSIA certified and has gone through mechanic school and he and I went to management school in 2008,” Sonya said. And so plans evolved for a new center, identical to Gulf Bowl but with the addition of laser tag on two stories of the proposed 35,000 square foot building. Dusty, a 210-average bowler himself, will run both family centers. The new Eastern Shore Entertainment Center will house 24 Brunswick lanes, a 2,500 square foot arcade, sports bar and grill, a full service restaurant, snack area, adults-only billiards room, and laser tag. There will be rooms for private parties from corporate gatherings to birthday parties. Having hired the same contractor who built Gulf Bowl, the family is optimistic that they will open Eastern Shore by December 1 in time to host holiday parties, and follow up with short-season leagues in 2012. Even though Butch is a pilot for Delta Airlines, he finds time to maintain Gulf Bowl, which includes repairs to the building and mowing the lawn outside. Dusty’s wife, Heather, has added to the family with Drew, 2 and Peyton Marie, born in early January. Could they eventually become members of the BPAA’s Young Guns future proprietors? Sonya said, “Sometimes we ask ourselves ‘What are we doing?’ but we love what we do and know that in both Gulf Bowl and the new center, our focus will be on the customer service end because that’s what people take away from their (bowling) experience.” ❖
Joan Taylor is a multi-award winning bowling writer based in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
DATEBOOK
MAY 9-13 Vector Scorer Maintenance Training Brunswick Training Center Muskegon, MI Email: schools@brunbowl.com 800-937-2695 16 Illinois State BPA Board of Directors Meeting Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Normal, IL Bill Duff, 847-982-1305, billduff@bowlillinois.com 23-25 BCA of Ohio State Convention & Trade Show Crowne Plaza, Dublin, OH Pat Marazzi, 937-433-8363
JUNE 6-8 Kansas State BPA Annual Meeting Courtyard by Marriott, Junction City, includes table top exhibits & KSBPA Hall of Fame inductions Mary Thurber 913-638-1817 13-17 GS Series Pinsetter Training Brunswick Training Center Muskegon, MI Email: schools@brunbowl.com 800-937-2695 20-24 Vector Scorer Maintenance Training Brunswick Training Center Muskegon, MI Email: schools@brunbowl.com 800-937-2695 26-7/1 Bowl Expo Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, TX. 888-649-5685 38
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DATEBOOK
JULY 11-12 Iowa BPA Summer Annual Meeting and Trade Show Econolodge, Newton, IA Jenny Duede, 515-255-0808, www.iowabpa.com 13-15 Intl Billiard & Home Recreation Expo Sands Expo & Convention Ctr. Las Vegas, NV www.bcaexpo.com
CLASSIFIEDS 30-8/6 National Bowling Week Register to participate Ron DeRoxtra, 817-633-2940 Ron@bpaa.com
SEPTEMBER 16-18 Wyoming Bowling Council Jamboree Hilton Garden Inn, Laramie WY Charlene Abbott kcabbott@bresnan.net
18-22 GS Series Pinsetter Training Brunswick Training Center Muskegon, MI Email: schools@brunbowl.com 800-937-2695
22 BCA of Ohio Executive Board Meeting Embassy Suites, Columbus, OH Pat Marazzi, 937-433-8363
21 Montana BPA Annual Board and Membership Meeting Fairmont Hot Springs, MT Tom Brendgord t.brendgord@att.net
OCTOBER
23-24 Oregon Bowling Summit Lincoln City, OR Christy Herman 877-567-6374 24 Illinois State BPA Board of Directors Meeting with Bowling Centers Association of Michigan Convention and Trade Show Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Mt. Pleasant, MI Bill Duff, 847-982-1305, billduff@bowlillinois.com 25-29 Vector Scorer Maintenance Training Brunswick Training Center Muskegon, MI Email: schools@brunbowl.com 800-937-2695 IBI
2–4 West Coast Bowling Centers Convention Silver Legacy Hotel, Reno, NV Sandi Thompson, 925-485-1855 Sandi@norcalbowling.com IBI
4-5 Kansas State BPA Annual Meeting Pittsburg, KS Mary Thurber 913-638-1817 10-12 East Coast Bowling Centers Convention Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ Lee Ann Norton, 800-343-1329 Leeann@bpaa.com IBI
10-14 GS Series Pinsetter Training Brunswick Training Center Muskegon, MI Email: schools@burnbowl.com 800-937-2695
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
USED BRUNSWICK PARTS, A2 parts and assemblies. Large Inventory. www.usedpinsetterparts.com.
NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-2556436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
Pinsetter Parts New from ALL major manufacturers. HUGE IN STOCK inventory. USED Brunswick Scoring parts, AS90 cameras, processors, lane cables, monitors, and PC boards. Order online @ 888SBIBOWL.com or (888) 724-2695. The Mechanics Choice! REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248) 375-2751.
For Sale: used pin decks. Buy one, get one FREE. 27” monitors for AccuScore Plus & XL Scoring. Also XL Scoring package. (641) 4141542. FOR SALE: Entire contents 8-lane center currently in operation & closing mid-May 2011. AMF 82-70 pinsetters. Twelve Strike scoirng, wood lanes w/ Lane shield, refrigertion equipment, pro shop equipment , 90 lockers. Will furnish complete list upon request. Steve (702) 293-2368 or ljjaa1414@yahool.com. FOR SALE: General Electric & National front end motors with gear boxes for AMF 82-70 pinsetters. Excellent condition! Call Brian (716) 715-3930 or Kevin (716) 807-2194.
Official magazine of the convention IBI
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CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT WANTED
LANE MACHINES WANTED. We will purchase your KEGEL-built machine, any age or condition. Phone (608) 764-1464. 30 used synthetic lanes & scoring. (616) 796-4769.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
BUY
AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLD’S LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY
Bidding has OPENED for a 40-lane center with A2s and AS-90 scoring and kitchen equipment. You can bid on items individually or as whole units. Pictures and light show video can be seen at http://www.auctionbowling.com.
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CENTERS FOR SALE
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 - bpitx@texasonline.net
www.bowlingpartsandequipment.com
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.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.
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. 40
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CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE
TEXAS, SE of Houston: 40-lane center in mid-sized market. Updated scoring, lanes, seating, masking units in 2007 plus remodeled bar. New roof. Includes RE. Bank owned. Ken Paton (503) 645-5630.
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. ARIZONA, PAYSON: 16 LANES. Assume mortgage. Details @ http://rimcountry lanes.com/4sale.pdf. Bob (602) 377-6657.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: 16-lane center w/ synthetic lanes, 82-70s, 19,000 s/f building w/ lots of parking. Newly remodeled bar & large kitchen. Owner retiring. (530) 598-2133.
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.
CENTERS FOR SALE
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. 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. $1.2m. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089. www.majesticpine.com.
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.
CENTERS FOR SALE
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.
SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING: 12 lanes + café & lounge, 2 acres w/ 5 bedroom home. Full liquor & fireworks licenses. Outside Salt Lake City area. Dennis @ Uinta Realty, Inc. (888) 804-4805 or uintarlt@allwest.net.
MARSHALL ELECTRONICS • Foul Units • Electronic Scoring Repair • Chassis Boards • AMF Accuscore Plus • Curtain Wall Chassis - $285 • Brunswick Scoring We repair all types of monitor boards. Call for a complete price list. 593 Loxley Drive, Toms River, NJ 08753
732-240-6554 • 800-782-9494
www.merepair.webs.com
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I could not have gotten my loan without him.
CLASSIFIEDS
Bill Hanson All Star Lanes Fort Myers, Florida
The leading source for real estate loans with low down payments
Ken Paton
(503) 645-5630 www.kenpaton.com kpaton@kenpaton.com
LOCKER KEYS FAST! •Keys & Combo Locks for all Types of Lockers.
•Used locks 1/2 price of new
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.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: 16-lane center REDUCED to $799,000 for quick sale. Synthetics, 82-70s, 19,000 s/f + parking. Newly remodeled bar, large kitchen. Owner retiring. Will consider selling only equipment or building. www.siskiyoulanes.com. (530) 598-2133. 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.
NW INDIANA (Lake Michigan/National Lake Shore area): Well-maintained 32lane center, family owned & operated since 1997 with spacious nightclub lounge on 6.6 acres. Also billiards, arcade, pro shop, full-service restaurant, established leagues, birthday party activity & MORE! Owner retiring. Reasonably priced. (219) 921-4999. CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TO SELL!! 8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, full service restaurant, pro shop. Plus pool tables, Karaoke machine, DJ system. Includes RE. (217) 351-5152 or toms-uvl@sbcglobal.net.
•One week turnaround on most orders. •New locks All types
CENTERS FOR SALE
All keys done by code #. No keys necessary.
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
E-mail: huff@inreach.com FAX YOUR ORDER TO US AT:
530-432-2933 CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-700-4KEY INT’L 530-432-1027 Orange County Security Consultants
For FLORIDA CENTERS Call DAVID DRISCOLL & ASSOCIATES 1-800-444-BOWL P.O. Box 189 Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737 AN AFFILIATE OF SANDY HANSELL & ASSOCIATES 42
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"Bowling Center Construction Specialists" New Center Construction Family Entertainment Centers Residential Bowling Lanes Modernization Mini Bowling Lanes Automatic Scoring CONTACT
BRIAN ESTES
(866) 961-7633 Office: (734) 469-4293
Toll Free:
Email: build@capitalbowlingservice.com
www.CapitalBowlingService.com
CLASSIFIEDS 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/
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 CENTERS FOR SALE
CENTRAL ALABAMA: Recently remodeled, split house w/24 synthetic lanes (16 & 8) in 28,000 s/f building in shopping center; Brunswick A2s & 2000 seating; AccuScore Plus; VIA returns & storage tables; systems for Cosmic; established leagues; snack bar, pro shop & game/pool table area. Nearest competition 28 miles w/ colleges & Honda factory within minutes. Need to sell due to health. Reasonably priced. (435) 705-0420.
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
FAST! (818) 789-2695
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: 16-lane center— Brunswick A-2s & JetBacks, snack bar, pro shop & lounge with 1,400 s/f apartment above. On 2.84 acres. Includes business & real estate. Good location! (618) 488-7858 or (618) 606-5053.
SERVICES AVAILABLE
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. TOTAL SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. References available. CHASSIS DOCTORS (330) 314-8951.
PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70 S.S. & M.P. MACHINES
SELL YOUR CENTER OR EQUIPMENT
CENTERS FOR SALE
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.
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
Still sanding after all these years! If you still have wood, trust your lanes to Langlo Bowling Supply Inc. Next year, the Langlo name will be in the business for 100 years. Call Jeff Langlo (727) 919-4475. He has been on every job since 1971. Call for new synthetic. Call for repairs on wood & synthetic. Call for recoats. Will go ANYWHERE!
SELL YOUR CENTER
(818) 789-2695
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CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER WANTED
Citizen Potawatomi Nation & the NEW Firelake Bowling Center are seeking a customer service related manager to run our brand new state of the art facility. Experience a MUST. Complete applications at www.firelakejobs.com. For more info please contact HR Dept @ (405) 275-3121.
MECHANIC WANTED
A mechanic with 5+ years experience. Salary DOE. (509) 953-5810.
POSITION WANTED
Wanted: smaller Brunswick center in upper Midwest-- lease with option to buy. Over 30 years experience in ALL phases of bowling center operations. Ed (515) 771-7606.
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
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1962
REMEMBER WHEN
T
he New Yorker, sophisticated, urbane, and what is on the cover? Bowling. Garrett Price whose work graced the magazine’s cover 99 times, keeps it impressionistic, but there is no doubt that everyone bowls. Leafing through the March 24, 1962 issue, one will not find any reference to bowling. Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana” and Garson Kanin’s “A Gift of Time” with Henry Fonda would be there. Movies such as “Judgment at Nuremberg” and “A View from the Bridge” are listed along with books and eateries. Any reference to bowling is nil. But maybe none is needed. The cover alone notes bowling’s popularity. In 1962, ABC membership rounded at 4,500,000; WIBC membership topped around 96,000; and the number of ABC/WIBC certified bowling lanes hit 163,323 with 11,453 centers. ❖
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