International Bowling Industry December 2012

THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING

CONTENTS

VOL 20.12

6 ISSUE AT HAND

26 COVER STORY

Adopt a Ship

Fairytales do Come True!

By Scott Frager

The anxiously awaited opening of Splitsville is a dream come true.

By Fred Groh

8 SHORTS • Varsity Ridge bowlers march to save their center.

• BVL contributes to veterans on a grand scale.

• CA Bowling Writers launch 9th Phone Cards for the Troops.

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32 FEATURE The Imperfect Perfect Storm Hurricane Sandy was a true monster, but she couldn’t scare the bowling industry.

Compiled by Patty Heath

By Mark Miller

36 PHOTO ESSAY

14 SPECIAL INTEREST

Trade Show Wrap Up

Fueling Bowling in Bartlesville The corporate-owned bowling center at ConocoPhillips is filled with history and is still an integral part of its culture.

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The East Coast and West Coast trade shows were filled with fun and information. Take a peek at what we saw.

By Chris Holmes

By Robert Sax

46 REMEMBER WHEN

20 CENTER STAGE

1964

By Patty Heath

Garage Bowling Gets a Tune-Up at Seattle’s Newest Hot Spot

By Anna Littles

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Chris Holmes holmes@bowlingindustry.com

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Gregory Keer keer@bowlingindustry.com

OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com

CONTRIBUTORS Fred Groh Patty Heath Chris Holmes Anna Littles Mark Miller Robert Sax

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com

ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424

FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)

12655 Ventura Boulevard Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 789-2695(BOWL) Fax (818) 789-2812 info@bowlingindustry.com

www.BowlingIndustry.com

HOTLINE: 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, 12655 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604 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:

35 Datebook 38 Showcase 39 Classifieds 27

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THE ISSUE AT HAND

Adopt a Ship Part of the legacy of being a child of someone in the bowling business is that they are guaranteed the opportunity to stop by at least one bowling center, in every city, wherever they visit, especially on a family vacation!

My two boys, Joey and Sammy, recently vacationed with me in San Diego and, true to form, the road led us to Admiral Robinson Lanes at the Naval Base San Diego.

Since my boys love these center visits as much as their dear old dad, I was spared the classic, pre-teen rolling eyes routine. Being escorted onto the base and visiting a beautiful 40-lane center filled with sailors, marines and dependents was a thrill unto itself. Adding to the excitement was news that Dom Deluca, general manager of Admiral Robinson Lanes, was able to secure a private visit aboard a true Navy warship, the USS Boxer, docked here at the home for the entire U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

The USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, has an amazing pedigree protecting our nation and is home to more than 3,000 sailors and marines. (Google USS Boxer to learn more about the ship.)

We were introduced to Chris, the Fun Boss. Yes, that’s his official title. He’s one of only two civilians living on board and is

attached to the ship to help provide for the morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) of the sailors and marines during their deployment at sea and on land. Keep in mind that this is no pleasure cruise. Chris explained how important MWR is to our fighting men and women who are away from home six to seven months at a time.

We toured the ship’s impressive MWR facilities which included a fitness center, DVD and CD library, mess halls, etc. We saw where a basketball hoop can be installed over the main flight deck when the Boxer-based Harrier jets and helicopters are not active.

We saw virtually every type of sport and related equipment available in the storage locker, save one . . . bowling.

But not for long!

I have ordered a Bowling for Veterans Link Bowling Carpet Lane kit that will be delivered just in time for the holiday season. Along with the carpet lane, and with the help of the CA Bowling Writers, we will include 100 calling cards giving deployed soldiers a chance to call home during the holidays.

There are about 180 ships in the Pacific Fleet from aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, destroyers, assault ships plus 2,000 aircraft and 140,000 sailors and civilians. Join me in my new mission to outfit every interested ship with a BVL Military Bowling Carpet Lane kit.

Check out our forum online at www.BowlingIndustry.com or www.BowlForVeterans.org to learn how you and your center can bring smiles to those who give so much to their country.

– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR frager@bowlingindustry.com

THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com The Holidays are fast approaching and with them another year! Looking back, this year has been one of accomplishments for IBI Online. As of this moment, there are less than a handful of new members away from #2,000!

In 2012, IBI Online has more than doubled its groups—BECs, associations, as well as manufacturers and pro shops—with all aspects of the business of bowling taking part. Fred Kaplowitz has kept readers on point with relevant blogs. Forums have prompted responses from all corners of the industry. Photos and videos inspire, entertain and inform.

IBI Online has grown! You, the members, have trimmed the proverbial Christmas tree with your membership and involvement.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year! Oh go ahead, treat yourself – GO BOWLING! 6

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GOODWILL CENTRAL

SHORTS There is no end to the efforts to help others, and bowling centers through the U.S. participate in these worthy causes. See what your neighborhood centers are doing.

Cherry Hill Lanes, Clarkson, Michigan: Disaster Relief at Work (DRAW) Buckets held a “Bowling for Buckets” to help people displaced by national disasters. Greg Martin, founder of DRAW said, “What we’ve found is that people hit by these unthinkable tragedies don’t see themselves as victims. They see themselves as survivors. Anytime that our first response teams can help these people in the recovery process, whether we’re providing supply buckets or we’re showing them that they are not alone during a tough time, it is an honor. We never cease to be inspired by those who persevere through these kinds of struggles.”

Pla-Mor Lanes, Watertown, New York: The family of Christopher Rumney held a benefit hoping that their community could “spare” some change to help raise $10,000 they need to buy a van with a wheelchair lift. Rumney has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. The family has been trying to save for three years.

Sarasota Lanes & AMF Gulf Gate Lanes, Florida: These two centers hosted a Strike Out Breast Cancer event with proceeds earmarked for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Strike Zone Bowling Center, Huntington, West Virginia: First Stage Theatre Company, a local nonprofit which provides children opportunities to participate in the performing arts, hosted a bowl-athon for its upcoming production of Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr.

Don Laughlin’s Riverside Lanes, Laughlin, Nevada: As a way to help prostate and breast cancer research, the Lousy Bowler’s Tournament, for bowlers with averages under 176, welcomed more than 60 lousy bowlers. Preceding it was the Better Bowlers Tournament for averages over 175. Aleda Parker and Jane Agnello were the lousiest. Everyone bowled for bragging rights with cancer research the winner.

Facenda-Whitaker Lanes, East Norriton, Pennsylvania: The Alexandra Pierce Angel Foundation held its Third Annual “Bowling for Babies” fundraiser.

It is one of the primary sources of funds to cover the expense of the Foundation’s Annual Diaper Drive.

Columbus Square Bowling Place, Columbus, Ohio: The main fundraiser for the Helping Hands Health and Wellness Center is Bowl to Help. Present to meet and greet participants were former world heavyweight boxing champion James “Buster” Douglas and Ted Williams, the former resident of the streets of Columbus who has come to be known as “The Man with the Golden Voice.”

Shady Grove, Gaithersburg, Maryland: Washington Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander hosted his fourth annual celebrity bowling benefit to raise money for underprivileged youth in the D.C. area.

Helping Alexander were fellow Redskins players and Antwaan Randle El, a former Redskin now with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The event will benefit Alexander’s ACES Foundation and El’s El Foundation.

Lucky Strike Lanes, New York, New York: A high profile event hosted by actor Paul Rudd was held to support Our Time, which helps children who stutter.

There is always room for your center’s events. Email IBI at heath@bowlingindustry.com or call (818) 789-2695.

PEPSICO DIGITAL MARKETER JOHN ROSS SET TO DELIVER “ THOUGHT LEADER” PRESENTATION AT BOWLING SUMMIT BPAA announced the booking of PepsiCo Digital Marketer John Ross to speak at a “Thought Leader” presentation and discussion at the 2013 Bowling Summit to be held January 2730 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the San Antonio Riverwalk in Texas. Bowling Summit is a strategic mid-winter conference for bowling center proprietors, managers and industry leaders, offering education, networking and industry insights on new and upcoming products.

According to a BPAA press release, “Ross will discuss digital trends seen in businesses across the country and discuss the PepsiCo overarching digital strategy, including real-time marketing, research and hyper-local tactics for engaging customers.”

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Ross has over 13 years of experience in the social media space. Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA shared, ”In this session, we’re providing proprietors with a chance to learn from one of the top experts at a leading Fortune 500 company and John brings a wide array of knowledge from digital marketing to social community management and website relaunches.

His insights will be valuable in helping proprietors understand how to better utilize their own social media platforms to drive bottom line growth and further meet the needs of their customers.”

SHORTS

Taking it to the Streets Supporters of Varsity Ridge try to make their voices heard regarding the demolition of their bowling center.

The demise of a bowling center often times is heartbreaking. Not everyone benefits from new buildings and retail developments. A community’s recreation and socialization can get lost in the shuffle.

Varsity Ridge resides in the basement of a 62-year-old building which also houses a theater in the city of Vancouver, BC, Canada. In 1962 there were 25 bowling centers in the city, today only four. If plans go as they have been approved, there will only be three.

Cressey Developments, after buying the property for $15 million, proposed a five-story complex with retail on the main floor and condos on top. Neither the surrounding neighbors nor the bowlers of Varsity Ridge took kindly to the idea. To bring attention to the matter, in mid-October, approximately 50 protesters lined up behind a guy dressed as Peter Pin and marched to city hall.

Mel Lehan who organized the protest said, “You have so Led by Peter Pin, protestors march to city hall. many people who rely Photo credit: Ward Perrin, PNG on this.” He would Story information: John Mackie & Mike Hager, like to see the city Vancouver Sun come up with a revised plan that would retain the bowling center and theatre as a community amenity from the developer. “Once it’s gone, it’s history, because you can’t build another bowling alley; it’s just not viable with real estate prices in Vancouver.”

After heated discussions and much pondering, the development permit board approved an amended four-story condo building that would demolish Varsity Ridge. However, they did see fit to chide Cressey Developments for a lack of community consultation. Cressey will reconfigure its plans but could not save the bowling because underground parking was needed for condo residents and customers of a proposed grocery store.

Ken Hayden who owns and operates Varsity Ridge says he is working on an alternative plan. “We’re going to talk to the parks department in the city about maybe building a city-owned bowling centre,” he said. The city of Langford, outside of Victoria, did something similar which has been very successful. At this point, however, it is just wishful thinking.

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PEOPLE WATCHING Ebonite International announced that Jim Cormier will join the organization as its new Vice President of Global Marketing.

Cormier has 25 years experience in the Sporting Goods industry. He will work closely with Bob Reid, recently named Vice President of Global Sales.

“I am beyond excited to join the Ebonite International family,” Cormier shared. “The bowling community is a tight-knit, passionate group, and I’m honored to join Jim Cormier the industry leader.”

Ebonite International CEO Randy Schickert believes Cormier’s experience in marketing top sporting good brands will be a plus for the marketing team. “Jim’s experience dealing with teaching pros and specialty pro shop owners will fit well into bowling,” Schickert explained.

BVL ANNOUNCES A SUCCESSFUL

2011-2012 SEASON

Bowling again confirmed its collective commitment to the nation’s service men and women by increasing its annual contributions to Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL). During the 2011 – 2012 season, leagues, associations, bowling centers and bowling’s corporate partners donated almost $800,000 to BVL, approximately $500,000 of which was raised by state and local USBC associations. BVL dollars pick up where government funding leaves off, providing recreational and therapeutic programs and services that speed recovery and improve morale.

California local associations dominated the list of the topranking local association contributors with five in the top ten. On the state level, contributions climbed with more than $72,000 donated from centers during the 2011 – 2012 season as compared to $13,000 raised during the 2008 – 2009 season, when centers first answered the BVL call for support.

The top five contributing states were, in order: California $142,187.02; Virginia - $39,577.78; Georgia $33,954.00; Minnesota - $23,954.00; and Texas - $24,940.59. On the center level, Brooklyn, NY-based Maple Family Lanes for the third year in a row headed the list, followed by Don Carter Lanes Group in Illinois, Bowland Centers in Florida, Thunderbird Lanes in NE Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Broken Arrow Lanes in Oklahoma.

A complete list of contributors for the 2011-2012 season can be found at www.BowlforVeterans.org.

SHORTS

EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS Pro Bowl West, a 56-lane center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been purchased by David Small. The seller was Dr. Robert Cornfeld. Small also owns Star Lanes, a 24-lane center in Lafayette, Indiana. Sandy Hansell and Associates, Inc. served as the broker in the transaction.

Pinstripes has submitted plans to create a bowling center and restaurant on the bottom floor of the Georgetown Park Mall in Washington D.C. There would be 12 lanes, five bocce courts, banquet rooms and seating for 100 in the restaurant.

Pinstripes has other centers in Minnesota and Illinois.

The mall is currently undergoing major changes and the bowling complex would replace the Pinball Museum. The final hurdle will be approval by the DC Zoning Commission. As with change, some reservations have been voiced by residents of the condominiums on the top floor of the mall fearing noise and reverberations from the bowling.

A new face and name for Ventura Bowling Center in Ventura, California, is in the offing. The center has been a fixture since the 1940s and as Ventura Bowling Center since 1957. Discovery will be the new moniker and with it a boutique environment with nine bowling lanes, shuffleboard, a lounge area and a restaurant serving local beer and food, plus accommodation for 160 people in a banquet space.

The plans were submitted by twins Joshua and Jeremy Pemberton to the city’s Design Review Committee and approved less live music which would have delayed the approval.

However, it is not yet a done deal as Katy Higgins who runs Ventura Bowling Center has not been notified. Higgins is on a month-to-month lease. So once again, oldstyle versus new-style is at a crossroads. “My landlord has not given me any notice,” Higgins said. “If it happens, many of the leagues and bowlers from the past 17 years will be disappointed. It’s not final yet.” If all goes as the Pembertons hope, early November will be the start date with completion and a reopening in January 2013.

Century Lanes in Holland, Michigan, has found a new way to use space and build business. Phil Huffman, executive manager, recently knocked down the pro shop and office space to make a VIP bowling area for hosting parties.

The idea was to help keep the lanes occupied during the slow summer period.

Clients can reserve six bowling lanes, socialize, listen to their own music, watch music videos, and, for business outings or team-building exercises, conduct a PowerPoint presentation. Orders can be taken for a buffet-type meal from the center’s full menu. There’s a wall separating the VIP area from the rest of the lanes, but if need be, a large section of it can be opened up for league bowling. Four other bowling centers in Michigan have created similar VIP areas.

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LOVED ONES PHONE HOME 9th Annual Phone Card for the Troops Drive is on.

The California Bowling Writers have again announced their annual Phone Cards for the Troops Drive. The association has raised nearly $50,000 since 2004.

Nothing could be more heartfelt and appreciated than connecting loved ones deployed overseas with family at home. For children at home, nothing can top hearing dad’s or mom’s voice.

Phone cards go to all branches of the service and are sent to arrive for Valentine’s Day 2013.

Approximately 2400 125- to 300-minute cards have been sent to the military. For information on how to support generically or for particular service people or in memory of a loved one, email lynlymary@surewest.net.

ACE IS NOW IN THE ZONE According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Brunswick Bowling & Billiards has purchased Ace Bowling Center in Montgomery, Alabama, closing its 20-year, nearby location Brunswick Woodmere Lanes.

Brunswick’s Don MacBayne commented that the approach to bowling has changed a lot and now there’s more of a focus on family entertainment centers that offer better food and a smoke-free environment. Ace, which will now be Brunswick Zone, has 38 lanes with major upgrades to take place immediately: new food and beverage options, new automatic scorers, and an increase in its league support and A temporary sign was hung outside promotions such as Ace Bowing Center to announce its Cosmic bowling on change to Brunswick Zone.

Credit: Brad Harper/Advertiser Saturdays.

SPECIAL INTEREST

By Robert Sax

I

t took a winning basketball team to bring a modern bowling center to the Oklahoma oil patch. The Phillips 66ers, also known as the Oilers, were sponsored by the Phillips Petroleum Company and named for its iconic gasoline brand. The team debuted in 1920 and was one of the all-time champions of American amateur basketball. The 66ers were as famous as any professional team in the country, and compiled a remarkable 1,543 to 271 win/loss record before being disbanded in 1968.

Several 66ers players went on to become presidents of Phillips Petroleum. Chief among them was Kenneth S. “Boots” Adams, who succeeded company co-founder Frank Phillips and served with the company for more than forty years. He would become the driving force in the company's support for the team.

By 1950 the popular team had outgrown the high school facility where it played its home games. Adams decided to build a new facility in the showplace corporate headquarters in downtown Bartlesville, Oklahoma. It was to be an elaborate modern facility that included a basketball court, gym, locker rooms, a swimming pool and… a bowling center.

The bowling center became home to the Phillips 66 bowling team, which competed against teams from the many other oil companies located in Oklahoma at the time. From 1950 until the early 2000s, the center hosted annual tournaments sponsored by the city of Bartlesville. ConocoPhillips currently has no company team, although several employees are active in local tournaments.

To serve as a bit of background, ConocoPhillips traces its beginnings to 1875, when Conoco founder Isaac E. Blake envisioned an idea to make 14

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Dean Piepergerdes is the only full-time employee at the bowling center.

kerosene available and affordable to townspeople in Ogden, Utah. Thirty years later, the foundation for Phillips Petroleum Company began when brothers Frank and L.E. Phillips hit the first of 81 wells without a dry hole. Nearly a century later, the two companies combined their strengths to form what is now the third-largest energy company in the United States. The ConocoPhillips merger, completed on Aug. 30, 2002, paved the path for the company’s current and future success.

From the beginning, Phillips made the facility available as a recreation center for employees of the company, their families and retirees. It’s one of the reasons that Phillips became known as a company that cared, because it promoted the well-being and fitness of its employees.

Over time the fitness center has been expanded to 90,000 square feet, including a fitness center, gymnastic building and group exercise rooms. Today it offers more than 50 land and water exercise classes, as well as league and open bowling. As in its early days, the center is a popular place for employees to socialize.

SPECIAL INTEREST

The Adams Building, where the bowling lanes are located.

"Having a bowling alley at the corporate office has really helped to build a fun and friendly environment for employees to develop interpersonal relationships with their colleagues while promoting health and wellness,” says employee Shaler Tate.

When it opened, the bowling center was one of just two in Bartlesville, Oklahoma's first oil boomtown and a leading energy center of the twentieth century.

The center used pinboys until 1957, when it became one of the first centers in Oklahoma to use automatic pinsetting equipment. The center used Brunswick Model A machines until 1975, when AMF equipment was installed as part of a renovation. The wooden lanes were rebuilt at that time, as they had been refinished so many times that “they had been sanded down to

the nails,” says bowling lanes manager Dean Piepergerdes.

Piepergerdes, 59, is the only full-time employee at the bowling center and the heart and soul that keeps it running smoothly. He manages it with the help of several part-time employees, whom he trains.

An experienced mechanic, Piepergerdes maintains all the bowling equipment and cleans and conditions the lanes. He also sells bowling equipment and supplies, and fits and drills bowling balls. Piepergerdes promotes and supervises league play and other bowling activities, and is part of the overall team that runs the wellness facility.

As a teen, Piepergerdes worked in an appliance store for local businessman Ted Schwermer, who also owned two small bowling alleys in Bartlesville. In 1976 Schwermer decided to close his bowling alleys and build a new, larger center. He planned to switch from Brunswick to AMF equipment and wanted new mechanics. Piepergerdes had demonstrated good mechanical skills working at the appliance store, so Schwermer sent his own son and Piepergerdes to the AMF school in Ohio to train as bowling mechanics.

In 1979 Phillips was looking for a mechanic for its bowling center. His father had worked for Phillips Petroleum for 42 years in Kansas City, Missouri and Bartlesville, so Piepergerdes applied. The company usually

hired from inside, but Piepergerdes was the most experienced mechanic in the area and he got the job.

He didn’t intend to make the job a career, but he liked the place, worked hard, and became the center’s sixth manager in 2002. “I never thought of working to retirement in a bowling alley,” says Piepergerdes, “but it’s a great job with great benefits. I know everybody, and I really enjoy the people and the environment.”

As busy as he is, Piepergerdes still finds time to bowl regularly, playing in two leagues. He has bowled ten 300 games and an all-time high series of 843. His current average is around 200.

The bowling center has 12 wood lanes and is located in the basement of the Adams Building. There is no room for expansion, so it does not have such typical additional features as an arcade, pool table, bar or 16

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SPECIAL INTEREST fundraisers there, one for Big Brothers Big Sisters and one for The United Way. The bowling center provides a fun place for current and retired employees to meet, with benefits for both. “The evening leagues allow you to bowl against some senior bowlers who are willing to share the stories of years past. Some great and funny stories have been told,” says ConocoPhilips employee Cyndi Hayes.

It’s the stories that may make the ConocoPhillips bowling center unique in the The lanes as they looked pre-1975.

restaurant. It was redecorated in the early 2000s and has a clean, traditional look that harkens back to a simpler, quieter time before glow bowling, powerful music systems and big screen TVs running live sports.

This center may be “just for bowling,” but that doesn’t keep people away. In fact, after a decline in use in the 1980s and 1990s, bowling is again on the upswing at ConocoPhilips. The company has been hiring many new employees out of college, and they like to bowl on lunch or afternoon breaks, says Piepergerdes.

"Having a bowling alley at work is obviously an uncommon luxury, and one that affords me the opportunity to bowl during my lunch hour without taking time away from my family,” says employee Andy Applebaum. “The cost is a fraction of what other bowling alleys charge and the environment is clean, smoke-free and very friendly."

Employee Dave Brieback has bowled in center leagues for more than 15 years.

“It is so much fun to bowl a noon league or a league right after work. You get to bowl with co-workers, retirees, or other workers in different parts of the company. When I meet other people in other companies and we talk about our recreation facilities and I mention a bowling alley they all say ‘Wow, you have to be kidding me. That is so awesome.’"

The center is home to many private and corporate events, and is more popular than ever for birthdays and other types of parties. It is also used frequently for company teambuilding events. ConocoPhilips also holds two big, annual bowling The lanes from 1975-2000.

How the lanes look today.

country. On the one hand, it’s a piece of living history tied to the company’s early days and famous basketball team. Yet it’s more than a museum, because it’s a place where past and present employees can become friends and share the experience of working for ConocoPhillips.

Of course it doesn’t hurt that it’s always been a fun and easy place to bowl, thanks to a famous basketball team. ❖

Robert Sax is a writer and PR consultant in Los Angeles. He grew up in Toronto, Canada, the home of five-pin bowling.

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CENTER STAGE

Bowling Gets a Tune-Up

At Garage in Seattle, a longterm renovation has materialized into a hip, trendy boutique bowling experience that stays true to its roots.

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CENTER STAGE

By Anna M. Littles

P

ulsating in the heart of downtown Seattle's trendiest neighborhood is forty thousand square feet of night life known simply as “Garage.� But this Garage is pumping with people not cars. Managing partner Mike Bitondo laughs at how many times he’s returned calls for reservations and people mistake him for their mechanic.

Open seven days a week, Garage is more than a hip venue; they consider themselves representative of the best Seattle has to offer.

Bitondo is proud that his is a service focused business; and his staff works hard, are very engaging and provide great service. Hospitality drives this place!

Garage is a bar and restaurant. Bitondo emphasized the importance of people knowing that the business is primarily from the bar, secondarily food and thirdly gaming. When they opened in 1996, they were a bar and restaurant that incorporated billiards. In 2008 they completed a 13-year expansion by adding bowling lanes along with more bar and cocktail space. In the area of gaming, they offer a huge pool hall and 20 lanes of bowling that is split into three

Owner Jill Rosenast with her husband Alex (R) and manager partner Mike Bitondo.

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CENTER STAGE

different areas on multiple floors. As part of their expansion, they added three private rooms which enabled them to offer a lot of different spaces of varied sizes to their clients with the focus of their business on corporate and private events. The market has come to demand and expect that level of entertainment.

Garage is perfectly located in a very diverse neighborhood in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Bitondo describes the demographics as a beautiful mix of a hip and relaxed corporate culture, thanks to Microsoft and Starbucks to name a few. And being sandwiched between two colleges is a plus. Décor, ambience and food make the entertainment experience key. The design is industrial in style, which is very Seattle. The building is nearly 90 years old, and when they renovated, their whole concept was to stay true to 1950s retro. Garage is designed to be in a different era with a much older feel.

As for food, they have three menus. The bar menu is standard pub fair i.e., burgers, fries, etc. The dinner menu is a simple twist on classic American food such as veggie enchiladas, pork tenderloin and filet mignon. According to Bitondo, “It’s basically going into a nice restaurant to enjoy a great meal; the only difference is they serve these wonderful meals with a bottle of wine or a cocktail while you play billiards and bowl.” The third menu is designed for banquets and buffets for groups which can be as large as 1200 people.

Newsflash! If you live in or visit downtown Seattle, leave your car; let hospitality and great service drive you to the place where you are most welcomed - Garage.

When you walk through the doors, you immediately feel welcomed and comfortable. At the end of the day, isn’t that what it’s all about? ❖

Anna M. 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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COVER STORY

By Fred Groh

G

uy Revelle, co-founder of Splitsville, doesn’t remember when, but he thinks talks about putting one of his bowling centers into Walt Disney World were initiated on the Disney side.

Splitsville’s other co-founder, Mark Gibson, isn’t sure who approached whom, but as he recalls discussions got serious toward the end of 2008 and the beginning of ’09.

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“I think it was one of these things where somebody said, ‘Disney would like to talk to you about working on something with bowling’,” Revelle says.

Disney decided it wanted Splitsville—that much is clear.

“At Downtown Disney, we are always looking for exciting and new experiences for our guests and Splitsville feels like a perfect fit,” remarks Keith Bradford, vice president of

COVER STORY the dining/shopping/entertainment promenade in Disney World, Orlando, where Splitsville will soon settle in.

“The initial discussion was pretty generic,” Gibson reports.

“They wanted to know why we thought our concept was differentiated, why we thought it could perform well over extended periods of time, how we thought it would be attractive to locals versus tourists, to a family versus an adult.

Kind of picked our brain as to why we’re doing what we do, why we think it works, and why we think it could survive the test of time.”

“The main thing,” adds Revelle, “was taking such an iconic building, a former Virgin record store, and having to retro fit it. And being in the heart of Downtown Disney, they wanted something really special.

“It was looking at how can we do this on two floors ght, from left to ri son. instead of one? How many lanes? How can we handle e, ar e ill sv it ners of Spl d Mark Gib The partner/ow Guy Revelle, Ed Droste an the number of people who will come through e, lt hu Dave Lagesc Downtown Disney so the waits aren’t too terribly long? What type of food? What do we take from the original Splitsville? How do we ramp it up for Disney customers?

We cater to families and kids, and team-building and convention parties, but we also cater to the late-night and more of the adult business. It was trying to bring that all together.”

Three years and “tons of meetings” later—“we just kept talking and figuring out how we were going to get this thing done,” Revelle says—a spectacular showcase for bowling will open this December at Walt Disney World Resort, arguably the nation’s most spectacular tourist destination.

The newest Splitsville will be about double the size of the original in Tampa and the other locations in Miami, Dallas and Fredericksburg, VA: 50,000 square feet, including 5,000 square feet on a third level for offices and storage. Both customer levels will have a kitchen, outdoor seating (for about 50 on the first floor, 100 on the second), and a front-of-house sushi bar.

Decor will be “retro and hip.” Revelle says they’d like to go with old-time masking. “At Splitsville, we don’t do the big masking units like all the big bowling centers and some of the other boutique centers do. We have Gold Crowns in Tampa.

We’ve used the old star shields. At Tampa, eight of our lanes have above-ground ball returns. When we opened, we had all these girls, our servers and bartenders, this young crowd, and they’re like, ‘That’s the coolest thing yet!’ We’re still trying to work it out at Disney.”

Ordinary bowler seating is replaced at Splitsvilles by what the partners call pod seating—basically high-top and mid-top seating similar to banquettes. The concept has changed somewhat since the first Splitsville in 2003 but it’s still designed to resolve what Gibson and Revelle regard as a problem in bowling: “getting up and down from low chairs. This way, you can slide in and out of a booth,” as Revelle describes it.

“The menu was developed in Tampa, kind of for Florida, so it works,” Gibson reports. Everything except entrees and entree-size salads will be sharable.

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COVER STORY “The original thought was if people are bowling or waiting to bowl they’re going to be very active, moving around a lot, socializing. So we thought sushi, pizza, appetizers, sliders. But [in case] people want to have it served entreestyle, the servers and bartenders will query them at the table. We may trim down a few items so you’ll have the best of the best, but for the most part the menu won’t stray too far from what we’re doing in Tampa.”

Other operational decisions the partners are pondering include time bowling, a change from other Splitsvilles.

“I think at peak times—most evenings and weekends–it’ll have to be hourly just in order to get the most customers through the process and on the lanes as possible,” muses Gibson. “During the daytime, we could potentially do per-game.

We don’t want to make it too difficult for people to understand [the pricing], so we’re trying to not change the vocabulary too much for customers.”

Every Splitsville has a greeter who meets the customer, but depending on how busy the night is he may be stationed at the Welcome Center, where house policies are explained, reservations are made and bills are paid. At Disney, a greeter will be at hand daily to supplement a fully staffed Welcome Center.

Staff at Disney will number between 250 and 300, Revelle is guessing.

And then there are the lanes.

They are part of a new relationship between the bowler and the spectator that Revelle and Gibson are creating at Splitsville.

Airway Lanes Waterford, MI (40 Lanes)

An artist rendering of a bowling area.

At Disney, 30 lanes all told, but not in-line or divided between private suite and public lanes. They’ll be in clusters scattered around the floor. “There’s a bank of four over here, another bank of six, another bank of four over there. You’re not just lined up with a bunch of other bowlers. You’ve got your own little area, your world,” Revelle explains. Ten lanes will be downstairs, 20 upstairs.

But not everybody is bowling. Some are just eating or drinking or hanging out. Maybe that’s all they want to do. Those folks can take a seat at one of the tables between the lanes.

Choose mid-lane or near the pindeck.

“Think of bowling,” says Revelle. “You’re always looking at the backs of heads. You’re not really getting to see people bowling. But to be able to be eating and drinking and having fun halfway down the lane and watching people bowl at you, to see the ball go past and break the pins, to see the bowlers’ faces and the high-fives, the cheering, the fun where they’re looking at you—it makes you feel like you’re bowling whether you’re picking up a ball or not. It makes you part of the action.”

Could this the next big change for bowling?

We congratulate Jim Selke on his purchase of this fine center and thank Sheryle and Gary Benning for trusting us to handle the sale.

We wish Jim, Sheryle and Gary all the best.

Bowling’s Only Full-Service Brokers, Appraisers & Financial Advisors 28200 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI 48076

(800) 222 • 9131

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When we talked with Revelle and Gibson, the construction crew was busy on the build-out. Demolition had been completed and the workers were busy infilling. Elevators and escalators had been ordered. Final-permit paperwork had been submitted to Disney for approval.

“We’re sitting back right now,” Revelle told us. “We’re comfortable with the stores we have. They’re doing well.

We’re concentrating on Disney because it’s such a big deal. We’re always looking for great premiere locations, but we’ve

COVER STORY

An artist rendering of the reception area.

got a lot of our company going into the Disney [project].”

Besides the four Splitsvilles, the partners have Stumps Supper Club, a lunch and dinner restaurant featuring Southern cooking, “deep-fried dancing” and live music; Tinatapas, a small-plate Spanish concept, named for Revelle’s wife, Tina; and Howl at the Moon, a dueling-pianos bar and joint venture with Cincinnati entrepreneur Jimmy Bernstein. The three properties are in the Channelside development in Tampa, along with the original Splitsville.

Revelle and Gibson graduated from Wake Forest together in the mid-’80s and immediately plunged into the bar business, Gibson the “brains” and Revelle the “heart,” as Revelle puts it.

“Together we make a human. If we were both like Mark we wouldn’t have any sales. If we were both like me we wouldn’t have any money in the bank.

So we’re really a strong partnership. He handles a lot of the legal stuff, leases.

We both deal with operations and real estate. And I’m more the concept/marketing guy.”

Ask Gibson for his take on the partnership and he will give as good as he gets. Revelle, he informs us, is “outgoing, big personality, works long hours, never met a person he didn’t like. There [are] the number guys and the marketing guys and the world’s generally divided in two. He’s always out there promoting, selling, pitching something. He’s head cheerleader.”

Revelle may have the last word when he says, “My joke is that I have no responsibility here whatsoever. I’m a coach, and I’m going to hook you up with my right team member that’s going to get you everything you need.”

Their first venture was a daiquiri bar in 1990. It was in Key West and called Fat Tuesday. But the bar had no food menu and “we saw that to have sustaining power in this industry, you have to do food and do it well,” according to Revelle. “That’s when we turned the corner.”

On the other hand, “We’ve always been good with entertainment, whether it’s been DJ music, live bands or bowling. We feel that takes us to a different level, puts us in another category than just restaurateurs.”

Splitsville, bringing together both specialties and adding bowling, started out on a bar napkin. Revelle knows that’s a cliché about entertainment businesses but in Splitsville’s case, it was true.

“A large space was open in Channelside where we already had two locations. Somebody had gone out of business. We said, ‘What could we do with this big space?’ We were with our other two partners, just talking.

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Somebody threw out, ‘What about bowling?’ I said, ‘Has anybody done bowling where you didn’t have all the lanes together, where they went at it from a food and beverage standpoint?’

We didn’t have a bowling alley in my hometown in North Carolina so I was not a big bowler.”

They leased the space and turned to the problem of columns standing everywhere. Where could the lanes go? “Our architect was like, ‘You want me to do what?’ ‘Just play around with it. See what you can get done.’” The clustered-lanes concept was born. “We said, ‘What if we put a bar right here between the lanes and a dance floor?’ When we first went to Brunswick, they thought we were crazy.”

Naturally for a company whose mission statement for Splitsville is “reinventing bowling for America,” Downtown Disney looked to the partners like a great fit. “In a good way, it’s kind of over the top, which is what you would expect at Disney,” says Revelle.

Mark Gibson adds, “Disney is one of the most unique places on the planet and [in] a bowling and broad-based entertainment context, I think Splitsville is one of the most unique entertainment offerings. Disney is all about creating memories and for a family or a couple visiting Orlando, [Splitsville will be] a great way to spend an hour, an hour and a half creating memories and having a great time.”

“When Mark and I started, the goal was to make sure we laughed every day and build something we could be proud of. One of the slogans we’ve used is, ‘It’s L&D—not life and death, but lunch and dinner—so let’s have some fun with it,’” Revelle says.

“I had a friend of mine who told me about this book, The Simple Truth by Alex Brennan-Martin.

He went to Houston, started Brennan’s of Houston. It’s a small bar but it made a huge impact. When you get ready to come into management at any of our businesses, you have to read The Simple Truth. Everybody’s got their mission statement, but what’s your simple truth?

Why are you in business? Why are you here?

“Our simple truth is: giving permission to have fun.” ❖

Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and former managing editor of the magazine.

FEATURE

The prediction was for Hurricane Sandy to be the “Super Storm of the Century.”

And super storm she was. While the storm left a mound of misery in its wake, the bowling industry stepped up and answered the call for thousands in need.

By Joan B. Taylor

S

he was called many names, from “Superstorm” to “Frankenstorm” but clearly Hurricane Sandy was no lady. Her siege ran from cutting off electricity for extended periods of time and creating floods and fires, to moving and trashing entire houses and shoreline amusement parks.

Bowling centers along the Eastern Seaboard were especially impacted. Then again, out of adversity came strength and compassion, nothing new to the bowling industry and community.

THE GOOD

Frank Wilkinson, proprietor of Rab’s Country Lanes on Staten Island downplayed any inconvenience, and in fact, was at the center every day during the six days that the power was out. He said, “We are lucky. The center is in a mandatory evacuation Zone A, so we closed down the Sunday prior to the storm (October 28th), canceling leagues until the storm passed. We had no damage, either. There was a tree down in front of the building, so big deal. I can’t complain, compared to others’ [losses].”

Right across the street from the center were stores and restaurants that were severely damaged. The older buildings had 10-15 feet of water.

What started as a simple Facebook page request from Rab’s mushroomed beyond Wilkinson’s wildest imagination. “Tuesday (October 30th) after the storm we discussed holding a collection later that week. Then we would take all the items and donate them to a local shelter. I came in every day at 9 a.m. We announced that on Wednesday we would be taking in items between noon and 4 p.m. By 4 o’clock we had about 100 bags of clothing, cleaning supplies, food… well you name it. The shelter said they couldn’t [physically] handle any more donations. Then one 32

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of our assemblywomen asked if we would be a distribution center.” He laughed, “I knew how to market, promote and manage but now I learned distribution, collection and logistics.”

They delivered the 100 bags directly to a devastated area, where Frank saw firsthand that others were already there, handing out food and clothing. “These were our customers, family, friends stepping up and helping out. Then I got a text message from the bowling center, ‘Help! Help! Help!’ About 60 volunteers had come to the center with donations that took up the settee areas and our entire concourse. By Friday we moved our ‘operation’ onto the sidewalk. To date we are still receiving ‘care packages’ from Minnesota, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Cars, vans, and tractor-trailers are still delivering to us.”

Fank’s prominence in the community made him a natural leader after the hurricane. Before the drive started, people asked the center where they could send money for the relief effort. Wilkinson posted information on his Facebook page indicating a local venue specifically for the “Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund” with the notation that “All money will stay right here on Staten Island to directly help those in need. Contributions can be sent/brought here to Rab's Country Lanes.” Another note on the page indicated that “The Thursday Night Mixed League pledged $1680, a week’s worth of prize money, to

FEATURE damaged by the hurricane, has asked if we could lend them our four meeting/party rooms in Sea Girt as temporary classrooms. And today I see flyers in our Linden Lanes operation asking bowlers to donate non-perishable food and other items for a collection to be sent to New Jersey in a center victims.”

THE BAD, SOMEWHAT

The overwhelming response to Frank Wilkinson’s Facebook plea for donations.

Rab’s Hurricane Relief Efforts.” One comment suggested that all of Rab’s leagues do the same.

“It made me so proud to be a Staten Islander,” Wilkinson said.

Steve Groce, Director of Operations for Nationwide Bowling Centers, a chain of 11 centers, said that 10 of the 11 lost power “at some point.” Their Linden Lanes and a few surrounding businesses “were like an oasis in the desert. We had power and people came in to get their electronic devices charged. On October 31st, there were no unused outlets left in the building. But I saw something more. Over the 20 hours a day I was on site, people came in, not only for the electricity, warmth and maybe a hot meal, but also to commiserate with us [our staff] or each other. We became like [disaster] counselors. The bar was filled. Some people even walked to the center. I’ve been through hurricanes in Florida, but this was different because people up here weren’t used to such an experience. They had to deal with the lack of or restricted water and gasoline issues. On my way here I passed three houses, all with trees that had fallen on them. The destruction was overwhelming.

So they needed a place where they could be comfortable, at least for a while.”

Even in living though all of the destruction, Steve feels grateful. “In all, though, our centers were fortunate. Some of our signs were gone and latticework around the air conditioners in our Sea Girt center came off. Probably the most significant was Hudson Lanes in Jersey City, which was impacted by a tree falling on a transformer. The utility company men working on that were from New Mexico.

They apologized for not being able to fix everything quickly. I thanked them many times over for just being there.” The bowling center chain has been called on for community outreach as well, in a non-traditional fashion.

“St. Rose’s School in Belmar, a shore community severely 34

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Possibly the worst devastation occurred in Manhattan at New York’s trendy Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex, which included a 40- lane bowling center in its lower level. That level also included a golf driving range and ballroom, all of which were ruined. Chelsea Piers was built along the Hudson River in 1994 and the bowling center hosted large corporate parties, a constant stream of celebrities bowling recreationally, and provided a location for a music video featuring pop star Justin Bieber.

On October 31st, the water came in, first from three to four inches and them from three to four feet within 40 minutes. The Chelsea Piers’ Facebook page has announced that the center will rebuild immediately “and be ready by December 1st.” How this is possible is unknown, but it clearly shows the strength and determination of the organization to get back to normal.

Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, New Jersey, lost power for two weeks and had to basically rewire the entire 82 lane center in time for upcoming tournaments as well as its leagues.

They were back and running by November 13th.

In Connecticut, Ken West, Executive Director for the Connecticut Bowling Proprietors Association said he did a survey and found that most of their centers sustained minor damage, but the biggest issue was having no power. Nutmeg Bowl in Fairfield lost power for a week. On the other side of the spectrum, Rip Van Winkle Lanes in Norwalk went only one day without electricity. AMF Saybrook Lanes had a tree fall in front of the center’s doorway, missing the building altogether. Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center lost Distributing items to Cedar Grove Beach Residents in need two days after the storm with Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis.

FEATURE power and had “minor water damage.”

John LaSpina, head of the Maple Family Centers, said that there was initially "very light" bowling activity at his Rockville Centre Lanes, which is about six miles from his hometown of Long Beach.

"Since Rockville Centre has its own power company, we've been inviting people to bowl a free game, charge their batteries, and get warm."

Woodmere Lanes on Long Island “miraculously” had power and invited people to come in and charge their devices “but we do not have Internet.”

They also ran a special of $10 per person to bowl for two hours, which included rental shoes.

Kathleen Leitgeb, Executive Director for the New York State Bowling Proprietors Association said that the ramifications, both good and bad, went beyond a center’s damage or lack of power. “In the early days after the storm, when people couldn’t get to work because of closed roads or issues with their homes, if a bowling center was up and running in their neighborhood, it was a place to get a hot meal, charge their phones, and go bowling. Rockville Centre Lanes in New York asked its customers for canned and household items to gather for the hurricane victims who lost virtually everything. Some centers offered coupons and reduced rates. Most kept in touch with the public through their Facebook pages. “But even when electricity returned,” says Kathleen, “there were areas where the employees couldn’t come in. For example, Frame’s Bowling Lounge in Madison Square Garden only lost power for a short duration, but its employees come in by subway, and that system was completely down because of flooding.

In other cases, the bowlers themselves couldn’t get to the center because of downed trees which closed off access roads, or they had to stay home and cope with their damage, so even with a fully-staffed operational center, the

league attendance was impacted.”

THE UGLY

The expression “aftermath” is pertinent here, as many centers did the math afterwards and calculated the lost revenue for a week or two, on the average. Craig Born, manager at Boonton Lanes, a Nationwide center in Boonton, NJ, said that in addition to his in-center Pizza Hut throwing out about $2,000 worth of food and ingredients, his Monday and Tuesday league schedules were thrown off because they are already not bowling over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. “They are talking about bowling a shorter season because of the session(s) they lost when our electricity was out during the hurricane. That will generate even more revenue loss for us.”

THE CALM AFTER THE STORM It seems that the centers all did what they had to in order to cope with outages and minor damage, provide for their bowlers and the surrounding community, and collect for victims. While Hurricane Sandy did her best to discourage the human condition, the bowling industry once again rose to the occasion with open arms. Hell and high water came and went, and the bowling industry was there to answer the call. Bravo to all of the heros in the hard hit areas who were able to help ease the suffering of their neighbors and community. It is truly heartwarming to see the best shine. ❖

If you would like to donate to the effort, you can do so by texting the Red Cross at 90999. By texting to this number, you will donate $10 to the cause. The charges will appear on your phone bill.

Joan Taylor is a multi-award winning bowling writer based in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

DATEBOOK

DECEMBER 2–8 2012 International Senior Open Red Rock Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV Joan Romeo, (310) 749-1345 romeotmt@me.com 3–7 Brunswick GS Pinsetter Maintenance School GS Pinsetter, Muskegon, MI 800-937-2695 or schools@brunbowl.com 4-6 TrainerTainment Sales Summit Speed Zone, Dallas, TX Info at www.trainertainment.net 6-9 Jayhawk Pro Shop Training Lawrence, KS Info at www.jayhawkbowling.com 800-255-6436 10–14 Brunswick Training Classes Vector Scorer, Muskegon, MI 800-937-2695 or schools@brunbowl.com

JANUARY 2013 27–30 BPAA 2013 Bowling Summit Mid-Winter Conference for Proprietors, Managers & Industry Leaders, Hyatt Regency at Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX www.bpaa.com/Summit

APRIL 21–23 71ST Annual BBIA Convention Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Biloxi, MS Info: 800-343-1329

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PHOTO ESSAY

From East To West, ctober was a busy month on the road for Team IBI. Being a top sponsor for both the East Coast Bowling Centers Convention and West Coast Bowling Convention, our crew was living out of their suitcases for most of the month. All in all, it was a antastic experience getting to meet with our readers and learn about exciting new ideas and products that can improve a center’s business. Check out some of the photos from our travels and be sure make plans to join in on the fun next year!

O

ECBCC The hot new item of the show was Bowling Buddies which are designed to lower your rental shoe cost and increase your bottom line.

The magnificent Revel Hotel in Atlantic City was the new home for the East Coast Bowling Centers Convention.

At your service: Frank DeSocio (L) and John Harbuck (R) of Strike Ten Entertainment and Chad Murphy (C) of the BPAA have many programs to bring more business to your center.

Norm Duke gets the crowd going with an incredible through-the-legs shot for a strike!

Glenn Hartshorn and his son Ken from New Center Consulting showcase their new Touch Desk III software.

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PHOTO ESSAY

Bowling is the Best!

WCBC Willie King (L) and Jim Decker (R) head up the WCBC organizing committee for a successful show.

Being in Las Vegas for the first time, the WCBC wanted to do it with style and chose the Red Rock Hotel and Casino as the host.

Dessert Solutions delivered the WOW! Factor with their new Bowling Pin dessert holder.

Both events held a variety of seminars designed to help improve center's operations and bottom line.

Miller High Life was on hand to promote their new partnership as the Official Beer of Bowling.

Sandi Thompson (L) and Hank Malatesta (C) present Scott Poddig (R) with the Ellio “Al� Malatesta Service Award for his tireless volunteer work on for the WCBC. IBI

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SHOWCASE ATM FEE ALTERNATIVE

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Buy an ATM and now you’re stuck with higher fees? There is an answer. Credit Card Industry can help you reprogram your ATM. With just a few quick keystrokes, you can save money and receive CCI’s amazing service. Just ask Pismo Bowl in Pismo Beach, California! Call Sargon Givargis and have him walk you through it. CCI has been helping bowling centers for 15 years.

Let them help you today. (800) 528-1782.

The iTeller II is Intercard’s newest automated payment kiosk. The benefit for operators is that the detailed reporting the kiosk provides enables them to monitor the usage and success of each promotion. New this year on the iTeller II, an optional 23-inch monitor that can replace an existing illuminated marquee. The monitor is an outstanding way to broadcast center activities, advertisements for upcoming specials, partnerships with local vendors, and other marketing initiatives. Visit www.intercardinc.com for more information.

Ideal E-Commerce is a cloud-based online commerce solution that unlocks online revenue streams as well as customer service and promotional opportunities for amusement businesses.

Combining Ideal's Online Ticketing, Hosted Reservations and Online Retail capabilities, Ideal E-Commerce makes it easy for customers to make purchases through your website. To learn more contact 800-96-IDEAL or fecsales@idealss.com.

LEAGUE HOTLINE

FUN ATTRACTIONS

ENERGY SAVING LIGHTS

PHONE APP 4 UR CENTER

League season is here and Qubica AMF understands your busy schedule and center needs. In response, they have created the League Hotline. You can now email questions about setting up leagues in BLS in Conqueror Pro–like how to set–up a 2 x 2 league, restart a league from last year or reset leagues–and you'll get a response within 48 hours. The best part–it's FREE. Simply send an email with your name, center name, contact number and question to LeagueHotline@qubicaamf.us.

New high efficiency retrofit kits-fits most lights, easy to install! Take advantage of energy rebates, incentives and tax credits while they are still available. Please call Industrial Lighting and Sound at (800) 8759006 or visit www.industriallightingandsound.com.

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Tired of the old "shake and guess" method of trying to determine how much beer is in a keg? The Keg Scale gives managers the “beer facts” they need to stop bartenders from giving away unauthorized free beers, skimming cash, carelessly pouring beer down the drain, drinking on the job and "forgetting" to ring in draft sales. On sale this month for only $229.

Special price includes free software and UPS ground shipping.

Learn more about this profitable opportunity online at AlcoholControls.com or call 800-285-BEER (2337).

IBI

December 2012

Prime Play is the world leader in the design and manufacturing of active family attractions, specializing in BallocityTM, Soft Contained Play, Sky Trail® Ropes Courses, Cushie Collection, CTS Zip Lines and more. The products are designed to accommodate high capacities in limited spaces, ensure valuable retail space remains, encourage extended stays and increase Food and Beverage, premium birthday party and other event spending. For information, visit www.primeplay.com or call 604.232.4505.

BowlingCenterApps.com develops custom mobile apps for bowling centers and companies. Within just 2-3 business days, your center can have its very own app that works on all smartphones, and includes unlimited text message marketing. Provide bowlers instant access to schedules, rates, contact information, GPS directions, and app-only specials, plus massive exposure on Google Play Market. All this for less than a cup of coffee a day! Call 855994-2777 or visit BowlingCenterApps.com.

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.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN

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CLASSIFIEDS

AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY ALL AMF BUMPER PARTS, XS Q-BUMP, DURABOWL AND GEN II IN STOCK

SEL L

BUY

Danny & Daryl Tucker Tucker Bowling Equipment Co. 609 N.E. 3rd St. Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-4018 Fax (806) 995-4767

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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Bowling Parts, Inc. P.O. Box 801 Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-3635 Email - daryl@tuckerbowling.com

www.tuckerbowling.com

CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT FOR SALE FOR SALE: 11 ea. 28” Fenice monitor boards for Qubica automatic scoring. In working order when removed. $250.00 ea.

Call Hillcrest Lanes (419) 675-6214.

HARD TO FIND PARTS: AMF Automatic Scoring. (712) 253-8730.

EVERYTHING MUST GO! 16 lanes: 82-30s; Qubica Bowland Scoring; air-powered aluminum gutters, QBump system; 8 AMF Sur-Pic (13) ball returns; 82-8 original AMF Radar Ray foul lines; wood lanes & approaches; spare parts. Everything works GREAT! Contact Bob (845) 292-6450.

FOR SALE: 20 ea. Wells-Gardner 28” monitor boards for Qubica automatic scoring. $200/ea. – in working order when removed.

Call Autumn Lanes (828) 286-9149.

MUST SELL! 10 synthetic lanes/approaches, Qubica scoring, Brunswick A-2 jet back pinsetters, ball returns, Kegel Kustodian, spare parts, house balls, kitchen equipment & MORE! Call Kathy (805) 794-6639.

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

ARE YOU A FAN OF BOWLING?

www.Facebook.com/BowlingFan

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 IBI

December 2012

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CLASSIFIEDS ITEMS WANTED “WANTED TO BUY” Older Bowling Shirts. Paying $5 - $25 for button front shirts with embroidery or ink lettering on the back.

HicardVintage@gmail.com (866) 312-6166.

CENTER FOR SALE 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.

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.

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.

WASHINGTON COAST: 8-lane AMF center with automatic scoring & snack bar. Owner contract to buy business for $150,000 and/or lease to buy. Good league base. colrond@centurylink.net.

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CLASSIFIEDS 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.

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, Vadalia: 16-lane center. Low down payment; assume a SBA 4.75% interest loan. Will carry 2nd note on half of down payment. For additional info fax qualified inquiries to (912) 537-4973 or email lmfastfoods@yahoo.com.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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CLASSIFIEDS

"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

SELL YOUR CENTER

(818) 789-2695 MINIATURE GOLF COURSES Indoor/Outdoor. Immediate Installation. $5,900.00 & up.

2021 Bridge Street Jessup, PA 18434 570-489-8623 www.minigolfinc.com

LOCKER KEYS FAST! •Keys & Combo Locks for all Types of Lockers.

•One week turnaround on most orders.

•New locks All types •Used locks 1/2 price of new

All keys done by code #.

No keys necessary.

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

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AMF and some BRUNSWICK PC board repair/exchange. 6-month warranty, fast turnaround. Call or write: WB8YJF Service 5586 Babbitt Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054 Toll Free: 888-902-BOWL (2695) Ph./Fax: (614) 855-3022 (Jon) E-mail: wb8yjf@earthlink.net Visit us on the WEB! http://home.earthlink.net/~wb8yjf/

CLASSIFIEDS 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!

POSITION WANTED SALES POSITION WANTED: 25 years experience; specializing in open bowling. References available. May work on commission. Kevin Malick (863) 602-4850.

Seeking General Manager position— West Coast, Nevada, New Mexico and/or Southern region. 40 years in the industry—owner, GM & District Manager.

Familiar with F&B, marketing, special events and youth programs. Has served on the Indiana BPA Board of Directors for 4 years.

Resume and references available. Rudy Hinojosa (317) 590-5499 or email: rhbowl@yahoo.com.

SERVICES AVAILABLE Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800255-6436 or Jayhawkbowling.com.

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 $378. Visit mcprs.bmamkt.com or call (888) 243-0685.

AccuScore XL & AccuScore BOSS component exchange. (712) 253-8730.

AMF 5850 & 6525 CHASSIS. Exchange your tired or damaged chassis for an upgraded, rewired, cleaned, painted and ready-to-run chassis. Fast turnaround.

Lifetime guarantee. References available.

CHASSIS DOCTORS (330) 314-8951.

SELL YOUR CENTER OR EQUIPMENT

FAST! (818) 789-2695

ARE YOU A FAN OF BOWLING?

www.Facebook.com/BowlingFan

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REMEMBER WHEN

1964 7 -Up used bowling to illustrate “real action” in its September 1964 Life magazine print ad.

The World’s Fair in New York City would be opening in October and 7-Up wanted to invite attendees to its 7-Up International Sandwich Gardens. Bowling was at its peak of popularity the world over so tourists would “get it.”

51 million people attended the World’s Fair held April– October 1964 and April– October 1965.

The Theme was “Peace through Understanding.”

Could we go so far as to suggest “Understanding through Bowling” might have also worked? ❖

Illustrator/artist Bob Peak, 1927-1992, is known as the Father of the Modern Hollywood Movie Poster—Camelot and My Fair Lady are two of his most familiar. His work could be found in Time, TV Guide and Life. Peak’s sense of color, texture, design and style make 7-Up’s Get Real Action bowling ad a visual experience.

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