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The World's Only Magazine Devoted Exclusively to the Business of Bowling

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4

6THE ISSUE AT HAND

A Round tripBy Scott Frager

8SHORTS

Re–educating lenders...Jayhawk marks 50...and peoplewatching

14MY PARADISE

Summertime, and theweather is just right

for beating the blahsat Cherry Grove Lanes.

16PROFILE

A pair of ringersIn horseshoes, that’s

two of the best. They’re thespirit of Chatham Bowl.

20COVER STORY

Bell sounds for Round1Next month, Japan’s

leading bowling chainopens the first of 100

projected U.S. centers.By Fred Groh

34

CONTENTS26THE ATTIC TRUNKSurf’s up for bowlingin MiamiBy Dick Evans

33OFF THE CLOCKRolling towardTallahasseeWill Floridians vote forthis man?

34BOWLING GAMESAntique shopDid you try this bowling funwhen you were a kid?

46REMEMBER WHEN1947The “man’s magazine”came with a double doseof bowling that October.

37 Showcase

38 Datebook

39 Classifieds

VOL 18.7THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING

IBI July 2010

20

26

PUBLISHER & EDITORScott Frager

[email protected]: scottfrager

MANAGING EDITORFred Groh

[email protected]

OFFICE MANAGERPatty Heath

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTORDick Evans

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTVictoria Tahmizian

[email protected]

ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTIONDesignworks

www.dzynwrx.com(818) 735-9424

FOUNDERAllen Crown (1933-2002)

13245 Riverside Dr., Suite 501Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

(818) 789-2695(BOWL)Fax (818) 789-2812

[email protected]

www.BowlingIndustry.com

HOTLINE: 888-424-2695

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy ofInternational Bowling Industry is sent free toevery bowling center, independently ownedpro shop and collegiate bowling center inthe U.S., and every military bowling centerand pro shop worldwide. Publisher reservesthe right to provide free subscriptions tothose individuals who meet publicationqualifications. Additional subscriptions maybe purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50per year. Subscriptions for Canada andMexico are $65 per year, all other foreignsubscriptions are $80 per year. All foreignsubscriptions should be paid in U.S. fundsusing International Money Orders.POSTMASTER: Please send new as well asold address to International Bowling Industry,13245 Riverside Drive, Suite 501, ShermanOaks, CA 91423 USA. If possible, pleasefurnish address mailing label.Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2010, B2B Media,Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprintedwithout the publisher’s permission.

MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:

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THE ISSUE AT HAND

Anthony Bourdain has it all. He’s got the rough-and-tumble looks

that all the ladies like and a rock-starattitude that travels with him everywhere.He’s funny, he’s smart and he’s irreverent.Bourdain’s an extremely talented chefand a successful restaurateur. He is thequintessential celebrity chef and oneof my favorite authors.

He also hosts a television show, NoReservations, in which hetravels to all corners of theplanet searching for thebest of the culinary arts.He mainly stays away fromthe touristy destinationsand sterile restaurantsfeatured in your standardtravel guides, however. Hegoes where the locals go,getting to know food asthe locals know it, immersing himself.“Be a traveler, not a tourist,” he says.

This past month, my wife surprisedme with tickets to hear Mr. Bourdainspeak at UCLA. The 2,000-seat venuewas packed as tightly as a tin ofSpanish sardines. His larger-than-lifepersonality came across loud and clearas he told stories of his travels andshared his feelings about family, food,business and how these are inextricableelements of our lives.

During the evening, Bourdainreferred over and over to the amazingfood culture of Japan. Obviously, it hasmade a deep impression on him. Whenan audience member asked what hislast meal would be on Death Row, heanswered unequivocally: sushi.

American business, too, has beenimpressed and changed by Japaneseculture. If you drive a car, own acomputer or TV, have just-in-timeinventory management, fussy quality

control or consensual decision-making, you’ve been affected by Japan.All indications are that now the U.S. bowling world is about to feel

the impact of Japan. Next month Round One Corporation, a Japaneseowner and operator of 107 bowling venues in Japan, is scheduled toopen the first of a projected 100 bowling centers in the U.S. To judgefrom their first location, they are not going to be the traditionalbowling centers we know, high-end boutique centers or American-styleFECs. They are going to be different from all three.

IBI’s editorial chef, Fred Groh, takes readers through the multi-course story of this chain’s background, its present and future. It’s

a fascinating read about the fast-movingcompany that is already neck-and-neckwith Brunswick as second largest chain inthe world and its plans for almost doublingits size.

Will Japan’s entry into the U.S. bowlingmarket have the same lasting effect on thebowling business as it has had in theculinary, automotive and technologybusinesses? We certainly can’t answer atpresent. However, as far as I’m aware, there

have been relatively few foreign enterprises that have entered the U.S.market with the same bold approach as Round Oneis taking.

This is a story that will continue to unfold overthe coming months and years, and IBI is proud tobe the first to deliver it to you fresh from the oven– er, the press.

– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHERAND [email protected]

A Round trip

�THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com

In the video gallery, watch Homerand Marge Simpson. Catch astop-motion bowling promo byan 11-year-old filmmaker. Andtake a look at some new productsif you love money.

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8 IBI July 2010

SHORTSSHORT

New Industry Task ForceWants to Change Lenders’ Minds

The March meeting of MUBIG, the association ofchain owners, concluded with the formation of a taskforce to propose steps the industry can take to improvelenders’ understanding of the bowling business.

The task force, comprising BPAA past-president JoeSchumacker, BPAA executive director Steve Johnson,and bowling center broker Sandy Hansell (Sandy Hanselland Associates, Southfield, MI), held its first meeting bytelephone on June 2.

Schumacker said the task force will outline a documentat the July 24-25 meeting of MUBIG to re-educatelenders and financial analysts. The document willconcentrate on the critical indicators of the revenue-generating capability of bowling businesses. Schumackersaid he personally would want to see such a documentdistributed annually not only to lenders but also to firmswhose industry appraisals are relied on by lenders.

Some basic research for the task force will be doneby Henry Lewczyk, vice president for research at StrikeTen. A finished document on the industry reflectingthat research together with annual financial datagathered from MUBIG members, which will be compiledas of Aug. 1, could be ready for distribution to the financialservices community by early December, Schumacker estimated.

In a letter to Johnson and Schumacker after theteleconference, Hansell suggested four measures for the industry:

� BPAA membership surveys at least annually, focusing onrevenue in the current year compared to prior year, continually

Bowling by Candlelight?

At Splits Kelso, bistro atmosphere in the restaurant and faux Picasso for the lanes.

house, party rooms, and 83 high-end video games round out the amenities.And then there are the masking units. They look like Picasso took a hand.

Quite a change from the mood of the former Hilander, where a full-size carousel drew all eyes.

Ruiz, a Rancho Santa Margarita, CA developer, is partnering in aplanned chain of Splits properties with Bill Kellen, whose AmericanFamily Entertainment Centers designed and operates four bowling andentertainment centers in Western states. Ruiz says he and Kellen arelooking at properties in Cathedral City, CA and Billings, MT.

The look is very different at Splits Kelso from what it was.Revamped and re-opened in March, the Kelso, WA venue includes

10 lanes of youth-oriented bowling lanes – glow and the like – and 13lanes of upscale adult bowling – over-stuffed leather couches give youthe idea. The 13th lane is even more special, set up as a “romantic,candlelit, date-night” lane, says co-owner David Ruiz.

A full-service restaurant that seats 200, sports bar, gourmet coffee

generating fresh data; � Convention seminars to teach proprietors the

best ways to approach lenders;�Circulation of data on bowling’s track record in loan

compliance, especially compared to other industries; � National and regional publicity by Strike Ten

about how well the industry is doing.Schumacker said the mission of the task force is to

launch the re-education program, after which it wouldlikely be turned over to BPAA to continue.

He indicated that the lender education issue wasraised at the July MUBIG meeting by reports fromlenders to several MUBIG members who had appliedfor loans. The reports contained “grossly inaccurateinformation, out-of-date information, misconception”about the industry, according to Schumacker. Hedescribed the situation as a “huge, huge issue for allbowling centers.”

The lender education program is starting out similarlyecumenical. “Sandy, an independent businessmanwithin the industry, MUBIG, BPAA [are getting]something together that serves a purpose for all bowlingcenters, not just MUBIG members,” Schumacker noted.

He said the task force “sort of coalesced” at theMUBIG meeting, where Hansell was appearing to make aspecial presentation. Schumacker put himself up for the taskforce and asked Hansell to participate because of the broker’sbackground in access to the financial community. Johnsonoffered the services of BPAA and his own participation, whichwas also “a perfect fit,” Schumacker said.

Sandy Hansell

Joe Schumacker

Steve Johnson

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tears in their eyes. “No!” they said, “You buildit back up there.”

That’s one of Haynes’ many memories ofhis bowlers who, he says, are the biggestreason he’s sorry to close the old center. Hehas more than 1,000 league players in the 24-lane house, and many of them have beenbowling there “for many, many years.”

He says he’ll miss his employees, too, mostof whom have been on the payroll for morethan 20 years.

The old bowl will become a Spices of Indiagrocery store, moving from another locationin town.

10 IBI July 2010

SHORTS

Check out that footwork, that handrelease. What form! Bumpers? Nah,that’s kid stuff.

Brody Chatterton, four years old, hasa lot of enthusiasm for the sport, too. Hedoesn’t need an audience and he bowlsbetween eight and 12 games when hecomes down to dad John’s center,

Nampa Bowl in Nampa, ID, which hedoes two or three times a week. Brodyonce bowled 22 games in a single day.

Lifetime best game: 108 (no bumpers).Current average: 70 (no bumpers).

Our thanks to Johnie Holwagner,Nampa Bowl’s general manager, whosnapped the picture.

Kid Stuff

66 Bowl in Oklahoma City, OKhas sat next to U.S. Route 66, whichused to be the nation’s main east-west artery, since the center wasbuilt in 1959.

Could that explain why the oldsign out front draws camera-loadedtourists from around the world?

66 Bowl owner Jim Haynes, 78,who is preparing to close the oldbowling center at the end ofAugust, says he doesn’t know thereason for the sign’s popularitywith shutterbugs, but that goes forhis bowlers, too.

When a severe storm blew thesign down about 20 years ago,Haynes remarked in front of someof his bowlers, “Good! Now I canreplace the sign.” But he remembers

Route 66 Bowl to Close;Was Magnet for Shutterbugs

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SHORTS

Bill Supper retired last month as executive director of theInternational Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. He hadserved since last September.

“The official opening on Jan. 25, 2010 ranks as one of mycareer’s greatest moments. Now that it’s up and running, it’stime for me to move on to another phaseof my life,” Supper said in a release.

Supper was deputy E.D. of BPAA beforemoving to the museum position. He willcontinue as executive director of the Billiard& Bowling Institute of America, which ishoused at the International BowlingCampus. He did not announce other plans.

Stefanie Nation is new BPAA Tournament Coordinator.

PEOPLEWATCHING

Bill Supper

Among her responsibilities will be the NorthPointe Insurance Group High School SinglesTournament and the QubicaAMFInternational Family Tournament sponsoredby Georgia Coffee. She will assist incoordinating tournaments for USBC.

Nation has been a Team USA membersince 2005 and was Singles World Champion in 2009. She isa two-time PBA Women’s Series champion.

Max Blumenfeld, a partner in Albany Bowl, Albany, CA, diedin May. With partners John Tierney and Ken Friedman, hebought the bowl in 1985 and had charge of the financial affairsof the partnership. The three went on to buy two other centersin the San Francisco area, since sold.

Stefanie Nation

Jayhawk Bowling Supply went home to celebrate its 50thanniversary in May. That was Royal Crest Lanes, six blocksdown the road from HQ in Lawrence, KS, where Jayhawkfounder Chuck Hardman was hired as the night manager theyear Royal Crest opened, 1959.

Hardman was soon being hit by customer requests for balldrilling, since Royal Crest had no pro shop, explains his sonJohn, who now heads the company. The center’s owners hadno more money for a pro shop, so Chuck swung permission toget a drill jig and put it in the garage at his home and drill ballson weekends and evenings. One problem: he couldn’t affordto buy a ball jig. He did know a bowler in his league who couldmake one from scrap aluminum, however, and word got aroundpretty soon that the new machine was better than what a lotof shops had. One thing – or sale – led to another, and two yearslater Hardman incorporated as Jayhawk.

“It was a hobby that got out of control,” says John, who toldthat story twice at the 50th anniversary. Both times, he wasopening a full day of seminars, packed around golf, a luncheon,two dinners, a bowling tourney at Royal Crest and a couple ofhours of swapping stories in the bowling center lounge afterthe tournament for about 120 who attended.

Brunswick was a major presence, co-hosting one seminar andpresenting another, and taking two booths at the trade showaccompanying the lunch. Other vendors were Kegel, Vantage,ZOT, Jayhawk itself, and a local special effects lighting company.

One seminar, built on an idea of John’s, tipped lane men andmechanics on using ball surface maintenance to match bowlersbetter with lane conditions.

Other seminars included a panel with Jayhawk customersRex Haney, Steve Sempeck and Beverly O’Donnell sharingtheir ideas on creating leagues and other operations issues; apresentation on bowling operations in a lean economy; and aseminar on lane maintenance presented by Kegel.

Asked about his plans for Jayhawk’s next half-century,Hardman said he had two goals. “To offer our customers thebest products and services available. To be able to give mytwo sons the same opportunity I’ve had,” to work in afamily business.

Jayhawk founder Chuck Hardman (left), son John (right), who runs the company today,and John’s boys Nathan and Alex (l-r) at Bowl Expo in 2006.

JAYHAWK MARKS 50

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MY PARADISE

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myparadise

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15IBI July 2010

MY PARADISEMY PARADISE

lan Downs likes the exercise.Running around in the sandkeeps him fit. It’s also the way

he beats the blahs.“Your energy level builds right back

up. You get a lot of adrenaline withthe competition.”

So, not surprisingly, he has played alot of volleyball when he’s beenreally tired. He plays a lot, period. Therule at the sand courts outside hisbowling center (Cherry Grove Lanesin Cincinnati) is, “You play unless thelightning is flashing.”

That means three days of mostweeks for Downs from May toOctober, when the nets come down.He plays men’s quads – that is, fourmen on a side.

His seven regulation–size courtsdraw two thousand players a weekof all skill levels. He put in the firstthree courts in 1996 to do somethingwith the land so the liquor boardwouldn’t take away one of his twoliquor licenses; popular demand didthe rest.

Downs used to play softball tounwind, but the new bats and balls“scare me to death. There’s a lot ofpeople getting hurt. Sand volleyball,you have very little risk of injury at all.You can flat-out dive and you’re notgoing to get hurt. The sand is about14 inches deep.” ❖

A

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even years ago, a couple of kids inrural Chatham, NY cracked up in a carand one died. It wasn’t the first ofsuch deaths in town, which Ted Miner

says have been too frequent since his growing-up years in Chatham. But he, the districtattorney and some religious people theredecided that this time, a real effort would bemade to change things.

It was Lynn Cross, Ted’s better half (hisdescription), who came up with a slogan and

catechism all in one: “‘Kid, I love you. I don’t want you to die.’ What am I goingto do to support that statement?”

It stirred people. There have been no youthful automobile deaths since.Ted Miner owns Custom Overhead Door, a garage door business in

Chatham that grosses in the millions. He runs it from a 16-lane center, whichis attached to the door company’s building, that grosses $200,000. He doesn’tneed the income from Chatham Bowl.

Lynn runs an animal rescue and youth service facility in Chatham called LittleBrook Farm, started 30 years ago. She takes special pleasure in rescuinghorses, many of them turned out of the racing industry and headed forslaughter. The three dozen now living at the farm are the focus of an educationprogram for kids that includes traditional and therapeutic riding instruction.The program serves more than 80 schools and other organizations, makingLittle Brook Farm one of the largest operations of its kind in the state.

There is this in common between the car accident, the bowling business,the door company, and the animal rescue farm: The drive for all four comesfrom two independent-minded people with strong beliefs about the waythings ought to be.

The rescue farm is entirely privately supported. Lynn did not wail aroundand wait for the government.

Chatham Bowl was bought by Ted and Lynn because they thought itshould stay open. It had been owned by Lynn’s parents until her mother diedin 2004, but it was not going to continue as a bowling center if the estate soldit to the highest bidder, that was obvious. The door company was alreadysuccessful. So Ted and Lynn bought the bowl.

There is a lot their bowling center doesn’t have, because Ted keeps itthat way.

“We do not have and never will have automatic scoring,” he saysemphatically. “People listen to older music and they keep their own score.”

It doesn’t have new pinsetters. The Brunswick As are just fine. “A little pat,a little oil here and there, and you’re good to go.” (Well, sometimes Ted doesmake a part in the machine shop.)

In the snack bar, the person who takes your order at the counter turnsaround and cooks it.

The grown-up bar has beer and wine but nothing stronger.

PROFILE

Inhorseshoes,

that’s twoof the best.

They’rethe spirit of

ChathamBowl.

S

Photos by Cristal Wheeler

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PROFILE

There are a dozen or so video games, but not the violent ones.Decidedly and definitely “retro” describes the place in

Ted’s words. The whole town appears to be the same. Dopeople lock their doors? Nope. “You want to leave your keysin the car, you move to Chatham. You want to steal fromsomebody, you’re liable to be found on the side of the roada year later. Not a good idea.”

He doesn’t shrink from the obvious metaphor. “It’s NormanRockwell,” he agrees.

And then there is horseshoes. Patrons can play alongside thecenter. “It’s damn good clean honest fun that isn’t promotedmuch. It’s that get-together that we all remember, growing up,and we’re looking for that to happen again. “

It happened at Chatham Bowl because Ted was wonderingwhat he was going to do for bowling center business in thesummer. He got talking one day in the bar to an older customer.The man was one of a group of friends in their 60s and 70s, onein his 80s, who meet 30 miles away to play horseshoes duringthe winter. The 80-year-old had built a barn for that purpose.

Ted had that conversation one spring. That very year, he andhis son-in-law put in four regulation, lighted horseshoe pits nextto the bowling center and started a league.

“The beauty of it is we have the young ’uns – the 20s and30s and some 40s – out there throwing horseshoes against theold-aged, and most of the time the old-aged are kicking their Ted Miner and Lynn Cross.

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PROFILE

ass. It’s a real homage to experience and an experience-building event for all of them. The old ’uns are finding out theycan have fun and compete, and the young ’uns are finding outthey can have fun and compete.”

Miner has 16 two-person teams on a Wednesday nightleague and a waiting list “a mile long,” so he’s starting anotherleague on Friday night. Play usually starts at 6 and sometimesdoesn’t end until 1 a.m.

The young ’uns and middle-aged often come fromChatham bowling leagues, horseshoes and bowlingboth being hand/eye-coordination games. They’re allweekend horseshoers, Ted says, “thinking they’re hot.Then those old guys come over and show ’em what for.Now they’re coming back each year trying to get [asgood as the older players]. A couple of them havestarted going to their barn during the winter, and theword is out that this year there’s going to be some realcompetition, which I believe.”

Clean competition, one might stress. There is verylittle swearing – one more thing lacking. “The old-timerswon’t put up with it. They’ll just pat you on the hand andsay, ‘Not today.’”

The money seems almost beside the point, but Minerallows “open play” horseshoers to throw for free andcharges league teams $5 per session. That’s put $20,000

on his table that wasn’t there before.The money is irrelevant in another way.Custom Overhead Door, the size it’s grown to be, the

bowling center income – “it’s all been a reflection of our effortto mirror and support Lynn’s effort,” says Ted, referring toLittle Brook Farm. Leading one to think that after all, there isvery little that Chatham Bowl and its owners don’t have. ❖

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20 IBI July 2010

COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

s Round One Corporation putsthe finishing touches to a LosAngeles bowling center it willbegin operating in August,

Hideki Okada says frankly the companyhas been “guesstimating” its firstAmerican store.

That’s unusual because Osaka, Japan-based Round One Corporation owns andoperates 107 bowling centers in the homecountry with (U.S.) $800 million annualsales. Companies of that stature don’tusually do things by halves.

The 70,000-square-foot property willopen after a five-month build-out atPuente Hills Mall in City of Industry, anEast L.A. suburb. Odaka, who runs U.S.operations as corporate executive vicepresident and CFO of Round OneEntertainment, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary,says the store will have 26 bowling lanes,an arcade of about 200 games and abasic F&B operation.

But while City of Industry has a sizableAsian population, no customer-baseprojections were done for a “Round1”-branded facility there, says Okada, whopicked the word “guesstimating.”

“We looked at the property first tomake sure that we can do what we want—the size of the lot, for example, entrancesfrom inside [the mall] and outside, rent persquare foot.”

When “everything matched on thislocation first,” the company did notproceed to demographic studies, either.

“We assumed that because this mallgenerates $100-200 million a year, there’s

This page and on the cover: Round1 Stadiumproperties in Japan climb six stories. First U.S. Round1

is 70,000 square feet on a single level.By Fred Groh

A

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not much research we need to do. We can probably get 5%,6% from that. That’s our target.”

Long-range plans for the U.S. presence of Japan’s biggestbowling chain seem equally offhand, except that thecompany wants to have 100 units. For instance, JapaneseRound1 venues have a minimum 36 lanes of bowling and asmany as 60, while Okada says U.S. locations may or may notremain at 26. “It all depends on the property and how thefirst one goes.”

And while the City of Industry property is “not a test market,we’d like to find out how much revenue we can generate” –in the sense of discovering the number, not driving for it.

What may appear back-and-forth indecisiveness on RoundOne Corporation’s part, however, is actually the blurred imageof a company moving very rapidly, as it has since the foundingin 1993. Four years later, it was listed on the Osaka SecuritiesExchange and the following year, on the Tokyo Exchange. Withcurrent market capitalization of about (U.S.) $600 million,recreation venues bearing the “Round1” sign are secondonly to Tokyo Disneyland in revenue among entertainmentcenters in Japan. The past three years have averaged 10 newlocations annually.

The home-market product is a 24-hour, multi-story venueoccupying about 125,000 square feet. Besides 36-60 lanes ofbowling, it features around 350 games and what might be calledboutique karaoke. Reminiscent of boutique bowling, Round1

puts its karaoke into private rooms. The deluxe version has astage for performers, massage chairs for audience members,and private food and beverage service.

The largest Round1s in Japan occupy six floors, with Spo-Cha, short for Sports Challenge, on the top two including theroof. There patrons enjoy a variety of sports such as soccer andbasketball, tennis and golf, on reduced-size playing fields.

Okada explains that high population density in Japan raisesland value and crowds out full-size playing fields, creatingstrong demand for Spo-Cha. There are no plans for

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COVER STORY

Karaoke is sleek in home country Round1s, both in Stage Room (left)and Standard Room configuration (right). Company aims to make a bignoise with karaoke in U.S. market.

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incorporating it in U.S. venues, he says. “Here you can find asoccer field, football field, basketball, free, so people won’tpay for that. We [will] focus on karaoke, which is not really bigin U.S. yet.”

�•�

While Round One is not “over-stored” in Japan, Okada says,it has conquered the Japanese market. “Now that we have,

COVER STORY

Private party room flows onto the lanes at Round1 in Japan.

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COVER STORY

and facility size at bowling/FEC propertieshere compared to Round1 properties inJapan.

For five years, Sugino made annual visitsStateside, including California, Michigan,Illinois and New York to see bowling facilitiesand FECs such as John’s Incredible Pizza.Other brands were benchmarked forcomparison to Round1, including Dave &Buster’s, Gameworks, and Brunswick andAMF bowling centers.

In a maiden sortie, property waspurchased on Oahu, Hawaii on the theorythat a Round1 would do a brisk businesswith Japanese tourists to the Islands. But ona second thought that it would mostly havenovelty value, Sugino sold the property andset out to investigate the mainland.

He “didn’t really find anything interesting,”Okada relates. Games, including bowling,were a small component of the mix in whatSugino saw, or the brand was predominantlyF&B. He considered the purchase ofoperating bowling centers, but decided infavor of building his concept, if not hisbuildings, from the ground up.

California was selected for the firstincursion because of population. A million

our president was looking for a new place to start his concept.” The reference is to Masahiko Sugino, 48, the company’s founder. About 51%

of Round One Corporation is held by his family, enabling it to move quickly whenSugino wants it to.

In a shadow of things to come, he started in 1980 with two projects indifferent cities, a roller skating rink and an arcade in a bowling center. Eighteenmonths later, he added bowling to the skating rink.

Various world markets were considered for the expansion outside Japan, Okadareports. The gavel finally fell in favor of the U.S. because of the similarity in revenue

The ambience for darts and billiards at a Round1in Japan.

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COVER STORY

people live within a 20-minute drive of the first U.S. store.

�•�

Okada says future Round1s here will also locate in malls,because that way the company can benefit from the marketresearch the mall developer has already done.

They will offer staple bowling alley food and nothing more,at least to begin with. Again the oddity of a move is belied bythe strategy behind it. Malls already offer multiple F&B optionsfor Round1 customers, he points out.

Yet Okada concedes that the F&B – or lack of it – may putRound1s at a competitive disadvantage.

“I know in the U.S. the average bowling center’s revenueis about 30% from the food. We [will] serve pizzas, hamburgers– American food basics – but we want to focus onentertainment. We don’t do [extensive F&B] in Japan. Wedon’t have know-how about food. Probably a disadvantage,because many people say – and I partly agree, but we haveto go on strategy – that food is a very important componentof a center.”

Food is “something we have to test out,” he finishes. “If wethink food is important, for second store we [will] makeadjustments.”

Okada is uncertain whether his company will have acompetitive advantage in the perspective of its fresh arrival inAmerica. Initially, “we just want to bring as-is from Japan.”

That means a family-friendly policy will prevail during the dayand an adult focus in the evening. Leagues will be part of thepicture, as they are in Japan, although Okada notes that mostbowling leagues in Japan “tend to stay in the old bowlingalleys.” Game play will be paid via membership card. Thecustomer will lay out $5 for a year’s enrollment and getimmediate discounts intended to pay back the price of the cardin one visit.

On the other hand, the U.S. prototype already incorporatessome “customization” for the new market. Kids’ birthdayparties will be a major focus, being “very important” in the U.S.Sixty percent of the 200 or so games at a U.S. location will beredemption. And decor is being seasoned to the American tasteby the U.S. contractor for the build-out, Brunswick’s Build toBowl program, and one of its suppliers, CornerstoneArchitecture of Oklahoma City.

Puente Hills should occupy Round One for about sixmonths – or maybe three, however Sugino decides – beforeexpansion begins in California. “From the companymanagement point of view, it is a lot easier to manage withinone state,” Okada observes.

Five or six properties are projected for California, followed bymovement up the West Coast. From there, Round One headseast, into the country’s midsection. If plans work out, it could alsobe punching into the midsection of U.S. bowling business. ❖

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26 IBI July 2010

here is no question that Miami never will go downas one of the country’s largest bowling membershipcities, but the Greater Miami Bowling ProprietorsAssociation may be No. 1 in the country when it

comes to bowling promotions and tournaments.There are few cities in America that can boast of hosting:� Two WIBC and one ABC national championships;� Two BPAA National All-Stars Tournaments;� Three BPAA national conventions;� Consecutive PBA tournaments from 1964 to 1989;� The inaugural PWBA tournament, the Women’s U.S. Open

and five other PWBA events;· An annual international amateur tournament that started

in 1963 and still is going strong. Miami was a national boom city in the 1930s because land

was cheap and it became a boom bowling city becauseproprietors dared to be promotion-minded and cast theirallegiance with a young sports writer from The Miami Herald.

That association resulted in a Miami Herald Bowler of theWeek award program that ran for almost 50 years, a MiamiHerald Bowler of the Year Tournament that ran for 45 years,a Dade County High School Bowling League, physicaleducation programs at Dade County high schools thatincluded bowling, and The Miami Herald selecting an all-city

bowling team that was invited, with elite players in othersports, to an annual dinner.

A joint promotion between proprietors and the Herald,AMF’s All-America Youth Bowl, may have been the greatestbowling promotion in history. It featured 16 major dailynewspapers, the BPAA local in each paper’s area, and AMF, andran for three years beginning in 1960.

Elimination rounds among the newspaper teams, heavilypublicized in the papers, were run simultaneously in fourregions. After each game, play was stopped and scores werecollected by telephone and compared. The winners fromeach region got a free trip to the Los Angeles finals thatfeatured movie stars at the banquet and a magical day atDisneyland. The next year, reporters and finalists were flownto New York City for the championship. In the last year of theevent, regional winners got a day at the World’s Fair.

� � �

Let’s go back to when I was a young sports writer for TheMiami Herald and, in 1957, was selected to write bowlingcolumns.

I was not a bowler but as a kid I had bowled on two lanesowned by the musicians union of Miami. I also played a fewtimes at a bowling center located across the street from theHerald, where I bowled tenpins on the ground floor and

THE ATTIC TRUNK

Top right: Press courtesy card from the Greater Miami Bowling Proprietors Association

was gold-colored metal, came in a velvet pouch.

Bottom right: In the Captain & Sponsor Tournament sponsored by The Miami Herald

and Brunswick, adult and junior captains bowled with their team sponsors; many captains

took their sponsors to the awards dinner-dance afterward.

TBy Dick Evans

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28 IBI July 2010

duckpins on the second floor.Then there were the midnight sessions our executive sports

editor, Bob Elliott – he once bowled a 299 game in an Ohio statetournament – would arrange at nearby Bowland Lanes. It wasowned by fight promoter, Chris Dundee, who got Liston andClay together for their heavyweight championship bout. Chriswould give the sports writers free bowling and free beer. SinceI didn’t drink at the time, it was not a big attraction for me.

But looking at Bowland’s league scoresheets on the wall oneday, I came up with an idea on how to get the top bowlingscores from each center into the paper and I approached theproprietors because I needed their help.

Each proprietor would appoint someone on his staff tocollect the high scores each week and call them in Mondaymorning for recognition in scratch (men and women) orhandicap (we used a base of 70% of 200 for everyone, no matterthe league rules).

I would pick out four winners and try to get a little informationon each, write a few paragraphs on the player and list all thescores submitted. The weekly winners got Herald Bowler ofWeek patches (as on page 26), and were invited to the HeraldBowler of the Year tournament at the conclusion of the season.The bowlers paid for their lineage and the Herald paid foreight trophies (winners and runners-up).

� � �

A few years later, when I was editor of high school bowling for

the Herald, I came up with an idea for a high school bowlingleague. First I sold it to the athletic director of the DadeCounty school system and his assistant.

Then I had to sell my concept to all the proprietors in Miami.I was amazed the proprietors accepted my concept because

it cost them time and money. Under my program, they had to:� Provide free practice time and free games for matches;� Provide free bowling shirts with the name of their high

school on the back;� Hold an end-of-the year banquet for coaches and the

winning teams plus the most valuable male and female playerat each school;

� Provide trophies for the winning teams and the mostvaluable players in the league.

The proprietors only protested the fact that I insisted it bescratch competition. They wanted handicap competitionbecause they feared one school would dominate for years. Isaid there was no handicap competition in any high schoolsport, and bowling wasn’t going to be the first.

The proprietors and school board agreed and the programstarted in 1964. It proved so popular that a few years later theschool board allowed youngsters to choose bowling as theirphysical education if they so desired. The bowling centerssent their bus to pick up the PE bowlers but unfortunately, thePE teachers didn’t try to teach the kids to bowl during their onegame at the bowling center, and several bowling centersdidn’t provide a coach, so little learning was taking place.

This is the only promotion where I felt Miami proprietors didnot take full advantage of an opportunity to create more juniorbowlers. Maybe they decided the lineage they got for only one

THE ATTIC TRUNK

Top third of a page, Sunday edition, plenty ofkids’ pictures–good ink three days before the firstAll-America Youth Bowl in 1960.

Says Dick Evans about the 1960s, “It was aglorious decade to be a bowling writer for a majornewspaper, especially with all the support I gotfrom the Miami proprietors and The Miami Heraldpromotion department.”

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THE ATTIC TRUNK

game was not worth the cost of the program.� � �

No matter what I asked the proprietors, Ialways got a positive reply.

The Herald advertising department okayedteaming with various bowling ball companies– AMF, Brunswick and Ebonite – on learn-to-bowl programs with the benefits going to theHerald ’s Lend-A-Hand charity. The first big oneoccurred before the 1969 BPAA Convention atthe Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach.

Since the Herald had the largest circulation,I got first pick whether I wanted to tie in withAMF or Brunswick. I picked Brunswick becauseit would send its star players – primarily DonCarter and Marion Ladewig – into each bowlingcenter (no matter what kind of ball returns hadbeen installed) while AMF wanted to go to

Cover of 16-page specialsection on the tourney, writtenby Evans. $100,000 was awhopping prize in 1977.

The Herald’s Bowler of theYear award went to Paula Carterand Wayne Graham in 1981. Itwas the 25th year for the honor.

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THE ATTIC TRUNK

only AMF centers.It was the right decision, but Tom Birks, the bowling writer at the Miami

News, got the last laugh because AMF decided to wind up its learn-to-bowl clinics by televising a scotch doubles match live on local TV. So whathappens? Eddie Lubanski bowls back-to-back 300s and all the proprietorsat the convention are marveling over the unheard-of feat.

The Herald also did bowling clinics before PBA tournaments and

Bowling could still be big news in The Miami Herald in 1992. Brian Voss was joining the crowdin applause as he won the $130,000 Paula Carter Homestead Classic.

Dick Evans has been writing bowling for TheMiami Herald since 1957 and for the DaytonaBeach News-Journal since 1994. He was the printmedia director for the PBA Senior Tour for sixyears and has been writing weekly columnsfor bowling newspapers, magazines andwebsites since 1999.

maybe the largest in history came before a BurgerKing Tournament at Don Carter’s Kendall Lanes in1977. Burger King, which was founded in Miami, andthe Herald decided to team up on a massive learn-to-bowl program featuring pro bowlers on Sundaybefore the tournament opened on Monday.

With the help of Miami proprietors, who spreadthe word to fellow proprietors in Broward and PalmBeach Counties, I lined up about 40 pro bowlers and20 South Florida stars and ran learn-to-bowl clinics

in 30 bowling centers between Jensen Beach andMarathon about 110 miles away.

If I remember correctly, Burger King gave eachpro $100 for working three clinics and most werehappy to do it.

� � �

Finally, how many bowling proprietors would bewilling to turn over their bowling centers for aweek to the promoter of a new event who claimedit “will unite the Americas through bowling”?

But that is what general manager John Smithand later owner Tom Romanik did when Lee Evanscame to them and said he would like to hold his firstTournament of the Americas at their 50-laneCloverleaf Lanes in Miami.

It got off to a small start in 1963 but it grew, andnow it is the oldest annual international amateurtournament in the world.

You might say the 1960s were the decade of theenlightened for bowling in Greater Miami, as thesport grew because of the courage of a handful ofBPAA proprietors.

Unfortunately, the land that they helped makefamous with great bowling events became sovaluable that many sold out and made a heftyprofit. Only Bird Bowl remains from those gloryyears. Matter of fact, it is the only traditionalbowling center (60 lanes) in a county of over twomillion residents.

How sad. ❖

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33IBI July 2010

OFF THE CLOCK

ick Scott is bowling folk once-removed. He partners with LarrySchmittou in S&S Family Entertainment, LLC, dba Strike &Spare Fun Centers, which has 15 bowls in four states.

Scott knew of Schmittou when both were involved withthe Texas Rangers baseball club, Scott as part-owner and Schmittouas vice president of marketing. When Schmittou decided to leavehis 30-year career in baseball as coach, scout and minor leagueteam owner, he approached Scott about getting together in abowling venture.

“It’s hard to say no to him,” says Scott, “he’s such a great guy.”That’s what Scott wants Floridians to think come November. That, and

his being the man with the ideas to straighten out what he believesFlorida citizens are most agitated about.

In order: unemployment is 12%, 40% of homeowners are “underwater”with their mortgages, and the state is $3 billion in the red, a figure heestimates will top $5 billion next year.

Scott, who also heads Richard L. Scott Investments of Naples, FL, hasput his business interests aside to run for governor.

When we sat down with him six days after he announced his candidacy,he introduced himself as a man who has lived the American dream.

“My father was a truck driver and my mom did odd jobs—took inironing, worked at Penney’s, cleaned telephone booths, all sorts of thingsto make a living.” He served in the Navy, married at 19, and bought hisfirst business, a doughnut shop, at age 21.

But if Scott is judging the mood of Floridians correctly, his career inhealth care will weigh much more heavily with voters.

In 1987, he started Columbia Hospital Corp. with his life savings of$125,000 and proceeded to buy hospitals around the country. Ten yearslater, the company (as Columbia/HCA after acquiring HCA, Inc.,owner of 100 hospitals) owned more than 340 hospitals, 135 surgerycenters, and 550 home health locations in 37 states and two foreigncountries, according to Scott’s website www.rickscottforflorida.com.

In 2001, he established Solantic, a chain of venues he calls “walk-indoctor’s offices, basically.” He says Solantic’s charges, which are postedon a menu board in the reception area, are a sixth of ER cost if the patienthas insurance and less than a tenth if he doesn’t.

“I’ve been successful in business,” he says, summing up his bona fides.“I’ve started companies from scratch. I’ve built large companies. I’ve runlarge companies. I know how to create jobs, how to balance budgets,

R

how to get results by holding people accountable.”He’s had experience as an advocate, if not as a

candidate. A year ago he founded Conservatives forPatients’ Rights (CPR), which campaignsat www.cprights.org for a free marketin health care.

Four “pillars” support the campaign:patient choice in doctor and insuranceplan; public pricing, inter-state carriercompetition; equal tax breaks foremployees and employers; personalresponsibility. “If you look at the polls,”

says Scott, “that’s exactly what the American publicwants, and I think that will happen over time.”

If health care remains a live issue as his campaignmoves forward – and at press time, challenges fromthe states showed the issue is still with us – Scott’srecord in health care will stay relevant and may boostone of bowling’s extended “family” a significant waytoward a governor’s mansion. ❖

ROLLING TOWARDTALLAHASSEEWill Floridians vote for this man?

Would a bowling proprietor make anespecially good politician? Sound off atwww.BowlingIndustry.com.

Rick and Ann Scott

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im Krawczyk’s antique bowling games were a hit from day one. Whenhe opened his Krow’s Nest Family Fun Center in Niagara Falls, NY fiveyears ago, he had lines of kids six deep waiting their turn to play.

“I wanted to introduce the kids to what I used to play when I wasa kid,” says Krawczyk, whose personal collection of 11 machines was

drawing the attention and the action. Five years later, they still do as the centerpiece of a family entertainment

emporium that includes a kids’ playground center (tubes to slide in, climbingapparatus, and the like), a 60-game arcade, two indoor batting cages, Build-A-Bear, party rooms and a parents’ area with wine and beer.

Built from 1956 to 1970, first by Bally, the Chicago pinball manufacturer, gamesof this type have a single lane that varies from 10 to 16 feet. The length dependson manufacturer and whether the game is played with a small rubber or polymerplastic ball about 3.5 inches in diameter, or a larger one about 4.5 inches.

The pins–actually, plastic replica half-pins–hang just above relay switches

embedded in the “pindeck.” The ball rollsover the relays, which sends an electricalpulse to the mechanism on the underside,which activates magnets that swing the pinsup and out of the way. The ball drops into areservoir behind the pins, is picked up on achain motor, drops down a hole in the lane,and comes back via an “above-ground return”running along the side of the lane.

To coordinate all this mechanical action, themachine has connecting relays, capacitors,step-up motors and close to nine miles ofwiring coiled inside.

Kids weren’t the only ones who wanted toplay the games, Krawczyk discovered.“Parents would come in and say, ‘Oh myGod, I played this when I was in the war’ or‘I played this in the PX.’”

Krawczyk also brought back the leagues heremembers growing up in the ’70s-’80s.Practically every bar around Niagara Falls

BOWLING GAMES

Did you try this bowling fun when you were a kid?

T

The relay trips on the “pindeck” and the “scorer.”

Underside of the “pindeck.” The ball passing over therelay switches on the obverse side activates themechanism, and the pins retract.

Antique shop

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BOWLING GAMES

had one of the machines, he says, and a lot of bars had teamsthat formed traveling leagues, playing teams at other taverns.It cost $3 to bowl in a weekly session: $1 for lineage (fourgames), $1 for maintenance on the machines, $1 for the kitty.The money was divvied up after 8-12 weeks of play and twoweeks of playoffs.

Men’s and women’s two-person teams make up Krawczyk’sleagues, but kids can also partner with parents. And in theseventh frame, everybody has to carry out oddball playinginstructions like “Bowl between legs, get extra 50 points” or“Switch scores with team of your choice.”

Krawczyk coveted the machines for years before he boughthis first one in 1996. He finds them on the Internet and becauseword gets around that he’s interested, but mostly it takes “awhole lot of luck. You find them all over–in people’s basements,in bars, buildings or deserted areas. A lot of people come acrossthese things and they have no idea what they do.”

Prices range $500-$1,700 for small-ball machines and$1,000-$15,000 for the large-ball version, depending on theshape it’s in and its rarity. Krawczyk figures he will have to spendabout 150 hours after he buys a machine to bring its conditionto the next level, as with the two machines he has in restorationat the moment.

The games cost a dime to play when they were introducedin 1956, and eventually Krawczyk will get back the money heputs into restoring them. But he says he had a passion forthem all the while he was growing up. For Krawczyk, that’s thereal deal. ❖

Part of the lineup at Krow’s Nest.

Restored lane. It’s made of real wood.

Did you play any bowling games off the lanes whenyou were young? Share your remembrancesat www.BowlingIndustry.com.

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37IBI July 2010

SHOWCASE

MINIATURE GOLFFor nearly 40 years, Castle Golfhas been the premier designerand builder of profitable, customminiature golf courses such as therobot-themed 18-hole course atSouth Lanes Bowling Center,Three Rivers, MI. Our unmatched quality and attentionprovides our clients with a competitive advantage in thefamily entertainment industry. For more information, call 800-688-454 or visit www.castlegolf.com.

MONITOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENTNew repair and exchangeprogram from the world leaderin HD LCD monitor replacement sales, New CenterConsulting, Inc. Programs for various components that coverall systems, even the hard-to-fix ones. We specialize inkeeping you in your current systems longer. For more infor-mation, contact Glenn Hartshorn directly at 248-375-2751 orgo to www.upgrademyscoring.com.

CENTER BUILDSBrunswick Build-to-Bowl, the singlesource solution for new center construc-tion and re-imaging projects, provides acomplete line of services from theearliest planning stages through projectcompletion. Brunswick has the ability toprovide consultation and vendor relation-ships for additional entertainment venues, including laser tag,billiards, Virtual Bowling, electric go-kart tracks, water parks,and more. For more information, call 800- YES-BOWL.

HOSIERYeXpert Hosiery’s FunTime FootwearDivision announces its acquisition of thebowling portfolio of Hosiery Mills. Welook forward to serving you withproducts second to none and customer service of surpassingquality. “Good pricing, credible company. We’ve been ahappy customer for two years,” says Joe Schumacker ofSchumacker & Co. in Davie, FL. Call Karen Conder to discusshow FunTime FootWear can help you. Call 866-469-4097 orvisit www.funtimefootwear.com.

BOWLING BALLThe first asymmetric ball from MOTIVis here, the Cruel™ C51! Packed withperformance, the inner core createsan RG of 2.48, .060 Diff, and .030 MBDiff on the 15# model. New Formula-5™ Reactive Hybrid cover providesan incredibly strong reaction and combines solid black withsmoke pearl coverstock components. Box finish is 2000 WetSand to provide a strong reaction with plenty of continua-tion. For more information, call 800-235-8324 or visitwww.motivbowling.com.

LANE CLEANERNew from Felix Erickson, ourSuperStar100, a 100:1 concentrated lanecleaner packaged in convenient quartbottles. A little goes a long way. And likeall products from Felix Erickson, servingthe industry since 1926, SuperStar100 isguaranteed to perform to your completesatisfaction. For more information, call 800-445-1090 or visitwww.festrikezone.com.

PORTABLE PASYSTEMGreat for meetings, events,wherever great sound and rangeare needed. This portable PAfrom The Lighting Store featuresCD player; hand-held, headsetand lapel wireless mics; radiotuner; retractable handle; wheels; and rechargeable battery.For more information, call (888) 746-5483 or go towww.SoundAndLightKaraoke.com.

LCD MONITORSAccuVision LCD Monitors byQubicaAMF are engineered as acomplete system providing a top-of-the-line LCD panel to deliver aconsistent, classic look. Yourscore grid will be correctly fitted on the screen. Monitors areintegrated with TV control. Available with Qubica Bowland &Bowland X, AMF MagicScore, AccuScore I & II, AccuScorePlus & XL, BOSS, Brunswick Vector, FrameWorx, AS-80/90C.For more information, visit www.qubicaamf.com or call866–460–7263, option 2.

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SHOWCASE

CONSULTING/MANAGEMENT SERVICESBarkley Management, provi-ding services forbowling startups and existing operations, hasformed a strategic alliance with Smith Hos-pitality Group of New York with 20+ yearsexperience in food and beverage, high-end customer servicetraining, and nightclub operation. Paul Barkley has operatedor supervised more than 400 bowling centers during 30 yearsin the industry. For more information, go to www.barkley-management.c om or call 602-885-5401.

FOUL DETECTORZOT’s Radaray Plus ConversionKit replaces problem parts (withnewer technology) in aging AMFRadarray Plus Foul Detectors(installed in both Brunswick- andAMF-equipped centers), restoringthem to like-new condition at a substantially lower cost than areplacement unit. For more information, call 800-525-8116,email [email protected], or go to www.zotpinsetter.com.

CAPITAL EQUIPMENTWhen Mike Gibiser wanted toupgrade, only the best would do.That meant 40 lanes of US SteltronicVision/Focus Automatic Scoring, 42-inch high-def monitors for all lanes, and two Front Desksystems to expedite the fun for bowlers. Plus two POSstations for the bar and restaurant to keep the F&B operationmoving. And to coordinate all of it, the back office systemstandard with US Steltronic. For more information, call 800-942-5939 or visit www.ussteltronic.com.

LANE CONDITIONSKegel Lane Precision,™ a new Kegeldivision, introduces Kegel Lane Mapper,™a high-precision machine that provides anew way to view lane surface topographyby capturing approximately 70 times themeasurements taken during lane inspection, in the sameamount of time. With this research, KLP has developed a fastand effective leveling repair process, bringing fairness back tocompetition while making economic sense. For more infor-mation, visit www.kegel.net or call 800-280-2695.

JULY15-17BPA Carolinas/Georgia ConventionCrowne Plaza, Asheville, NC. Howard Baum,910-484-5178, [email protected].

25-28The Bowling Centers Association of MichiganEducational Forum and Trade ShowSoaring Eagle Casino and Resort, Mt. Pleasant. KenProkopec at 630-235-7794, BCAM at 800-833-2695,or visit www.mibowl.net.

29-31Independent Bowling Organization TradeShow & ConventionHeld in conjunction with the GMBCOA. Valley PlazaResort, Midland, MI. Scott, 888-484-2322 orwww.ibo-Show.com.

SEPTEMBER17-19Wyoming Bowling Family Jamboree Sponsored byWyoming Bowling Council Sheridan Holiday Inn,Sheridan. Charlene Abbott, 307-324-3161 [email protected].

21Kentucky BPA annual membership meetingand electionsLocation TBA. Jack McCarthy, [email protected].

23Bowling Centers Association of Ohio executiveboard meeting Embassy Suites, Columbus. PatMarazzi, 937-433-8363 or [email protected].

OCTOBER3-5West Coast Bowling ConventionHarrah’s Harveys, South Lake Tahoe, CA. SandiThompson, 925-485-1855.IBI is the official magazine of the convention.

11-15East Coast Bowling Centers ConventionTrump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ. BPAA, 888-649-5586.IBI is the official magazine of the convention.

DATEBOOK

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CLASSIFIEDS

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

AMERICAN-MADE PINSETTER PARTS– HIGHEST QUALITY. Visit us on theweb at www.ebnservices.com or calltoll free (888) 435-6289.

USED BRUNSWICK PARTS, A2 parts andassemblies. Large Inventory.www.usedpinsetterparts.com.

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CLASSIFIEDS

The leading source for real estate loans with low down payments

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NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment.Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.

Pinsetter Parts New from ALL majormanufacturers. HUGE IN STOCK inventory.USED Brunswick Scoring parts, AS90cameras, processors, lane cables,monitors, and PC boards. Order online @888SBIBOWL.com or (888) 724-2695.The Mechanics Choice!

24-lane Brunswick A-2 package. Automaticoverhead scoring. Brunswick 2000 returns;wood approaches. In operation through2003 season. Available immediately. Makeoffer. (906) 786-1600. Ask for Denis.

Buy or Sell @www.bowlingyardsale.com; one-stopshopping for bowling equipment — fromlane packages to dust mops!

Metro NYC Closed Center: 16 lanesQUBICA Conqueror scoring 98VDBs;8230s/OMEGA-TEK Chassis, BRUNSWICKfront end power lifts, LUSTRE KING w/ZOT;ATM, shoes, etc. Call (718) 715-4333 oremail: [email protected].

16 Brunswick Factory A-2s, 103-000 serialnumbers. Lots of extras. Removed & readyfor shipment. Also, 16 lanes Horizon/Omegamasking units w/ 2 foot upper graphics. Ron@ (605) 237-0288.

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41IBI July 2010

CLASSIFIEDS

CENTERS FOR SALEEQUIPMENT FOR SALE

Complete 32-lane package available:A-2s, Frameworx seating, scoring,masking, synthetics & Phoenix oiler.Still in operation. Call Jim (313) 715-7921.

AMF AccuScore Plus scoring system (28lanes) + 27” overheads, LowBoys, twofront desk terminals with pole displays &back office computer. Availableimmediately. Call John (260) 450-2903.

Small indoor playland (12’ x 12’ x 20’)about 10 years old. Already disassembled& ready to be moved. 40K value; asking7K OBO. Call John (260) 450-2903.

REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details(248) 375-2751.

FOR SALE: Used Smart pindecks with hoods& racks; Master units & AMF auto scoringpackages. Ken’s Bowling Equipment (641)414-1542.

EQUIPMENT WANTED

LANE MACHINES WANTED. We willpurchase your KEGEL-built machine, anyage or condition. Phone (608) 764-1464.

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UPSTATE NEW YORK: 8-lane center/commercial building built in 1992.Synthetic lanes, new automatic scoring,kitchen and room to expand! Reduced tosell @ $375,000. Call (315) 376-3611.

16-lane center in Southern Coloradomountains. Great condition. 18,000s/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, autoscoring, Anvilane synthetics, 82-70s. Greatfood sales. Yearly tournament. Attached,large 3 bedroom apartment w/ fireplace.$550K. (715) 223-8230.

EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA: 6-laneBrunswick center, bar & grill, drive-thruliquor store in small college town. Also, 3apartment buildings with 40 units, goodrental history. Call (701) 330-7757 or (701)430-1490.

SOUTHERN INDIANA (close toIndianapolis): 18-lane Brunswick centerwith lounge, liquor license & movietheater on 4+ acres. Turnkey business.Owner retiring. Great investment! (765) 349-1312.

CENTRAL IDAHO: 8-lane center andrestaurant in central Idaho mountains.Small town. Only center within 60-mileradius. Brunswick A-2 machines;Anvilane lane beds; automatic scoring.(208) 879-4448.

WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM

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CLASSIFIEDS

CENTERS FOR SALE

SOUTHWEST KANSAS: well-maintained8-lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant.Includes business and real estate. Nice,smaller community. Owner retiring.$212,000. Leave message (620) 397-5828.

SE WISCONSIN: 12-lane Brunswickcenter including building, real estate & 7acres. Raised dance floor, grill, pro shop,arcade, tanning room and more.Reasonably priced. Owner retiring.(920) 398-8023.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: 16-lanecenter w/ synthetic lanes, 82-70s, 19,000s/f building w/ lots of parking. Newlyremodeled bar & large kitchen. Ownerretiring. (530) 598-2133.

NEW YORK STATE: Thousand Islandregion. 8-lane Brunswick center w/ cosmicbowling, auto scoring. Established leagues+ many improvements. $309,000. Call Jill@ Lori Gervera Real Estate (315) 771-9302.

NW KANSAS: 12-lane center, AS-80s,Lane Shield, snack bar, pro shop, game &pool rooms. See pics andinfo @ www.visitcolby.com or contactCharles (785) 443-3477.

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SOUTHERN NEVADA: 8-lane center.Only center in town of 15,000. 30minutes from Las Vegas. AMF 82-70s,newer Twelve Strike scoring. R/E leased.Will consider lease/option with qualifiedperson. REDUCED TO $175,000. CallSteve @ (702) 293-2368; [email protected].

MICHIGAN: Brunswick 20 synthetic lanes,Qubica scoring, liquor lounge, full kitchen& outside deck. Needs experiencedoperator. Email: [email protected].

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940

on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: [email protected]

AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • FrameworxSERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL

NEW KEYPADS • FRONT DESK LCD MONITORS

CENTERS FOR SALE

CENTRAL ILLINOIS: 8-lane centerwith AMF 82-70s, full service restaurant,pro shop. Plus pool tables, Karaokemachine, DJ system. PRICED TO SELL.Includes RE. (217) 351-5152 [email protected].

SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING: 12 lanes+ café & lounge, 2 acres w/ 5 bedroomhome. Full liquor & fireworks licenses.Outside Salt Lake City area. Dennis @Uinta Realty, Inc. (888) 804-4805 [email protected].

SW IDAHO: 8-LANE CENTER w/fullservice, award winning restaurant, new lanes& scoring. $500,000 includes equipment &real estate. Nicely profitable. Call Ron @Arthur Berry & Co., (208) 639-6171.

SW WISCONSIN: 10 lanes, newautomatic scoring/sound. Bar/grill. Greatleagues, local tournaments, excellentpinsetters. Supportive community. 2acres off main highway. $299,995. (608) 341-9056.

GEORGIA: busy 32-lane center, realestate included. Great location in one offastest growing counties in metro Atlanta.5 years new with all the amenities.Excellent numbers. Call (770) 356-8751.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: 16-lane centerREDUCED to $799,000 for quick sale.Synthetics, 82-70s, 19,000 s/f + parking.Newly remodeled bar, large kitchen. Ownerretiring. Will consider selling only equipmentor building. www.siskiyoulanes.com. (530)598-2133.

Call(818) 789-2695

Fax(818) 789-2812

E-mailyour ad to:

[email protected]

3EASYWAYS

to place your

Classified Ad in

International

Bowling

Industry

Magazine

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44 IBI July 2010

CLASSIFIEDS

BUY SELL

AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENTCOMPLETE PACKAGES

WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY

Danny & Daryl TuckerDanny & Daryl TuckerTucker Bowling Equipment Co. Bowling Parts, Inc.609 N.E. 3rd St. P.O. Box 801Tulia, Texas 79088 Tulia, Texas 79088Call (806) 995-4018 Call (806) 995-3635Fax (806) 995-4767 Email - [email protected]

www.bowlingpartsandequipment.com

AMF and some BRUNSWICK PC boardrepair/exchange. 6-month warranty, fastturnaround. Call or write: WB8YJF Service

5586 Babbitt Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054Toll Free: 888-902-BOWL (2695)

Ph./Fax: (614) 855-3022 (Jon)E-mail: [email protected]

Visit us on the WEB!http://home.earthlink.net/~wb8yjf/

2021 Bridge StreetJessup, PA 18434570-489-8623www.minigolfinc.com

MINIATURE GOLF COURSESIndoor/Outdoor. ImmediateInstallation. $5,900.00 & up.

PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70S.S. & M.P. MACHINES

Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. BoardExchange & Repair!

A reasonable alternative forChassis and P.C. Board Exchanges

MIKE BARRETTCall for Price List

Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576

WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM

NE NEVADA: New 2001. 16 lanes, 19,200square feet, 1.68 acres paved, sound &lighting, lounge w/ gaming, arcade, fullservice snack bar & pro shop. Call (775)934-1539.

NORTHWEST LOUISIANA: 12-LANEBrunswick center. REDUCED TO SELLNOW! Includes auto scoring, glow bowling,pizza, large dining area & video poker. Goodincome. Long Lease. Great opportunity. CallMike (318) 578-0772.

NW INDIANA (Lake Michigan/NationalLake Shore area): Well-maintained 32-lane center, family owned & operatedsince 1997 with spacious nightclub loungeon 6.6 acres. Also billiards, arcade, proshop, full-service restaurant, establishedleagues, birthday party activity & MORE!Owner retiring. Reasonably priced. (219)921-4999.

CENTERS FOR SALE

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45IBI July 2010

CLASSIFIEDS

CENTERS FOR SALE

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: One ofthe top five places to move! Remodeled32-lane center. Good numbers. $3.1mgets it all. Fax qualified inquiries to (828)253-0362.

NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor &Bowling. Established 8 lanes between Mpls& Duluth w/ large bar, dining room,banquet area. Two large Stateemployment facilities nearby. High sixfigure gross. 3-bdrm home included.$1.2m. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089.www.majesticpine.com.

WASHINGTON: 24-lane, high revenuecenter. Strong league program & openplay. Exceptional food/bar operation.Rental income from adjacent space. GSXpinsetters, Pro synthetic lanes, Touchworksscoring, Frameworx seating. Real estateincluded. Ken Paton (503) 645-5630.

CENTRAL ALABAMA: Recently remodeled,split house w/24 synthetic lanes (16 & 8) in28,000 s/f building in shopping center;Brunswick A2s & 2000 seating; AccuScorePlus; VIA returns & storage tables; systemsfor Cosmic; established leagues; snack bar,pro shop & game/pool table area. Nearestcompetition 28 miles w/ colleges & Hondafactory within minutes. Need to sell due tohealth. Reasonably priced. (435) 705-0420.

POSITION WANTED

Check this out! 30 new leagues, scoresof new parties & fundraisers. Yes, I cando all that plus more. Looking for aBrunswick center in Midwest area.Manage to own. Call Matt (507) 696-1151or Andy (507A) 527-1551.

Brunswick “A” mechanic, 12+ yearsexperience, AS-80/AS-90 scoring systemexpertise. Former owner/GM. Willing torelocate. Contact me at (308) 380-8594.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring BallRepair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-255-6436 or Jayhawkbowling.com.

BUILD YOUR PARTY BUSINESS –Affordably reach people celebrating birthdayswithin the neighborhood of your bowlingcenter. (818) 241-3042 [email protected].

SERVICES AVAILABLE

SELLING, BUYING or FINANCING aCenter? RC Partners can help–we are notbrokers. (616) 374-5651; www.sell104.com.

WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM

INSURANCE SERVICES

30+ YEARS INSURING BOWLINGCENTERS – Ohio, Illinois & Michigan.Property & Liability; Liquor Liability, WorkersComp, Health & Personal. Call Scott Bennett(248) 408-0200, [email protected]; MarkDantzer, CIC (888) 343-2667,[email protected]; or KevinElliott.

TRAINING

BRUNSWICK PINSETTER TRAININGCOURSE – Colorado Springs, Colorado.12-day sessions including hotelaccommodations. Call for [email protected]; myspace –rmgpinsetter.com; (719) 432-5052 or (719)671-7167. Fax (866) 353-5010.

82-30 TRAINING CLASSES. For moreinfo call (513) 594-7791 or email:[email protected].

(818) 789-2695

SELL YOURCENTER

OR EQPT.

FAST!

Page 46: IBI July 2010

IBI July 201046

REMEMBER WHEN

he Man’s Magazine” led offwith a double dose of bowlingfor October 1947: the frontcover and the first page.

Turning to the story on page 28(teased next to the cover bowler),readers found a coupleof amusing anecdotesabout the game, includingexploits of the legendaryconman The Count, andalmost two dozen photoscomparing 3-step and 4-step deliveries. The modelswere, respectively, TonySparando and Joe Falcaro.

The pensmen for the opuswere I.R. McVay and PatMcDonough. Pat founded theSports Reporter, a bowlingweekly today published out of

Secaucus, NJ and still going great guns in its 71st year under Pat’sson, Dan.

Bowling stats for that double-barreled ’47-48 season: 5,747ABC/WIBC houses with 46,004 lanes; 1,235 BPA membercenters tallying 15,688 lanes. ❖

T“

1947

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