Nashville is Next

Pins Mechanical, the wildly successful social and entertainment venture of Rise Brands, will be opening a new location at 1102 Grundy Street in Nashville in the coming months. Next door will be their 16-Bit Bar. They have not announced a specific date yet.

Plans currently call for 6 of the short-style duckpin lanes to be installed, but the building is being designed to allow expansion to as many as 12 if the popularity is there. The locations will also have arcade games, pinball machines, full bar with a large beer selection using the self-pour system, and arrangements with several food trucks which can pull-in to the location.

Williamson Source

September 24, 2019 0

Skyline Lanes in Duluth MN Adds Duckpin

The 50+ year old tenpin facility has recently undergone a $3Million remodel and is set to reopen in late-September. The remodel includes a reimagining of the tenpin portion of the center while adding more arcade games, a very popular virtual-reality game, and a mini-form of duckpin bowling without approaches.

It is interesting to see that a tenpin house has opted to add this to the center. Recent local press coverage described the duckpin game inaccurately, as most do. Skyline’s General Manager, Corey Kolquist, has high hopes for the new games, the duckpin addition, along with the new virtual-reality offering called Hologate. The center has also revamped their menu and expanded their bar.

Although very different from regulation duckpin, could this be the camel’s nose under the tent? The short-lane and no approach version of duckpin might be an excellent addition to an existing center. Depending on how many are installed, kids birthday parties and outings could be hosted on them, which have a significantly lower cost of operation, rather than the regulation lanes. If done right, this could present an opportunity to grow youth participation by starting young ones on them and moving them to regulation lanes as they get older.

Thanks to WDIO TV in Duluth

September 18, 2019 0

Duckpins and Bulls?

Bull and Bowl is a new bar and bistro opening on September 30, 2019, in downtown Austin, Tx. The location will feature a form of duckpin bowling alongside billiards and a mechanical bull. According to an article in Eater Austin, they plan two locations for the venture.

They will offer a full bar and food menu and a suite of entertainment options that also includes private karaoke rooms. Nearby businesses include Japanese restaurant TenTen and a nightclub called Mayfair.

Bull and Bowl is the brainchild and first venture of B&B Hospitality and managing partner Daniel Borelli. It is not related to New York-based B&B Hospitality Group.

September 7, 2019 0

Iowa-based Smash Park Announces Smash Park Social Concept, adds Duckpin Bowling to Activities

Smash Park, an entertainment venue in West Des Moines, Iowa, is moving forward with its franchising plans. At this time, the owners, Monty and Kerri Lockyear, are eyeing potential locations in Omaha, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and several Texas cities.

The owners are also looking to open a venue with a smaller footprint that is targeted more at the Millennial night crowd, potentially called Smash Park Social. These locations would include a form of duckpin bowling and be more focused on indoor games.

They are working on opening up the first of these Smash Park Social locations in downtown Des Moines, with three different spots currently under consideration. They also plan to franchise the Smash Park Social concept.

September 3, 2019 0