Punch Bowl Social to File for Bankruptcy Protection

The entertainment and nightspot company that recently made the bold claim it would become the largest operator of duckpin bowling centers in the USA has recently announced that it will file for bankruptcy protection in the coming days. The move comes as the company has been hit extremely hard by COVID-19 counter-measures and shutdowns across the country.

Majority shareholder, Cracker Barrel, has declined to set in with a cash inducement to help as it is suffering as well. The bankruptcy filing is to give the opportunity for PunchBowl to restructure its debt and, at this point, is not being seen as a permanent closure.

Punchbowl has only recently opened a new location in Miami and has five more locations in various stages of construction. Several existing locations has pivoted to take-out and delivery to help keep some staff employed, but the chain is not setup for this type of business and relies heavily on in-store social participation to drive revenues.

H/T to Restaurant Business Online

Photo from PunchBowlSocial.com

March 28, 2020 0

Punch Bowl Social Brings Its Duckpin Concept to Miami

Opening on Leap Day as the company’s 20th location, Punchbowl Social is bringing its take on duckpin bowling to the Miami area. Located in Wynwood, it is over 23,000 square feet, which includes a bar, restaurant, and the entertainment area.

Punch Bowl’s Founder and CEO Robert Thompson says that it is the duckpin bowling that sets his concept apart from other “social” entertainment venues. “Duckpin bowling uses smaller pins and smaller balls on a full-sized lane. You also get three balls instead of two,” he says. “Honestly, I don’t bowl — it’s not my bag — but I love duckpin bowling.”

The company has set their sights on being the biggest duckpin alley operator in the country. Besides this newest location, there are 6 more under construction and set to open in 2020 and potential plans for over 60 more throughout the USA by the end of 2021.

Started in Denver eight years ago, Punch Bowl Social recently got an infusion of $225 Million dollars from an investment by Cracker Barrel out of Knoxville, TN. This money has been used to obtain new locations, product development, and new concepts. The company made business news recently for closing a new smaller footprint operation in the Dallas area, only 5 months after opening.

In a preview by the CBS’ local Miami affiliate, the lanes were described as “full size”. However, the news video provided make them look more like 40-45-foot long lanes. The pinsetters are the standard string machines manufactured by US Bowling.

Punch Bowl Social duckpin lanes photo by CBS4 Miami

March 3, 2020 0

Duckpins Coming to Wilmington DE

A popular local hangout has closed in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. Ernest & Scotts Taproom, located at 902 N. Market Street in the historic Wilmington Trust building, is closing after eight years. Open Doors Hospitality Group owns it as well as the Chelsea Tavern next door.

The owner has big plans for the 5,700 square foot space with its 30 foot ceilings. This plans include a new identity and turning it into a game-themed eatery and bar, complete with a pinball arcade and duckpin bowling. The new venue will reopen its doors as Wilma’s.

We have been unable to reach Open Doors Hospitality Group for more information, but it is likely that the duckpin bowling will be social duckpin style. We can hope, though, that the size of the space encourages the owners to put in regulation lanes. More likely is that sales teams from the social duckpin companies are lobbying them to go that route and nobody is pushing for regulation lanes.

While the remake is underway, Chelsea’s Tavern will host some of the events that the Taproom was known for, including the cigar dinners and the Cinco de Mayo block party.

H/T to Delaware Business Times and other publications

January 13, 2020 0

Duckpin Returns to Busch Stadium in St. Louis

Until 2008, you could find duckpin in St. Louis. Granted, it was just 2 lanes in the exhibit area of the International Bowling Hall of Fame, but they were real duckpin lanes. Then the Hall of Fame moved to Texas and they didn’t include the duckpin lanes or most of the exhibit. However, in 2013 they installed two of the Highway 66 lanes from AMF/Quibica. They routinely switch up the pins in the machines to demonstrate duckpin, rubberband duckpin, tenpin, and mini-bowling.

Fast forward to 2019 when Ballpark Village, a development launched by the Cardinals and Cordish Companies surrounding Busch Stadium, is signing new tenants to space in the latest expansion. One of those tenants will be Sports and Social St. Louis, a family friendly restaurant and entertainment destination that will feature the currently successful form of short duckpin bowling. Along with the bowling will be foosball, arcade games, ping pong, skeeball, and a live music venue. To date, 92% of the properties in the current phase II expansion have already been leased.

The 9,000 square foot Sports and Social St. Louis is expected to open its doors in Spring 2020, just as the baseball season begins.

November 6, 2019 0

Park MGM in Vegas Adds Duckpin

Moneyline, the sports bar and book, reopened at the Park MGM with a new look and expanded offerings. Those offerings include 2 social-duckpin lanes along with vintage arcade games.

Check them out when you next visit Vegas and let us know what you think.

(From Moneyline website)

October 28, 2019 0

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

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

Charlotte NC to Welcome Duckpin Back to the City

Pinhouse, a self-serve taproom offering the entertainment version of duckpin bowling is scheduled to open on this Saturday, July 27. The business has taken over the old Midwood Cleaners building in Plaza Midwood and transformed it into an adult social destination.

With 6,036 square feet across two stories, they will have self-serve 70+ taps using the iPourIt system, Pinhouse will have four duckpin lanes on the lower level. The business will not have a kitchen, but will have a food truck located on-site.

This region of North Carolina was once a duckpin powerhouse of bowlers and bowling centers. However, when the last remaining center closed in Kings Mountain, bowlers had no options left that didn’t involve hours of travel. While this is not the regulation duckpin bowling that many know and love, it might be enough to provide some satisfaction to those that have not bowled for years.

Charlotte Magazine – First Look: Pinhouse, a Self-Serve Taproom with Duckpin Bowling

July 25, 2019 0

MoodRight’s Plans Duckpins for Historic Savannah District

“MoodRight’s Duckpin Bowl & Boogie” is the name, duckpin is the game. The concept for this business has been in the planning stages since October 2018, but it may soon be opening to its first customers. Hoping to locate in the Thomas Square / Starland District of Savannah, GA, it will be located amongst other historic district businesses.

The owner, Christopher Moody, says that the business will provide “a kitschy and welcoming atmosphere”, duckpin bowling, and billiards in a “thoughtfully curated ambiance”.

At present, plans call for 4 duckpin lanes and, given the size of the existing structure, they will likely be short, non-regulation lanes without approaches. Moody intends to also focus on creating leagues for weekdays which he feels will add to the communal experience. For now, the decision on duckpin versus rubberband duckpin has not been made.

The building at the target location is not exactly what you would expect and will need some superficial work, as seen in the rendering. According to the permit materials submitted to the City, construction should take about six months. There is, however, some local opposition to the plan as parking in the area is challenging and the streets in the historic area are not well-suited to the many delivery trucks that are already found there. Increasing both of those is not a popular idea.

MoodRight’s has applied for their liquor license and much will depend on whether that is approved. However, Savannah residents and visitors may be seeing duckpin return within the coming months.

Update 2019-07-31: Moodrights has obtained their liquor license and is moving fuulspeed towards opening. Owner Moody recently gave a short interview on Savannah WJCL/22 during which he said that pins will be set manually and they will only use two balls per frame. From supplied video, it appears that they will be using regulation duckpins.

WJCL – “Duckpin” Bowling coming soon to Savannah

July 19, 2019 0