Small bites of news about a big sport
The old-time, hand-set lanes in Potter, Nebraska are in the news again. Someone needs to tell this reporter that they are not the last of their kind.
Western Nebraska Observer – Here’s How Potter Became a Kingdom of Duckpin
Troy Allen’s Rise Brands is on a roll, with three locations already open throughout Ohio. The concept of Pins Mechanical Co. combines pinball, duckpin bowling, and great drinks. Interestingly, none of the current venues serve food, but have food trucks and neighborhood food providers for hungry patrons. Its a complement to the company’s 16-Bit, an arcade-based venue.
Last week, Allen announced that four new locations have been procured and are in various stages of development. The new locations are Nashville, Charlotte, Indianapolis, and Cleveland. As they gain experience, they are making each location bigger to accommodate the crowds and to host large parties and corporate events. The Cleveland location is expected to start construction at the end of 2019 while the others are already being developed with expected opening dates in late 2019 or early 2020.
Allen added that additional locations in those areas are likely as their plan is to use a “hub-and-spoke model,” where one urban location is followed by additional suburban units. He also let slip that they are already researching markets in other states too.
It seems duckpin bowling is pretty popular these days and entertainment centers such as Pins Mechanical Co. seem to have the right formula to bring people in to bowl. They are currently installing 26-foot lanes with 8-foot approaches. As has become the norm, Qubica/AMF machines are used for the pinsetters.
An interesting aspect about this news is the location in Indianapolis. When completed, along with other recent announcements, Indianapolis will have 8 duckpin venues. This elevates the area and again raises the question as to whether regulation/sanctioned duckpin could grow in this midwest city.
News from Clevescene.com – Ohio City to Get a Combined 16-Bit and Pins Mechanical Co.
Cincinatti has yet another pseudo-duckpin venue at the happening bar called Hoppin’ Vines. Home to 6 lanes built by Infinity Bowling, each is 26′ in length and uses string pinsetters that can be reset for rubberband, 5-pin, and tenpin if desired.
Owner Steve Schoembs, also a founder of Mason Craft Brewery, built the concept combining great craft beer, good food, and duckpin bowling. They opted to use lanes without approaches to avoid the hassles associated with stocking, maintaining, and tracking bowling shoes. They also felt that by eliminating the shoes, people would be more inclined to play the game. The numbers are proving him correct as the lanes stay quite busy most nights and weekends.
As a business, Infinity Bowling reported, “The average length of guest stay is OVER 3 hours per visit with a 3 hour waiting list. This is bowling on steroids…”
The Vinyl Social Club opened in February to large crowds. The club offers a lot in the way of dining and entertainment, including a DJ. But, our focus is on the pseudo-duckpin bowling.
The lanes are very short at only 16 feet, but the balls and pins are regulation. While it is not the actual game of duckpin bowling, it has proved itself to be very popular, which may open the way to a regular center being built by someone in the future.
SiouxFalls Business – Sioux Falls hasn’t seen anything like this
The Thirsty Duck has opened its second location and this one is in Milwaukee. Like with the original location in Sussex, WI, the Milwaukee venue also offers mini-duckpin lanes.
The six lanes are about 25 feet in length and use regulation duckpins with manual pinsetters, aka “pinboys”.
Yet more duckpin lanes coming to Indiana. Probably the “mini” type of course, but it still could be part of a start to something bigger and better. Recbar is adding to its Kentucky location by opening another across the river in New Albany Indiana. They offer food, craft beer, pinball and arcade games, as well as a t least two mini-duckpin bowling lanes.
A developer, Pat Hagan, is planning on building a full 10-lane duckpin bowling center in Franklin, Indiana. After seeing the lanes at Fountainsquare and observing the crowds waiting to play, he decided that Franklin’s restaurant district needed a similar venue. Based on a TV interview on local WTHR, he is already looking to option two other locations in the Indianapolis suburbs for even more duckpin lanes.
Hagan plans to have both the arcade-style mini-bowling as well as almost full-size duckpin lanes. There is some issue with regulation lanes being just a bit too long to fit into the historic building so they will have to be shortened a little. However, Hagan indicates he will get as close to regulation as possible under the circumstances.
“Pending state and local approvals, Hagan hopes to be open this spring after installing 10 duckpin lanes. The bowling alley will have beer and wine service and concession-type foods provided by a local restaurant or two—think pizza, hot dogs and wings.”
The center is located at 27 West Monroe Street Franklin, Indiana 46131.
UPDATE: The mini-bowling arcade lanes will be ready to open in early Summer while the longer duckpin lanes will take longer and should open in Fall 2019.
Indianapolis Business Journal – Duckpin bowling coming to Franklin
Hi and Dry in Cleveland opened in 2017 in the historic Tremont district of the city. They offer beer and bowling, the perfect combination. The venue has four mini-bowling duckpin lanes with string pinsetters. The lanes are approximately 20 feet long and have no formal approaches.
Check out the all of the photos on their website.
Duckpin World 