Bowling centers working hard to be ready

Debbie Juniewicz

While their doors remain closed with no official word yet as to when that will change, there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes at local bowling centers.

From deep cleaning to re-imagining their public spaces, local proprietors are working hard to ensure the safest environment.

“Bowlers are more than customers to our centers, they are our friends and family,” said Jenny Martin-Clarke, executive director of the Bowling Centers Association of Ohio. “The health and well-being of our bowlers and our employees are our top priority.”

Marian Lanes proprietor Mike Poelking has been on the forefront of the effort to reopen centers statewide.

Poelking — the local association president and member of the BCAO executive board — is serving on a state task force created to design best practices for bowling centers and communicate with the governor’s office. Bowling center doors closed in mid-March and the task force has been in place since mid-April.

“Our goal is to be on top of the situation and show the governor’s office that we are taking a proactive stance,” Poelking said. “We want to show that we are working in the best interest of our customers.”

There are 254 bowling centers in Ohio, 13 in the Greater Dayton Bowling Proprietors Association. The Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress has 4,454 adult bowlers in 105 leagues. There are an additional 605 youth bowlers in 29 leagues. The closure, however, isn’t just impacting the bowlers. Those centers employ more than 5,000 people statewide.

Concerns from bowlers run the gamut from sanitation and social distancing to whether or not they will have to wear masks. Others have voiced concerns about the industry, whether centers can survive the extended closure and whether or not bowlers will return when the opening is green-lighted.

BPAA and BCAO are passing along “best practices” and other resources regarding re-opening safely, including house ball sanitation, social distancing measures and employee/customer safety, but specific reopening plans will likely vary across the state and even the area. There are Ohio centers with as few as two lanes and as many as 68.

“Because each of our centers is unique as far as size, structure and staffing, it is difficult to distribute a one-sizefits-all plan for re-opening our industry,” Martin-Clarke said. “It will be up to each center to implement methods that work best for their situation. We are encouraging our members to consult with their local health department to ensure customer and employee safety and well-being.”

The changes will be noticeable. Poelking has removed some seating and ball racks at Marian to increase the ability to have social distancing. Loren Trenhaile, at Capri Lanes, contracted with a local company to make plexiglass screens for the front desk register area to provide additional distance between customers and employees.

“The whole goal is to try to keep people safe,” Poelking said.

Bowling