(Publisher’s Note: This is the third in a three-part series taking a look at how bowling has evolved and continues to grow locally, particularly in Eastern Ohio. Part III will examine how two local bowling houses hope to take advantage of updated sports gambling laws in Ohio, as well as other options like live entertainment, to supplement their income and further add to their customers’ overall experiences.)
Business owners are always looking for ways to supplement their incomes and generate more interest in their establishment.
The State of Ohio created another avenue for said income when it approved sports betting in the Buckeye State. Betting begins on January 1, and both Chestnut Lanes in Barnesville and St. Clair Lanes in St. Clairsville are planning to take advantage.
Both facilities applied for a Class C license and, as such, will feature automated betting kiosks in their respective bowling houses.
According to A.J. Corder, owner of Chestnut Lanes, three criteria needed to be met in order to apply for the Class C license.
“You have to have three things: hold a D1, D2, or D5 liquor license, operate as for profit, and you have to be a lottery agent,” Corder said, noting private clubs were not eligible. “I meet all of those criteria. Now it’s just a process of figuring out who to sign with.”
Both Corder and Gary Holubeck were thrown a slight snag, at least what appeared to be one, last week when the Ohio Casino Control Commission approved its first 200 Class C licenses. Neither Chestnut nor St. Clair Lanes was on that list. The only local establishments approved were the Tiger Pub in Shadyside, the Spot Bar in Steubenville, and Tucker’s Tavern in Toronto.
When asked about it, Corder quickly made a few phone calls as he was assured he was going to be granted a license.
“They said my app looks fine but wasn’t in the first wave to get approved,” Corder said. “Licensing won’t happen until December anyways.”
True, but as Corder mentioned, he’s already paid the $1,000 licensing fee, and, he’s made a considerable investment at Chestnut Lanes in anticipation of an increased crowd with sports betting on the mind.
“I put in four big screen projectors, 55-inch TVs in the snack bar area,” Corder said. “We want people to come in and bet, watch, and hopefully buy some food and beverages, too.
“The cut on the gambling itself is just supplemental. It’ll increase traffic, which is the hope of a business owner. The food and beverage should go up too and provide us some new clientele.”
That’s Holubeck’s thinking as well down at St. Clair Lanes.
“As bowling proprietors, we want people in the center and not going to the casino (to bet),” Holubeck said. “If we get them here, we can give them something to do while they’re watching the game. We can provide entertainment.
“This will provide what we refer to as butts in seats.”
No big-stakes gamblers will be utilizing the kiosks as there is a $700 weekly limit for placed bets per adult. But if people come in that are looking to place a few bets, say on an NFL Sunday or college football Saturday, have a few beers, eat some food, and bowl a few games whilst waiting to see how their bets turn out—Holubeck and Corder both are happy to provide that type of atmosphere.
Little Music With Your Bowling
Music on the jukebox or even just piped in over the PA system is a staple of open bowling. You’d be hard pressed to find a bowler, outside of league night or tournaments, that dislikes hearing music while they bowl. It helps you get into a rhythm and just sets an overall fun mood for the evening.
Chestnut Lanes is taking it a step further by offering live music on certain evenings.
Recently, hometown native Malcom Spence returned for a near two-hour long set out on the patio, while Flushed has played on multiple occasions.
“The idea behind the patio was to drive traffic in the summer because that’s when bowling alleys struggle the most. It’s mostly a September through May type business,” Corder said. “My liquor license extends out to the patio, so people can mingle in and out, have a drink, and enjoy the music.
“It’s gone well.”
Well enough that Corder may be open during the Pumpkin Festival. This will be Chestnut Lanes’ first Pumpkin Festival since the rebuilding of the facility.
In the past, Corder admits he’s closed down but charged people to park in the lot because of its proximity to the festival grounds. This year, things will be different.
“Normally we’d just charge for parking, but this year, we’ll be hosting bands, doing bowling, everything,” Corder said.
Another bowling tradition has seen a revival at Chestnut Lanes, the all-night bowling.
It was commonplace in the past to stroll into a bowling lane around 9 p.m., pay a flat fee, and bowl all night for the same price to either midnight or even 1 a.m. This writer did so frequently at the former Elm Grove Lanes during his younger years.
Corder said interested customers should check out Chestnut’s Facebook page as he’s always listing special, like all-night bowling, music events, even upcoming tournaments. The same with St. Clair Lanes. It’s one of the best way to stay up to date with what’s going on.
“We did one (the other night),” Corder said. “We had a little league that ran from 7-8:30 and then we ran a special from 9 a.m. until midnight, if you were a student, it was $10 a kid for all night. I’ll (usually) do a 9-12 event after league nights, all you can bowl for $15.
“I post my hours and what’s going on daily on the Facebook page, specials too, and I think people have become accustomed to checking the page to see what’s going on.”
One thing can be sure at both bowling houses, there is a LOT going on. Stop by and see.
