“If it was not for the community, we would not be here at all.Lillian Halach, 78, of Barrington Hills said some patrons used to slip $10 or $20 into bowling balls to entice pin spotters to stay late into the evening. “Every lane that we could use, was being used, not just by league bowlers it was just regular people that don’t associate this as a sport or anything, coming in and allowing us to be open,” Clarke said. I just think that the community has been really helpful in keeping us open.”Ĭlarke said the place was booming first weekend the center was able to reopen after being shut down. We were only down about 30% for that time frame. “We actually didn’t lose too much from the business side. “We started to do a lot of growth, then the pandemic hit,” Clarke said. “I told the staff to spend as little as possible, and they did a great job.”Ĭlarke has been with the center since he was in high school, but has been running the place for the last two years. We kind of hunkered down and kept the place open,” Vogel said. “We had to cut staff, cut our menu and hours. “We were treading water for over a year,” Vogel said. 17, 2020, and Vogel told his staff to “tread water.” Some people that didn’t bowl last year because of the pandemic are coming back.”īecause of the COVID-19 pandemic, bowling centers closed down, but were able to reopen on Aug. “But they’re starting back up right after Labor Day, and we’ve had a good response to them. “The leagues have gotten smaller and some of it might have to do with the pandemic,” Vogel said. We have a whole bunch of stuff, like two or three years worth of projects in the works to be getting done, which I’m excited about.”ĭespite the upcoming changes, Vogel said they still have leagues, although they have gotten smaller. We want to add an arcade because there is nothing in the area that has that. “We want to renovate the bar to make it its own thing.
“We have a lot of plans in the works,” Clarke said. The business is doing well, and it will continue to change.” “We’re looking to expand recreation opportunities here in Central New York, whether that be expanding our arcade, making our bar a sports bar or having some things outside. “But we do have future plans to make it more of a family entertainment center,” Vogel said.
When asked if there are any plans in place to expand the number of lanes at King Pin, Vogel said, “No.” “We used to have over 100 lanes in Rome,” Vogel said. Of the four, King Pin has stood the test of time and even the COVID-19 pandemic. Vogel went on to say that way back when, Rome used to be home to four bowling centers: Mohawk Lanes, Griffiss Lanes, Rome Bowling Center and King Pin. “It was in the cards,” the 66-year-old Vogel said. He has since handed the reins of the shop to John Knight, who has owned and operated the shop for the last five seasons.
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While being the owner of the center, Vogel, a former professional bowler, used to run the pro shop inside. So we’re very thankful for it, and we just wanted to throw something to give back to the community for helping us make it.” “There are a lot of businesses that are independently owned that did not make it. “We just wanted to throw this because it’s been 65 years, and it’s after the pandemic and we’re still here,” King Pin general manager Joe Clarke said. The rain date for the event is Saturday, Sept. There will be a donation box and all of the proceeds will go toward King Pin’s youth program. There will be popcorn and food for sale and naturally, bowling. at the center.Įvents at the Bowling Bonanza include a jumbo bounce house, a dunk tank and a pie throwing contest. To celebrate and give back to the community, King Pin will host a “65 Year Bowling Bonanza” on Sunday, Aug. “This place means a lot to the community, and it will continue to mean a lot for years to come.” “I’ve been with the lanes for 25 years,” owner Craig Vogel said. in Rome, is celebrating its 65th anniversary of serving the Mohawk Valley with family fun recreation and some high class bowling.
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