COVID-19 knocked Pierce County bowling centers for a loop. Owners prepare for Phase 3

Like many independently owned businesses, bowling establishments across the South Puget Sound had to deal with sudden closures as a result of COVID-19.

Reggie Frederick owns Chalet Bowl in Tacoma and is a partner at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place.

“It was unfortunate because in the volume business, we were at the busiest point of our year in mid-March,” Frederick said.

Frederick said that 2019 was the best financial year Chalet and Narrow Plaza ever had. He hoped for 2020 to exceed his expectations. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, he knew he was in for some trouble.

Bowling alleys have been financially affected throughout the state. According to Frederick, bowling centers statewide have lost about $30-35 million in revenue.

Other bowling owners have experienced similar hardships.

Bob Hanson, who is the general manager at Tower and Paradise lanes, said his business was running at record levels until he had to shut down.

“We were very surprised, very quickly. Everything was going well and then all of a sudden we watched it all crash on us in one day.” Hanson said. “It’s been a tough three and a half months. I put my heart and soul into this bowling center.”

Tower Lanes, which has been in Tacoma since 1957, consists of a bowling alley, an arcade, a mini-golf course and a restaurant.

Once Pierce County was approved to enter Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start reopening plan, the restaurant at Tower Lanes was able to open. Yet, Hanson knows there’s still a long way to go.

“Businesswise we don’t know what’s going to happen. We just opened our restaurant, and it’s running about 45-50 percent of our normal restaurant trade from last year, so that’d be difficult,” said Hanson.

Some bowling owners have seen community support during the closure.

“What we found is incredible loyalty,” said Brad Swartz, the owner of Daffodil Bowl in Puyallup. “In the bowling community where a lot of these groups had big corporate events, they just said, ‘You know what, hold on to the money. We’re coming back.’ So we’ve had huge support in the community.”

According to Swartz, he is receiving around 50 calls a day from people anxiously waiting for the bowling alleys to reopen.

Daffodil Bowl has since reopened its restaurant as well, and Swartz said business has exploded. Customers are able to order from their phones and have access to curbside delivery.

It is not only corporate events and birthday parties that are on hold. Many bowling leagues have suffered across the region. Leagues had to be canceled in the middle of their winter season, leaving many bowlers at a loss.

Before the pandemic, Jason Struna, who is an assistant professor at the University of Puget Sound, regularly bowled in a Tuesday and Thursday night league at Chalet Bowl.

With bowling alleys closed, he saw how much he missed out on the physical and social aspects of bowling.

“I invest a lot of time and energy and money into bowling, and not being able to do it is honestly physically devastating. It is part of my exercise regimen, so it’s been tough,” said Struna. “I miss the people that I bowl with. It is a very intimate environment to get to know people. Not just your teammates, your opposition, they become your family and friends.”

For others, like Everett Holem, the past couple of months has been a time to catch up on old hobbies and with friends.

“I have a book club I’m in. We will have friends over and put chairs out on the lawn, so we can do that. Reading, cards, watching movies, so I’m not bored,” said Holem.

Holem, a retired lawyer, used to bowl over three times a week at Tower Lanes. He said he enjoyed bowling because it allowed him to exercise while competing with his friends.

Holem, who has Type 1 diabetes, also said that bowling helped with his blood sugar level.

The closures have allowed bowling center owners to prepare for a safe re-opening.

They have used the past two months to update safety protocols and train employees with weekly sessions in anticipation of the re-opening of recreational centers in Inslee’s pandemic strategy, according to a press release from the Washington State Bowling Proprietors’ Association.

The press release said that members of the WSBPA have committed to extensive cleaning and sanitation protocols, including self-screening of employees, personal protective equipment for employees, sanitizing rental shoes and center supplied bowling balls before and after each use reducing capacity to 50 percent in the bowling area to maintain appropriate distancing.

“We’re trying to eliminate as many touch points as possible,” said Frederick. “Part of both of our centers, we’re going to have a door of entry only, and an exit door only. You want to make sure there is no congestion in your lobby.”

According to Inslee’s reopening plan, bowling establishments will be able to open under Phase 3. Owners are excited to reopen, but they also know things will not be the same.

“We’re taking everything very seriously. Everyone on our staff is wearing masks, and we’re providing masks for all our guests,” said Swartz. “But we’re already having a blast with it. It’s kind of a new norm.”

This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 5:05 AM.