The Art of Spin - NJ Bowling Alley Closing

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by tenpingirl on Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:58 am

There are more then bowling balls spinning on the lanes of one South Jersey bowling center that is slated to close this spring. The owner is spinning that the year old New Jersey smoking ban as the reason for his failing business. The local media has fallen for it hook, line and sinker. Before I paint the bigger picture, I should tell you I do bowl at one of his centers. This company has about five centers and two are in the same town just miles away from each other. I bowl at the one not closing but in the same town.

For the past week there has been newspaper, television and radio reporting on the closing of this center due to public smoking ban in New Jersey. A year ago all public smoking except for in the casinos was banned. For those not familiar with New Jersey the southwest portion borders Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many of the base customers for two of this owner's center come over from Philadelphia to bowl. Philadelphia has a smoking ban but the Pennsylvania suburbs do not. This center claims the customers are not coming to Jersey to bowl because of the smoking ban. No one has mentioned that a Lucky Strike Bowling Lounge opened in downtown Philadelphia last June followed by North Bowl in July. Nor has there been mention of Strikes Bowling Lounge that opened by University of Penn campus in March 2005.

If their customers were coming over the bridge and now there are two state of the art centers to service these customers why drive to Jersey. I am not a Penn grad but it does not take a Wharton MBA to see the connection. Three new centers servicing a good portion of your customers equals drop off in business. Centers further away from the bridge reported an increase in business.

A quick internet search of Delaware and New York two near by states to go smokeless before New Jersey, only one article could be found about a center closing due to a smoking ban. However, it was noted in the article that the center was not doing well before the ban. There is no proof that center would of survived if the smoking ban was not enacted. A quick internet search found comparative numbers for the months of May through August for 2005 and 2006 released by this owner for a public hearing on a proposed Pennsylvania smoking ban. I will not publish the exact numbers but bar sales were down 11%, billiard was down 30%; and bowling receipts are down 10%. He said in the 40 years his family has run this center, they've never lost sales from year to year. However, he fails to mention the new competition.

I know in my two leagues we did not lose one bowler because of the smoking ban. I do know that my husband and I could not bowl if it was not for the smoking ban. We have a newborn and we would not being taking the baby to bowling center if smoking was still allowed. If you look around one of my leagues, there are new faces. Those new faces have small babies and children attached to them. The only losses in my bowling league were unrelated to smoking. I do believe there was some drop off because of smoking but the fatal blows were dealt by new competitors.

tenpingirl Newbie

Newbie Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 2

by gilster on Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:19 pm

tenpingirl wrote:

We have a newborn and we would not being taking the baby to bowling center if smoking was still allowed. If you look around one of my leagues, there are new faces. Those new faces have small babies and children attached to them.

That's GREAT....

Babies and Small Children at a Bowling Alley?

It must be like Chucky Cheese

How FUN --I'll be right over - Not......

Actually, since the smoking ban, wonder how many infants and children now accompany their Dads to strip clubs.

I was at a Bar last night, one of the patrons brought their child [with lots of toys] Ahh yes, the screams of children when I'm trying to unwind from a day of work in an adult venue- It was so special. Evil or Very Mad

gilster

Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Apr 19, 2006 Posts: 1214

by linkup on Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:43 pm

IMO:Smoking Bans- Reverse Social Engineering by Bloomberg and Company.

Face it,we are up against a $5.5 Billion Empire run by a madman!

Last edited by linkup on Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

linkup

Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Oct 01, 2005 Posts: 1201 Location: Anywhere but here

by nemo31 on Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:43 pm

I am sure the crack of 1,000s of balls stricking a full rack of pins just does wonders for those developing little hearing systems. Or will there be a requirement for padding the pins? I am sure the antis will find a way to blame SHS on those future inner ear problems and hearig loss. Like left over toxins. Hmmm anyone for blaming 3rd hand smoke.

nemo31

Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: Dec 01, 2006 Posts: 206 Location: nw pa

by tenpingirl on Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:48 pm

gilster wrote:

tenpingirl wrote:

A strip clubs and bars are different then bowling centers. A bowling center is not adult venue. There are 23 million children that bowl every year.

tenpingirl Newbie

Newbie Joined: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 2

by linkup on Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:53 pm

Most Bowling Places rely on Alcohol sales so that makes them an ADULT VENUE.The ones that don't sell alcohol are the ones for the kids.

linkup

Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Oct 01, 2005 Posts: 1201 Location: Anywhere but here

by gilster on Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:57 pm

tenpingirl wrote:

I know in my two leagues we did not lose one bowler because of the smoking ban.

Most league play is at night with adult play and alcohol usage.
Chlidren shouldn't be present on those 'school nights'
Usually Tues. or Wed. nights and run very late...

There may be family leagues - that would be a different scenario- different times - different days.

There are also Pool Leagues at Pool specific venues.
If you were on a Pool League - would you bring an infant into the Billiards room.

All the above "Sports" set in league venues, are adult activities.

Why would someone bring an infant to a bowling alley?

Hey, with smoke-free bingo - infants can now go play Bingo.
How cool would that be /sarc

I suggest Mommy and Me swimming at your local YMCA

gilster

Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Apr 19, 2006 Posts: 1214

by jcleitz on Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:43 pm

I am so happy for you. Now you can bowl in a smoke free enviroment and bring your baby. A great atomosphere. You claim that bowling alleys are not "adult venues" so Do you not support the bans in the bars? How bout this one, if a owner so choose, he bans everyone under the age of 18. Would that make it ok for you then if they allowed smoking? You could still go to the place that allowed kids, and therefore would be no smoke. There is this little thing called comprimise that you antis seem to forget

jcleitz

Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: Apr 17, 2006 Posts: 463 Location: Jersey

by smallbird on Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:44 pm

A newborn in a bowling alley? What kind of disfunctional mother are you?

smallbird

Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: Jan 03, 2007 Posts: 362

by Darkseid on Wed May 02, 2007 6:07 am

That was the beginning of the downfall of amerika, when yuppies and their soccer moms started dragging the fucking kids everywhere. And I do mean EVERYWHERE.

Darkseid

Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Jun 13, 2006 Posts: 1513 Location: Peoples Republik of oHEILo

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