While it may not look like much work has been done on the former Capital Bowl property since new redevelopment plans were announced in the spring, progress has been made -- at least on the interior.
Scot Drinkard, one of five property owners who purchased the former Capital Bowl, said work has been ongoing, and the project to turn the old bowling alley into a large family entertainment center is on track to open in the beginning of 2022.
The former Capital Bowl property sustained heavy damage from the May 2019 tornado. Capital Bowl, which first opened as West Gate Lanes in 1961, announced in Fall 2019 it would not reopen.
In May 2020, Tom Mendenhall, a member of the property's ownership group, said they had decided to sell the property instead of repairing it, with the hope someone could rebuild it into a new bowling alley. However, there was no significant interest until early 2021.
In March, Drinkard and the other local business owners who purchased the property announced plans to turn it into a facility with an arcade, bowling lanes, and a full restaurant and sports bar. The planned business will have 12 bowling lanes and a VIP area with four more bowling lanes and a private bar. The VIP room will be available for parties or team-building for businesses, with Drinkard noting the bar will be able to be tended by a staff member of a member of the business renting it out.
The arcade area will feature virtual reality simulation games, he said, with points being uploaded to a card, rather than the old ticket system used by arcades in the 1990s. The cards can then be used in an actual store that will be inside the facility for prizes, including things such as iPads, Drinkard said.
"It's stuff my kids and I would play," Drinkard said of the games being planned.
Near the dining area will be the "old-school games" like shuffleboard and pool, he said. Behind that area, will be another private room available for rent with a lounging area and indoor sports simulators to play sports such as kickball, soccer and football, though they will hardly be limited to mainstream sports.
"Any kind of sports you think of, you can do," Drinkard said. "I'm excited about it."
The dining area will also feature an overlook that allows people to see the 12 bowling lanes from the side and watch the action.
In addition to the indoor dining and bar areas, there are two covered patios planned as well.
While the project was initially estimated to cost approximately $5 million, Drinkard said they have been really focused on attaining a certain "wow factor" for the new business, which has driven up costs. He noted the sports simulators alone cost about $100,000 each.
Drinkard said the new business will be called Strikers, though the exact spelling and logo have yet to be determined.
In addition to Drinkard, who also owns Spectators Sports Bar and Grill, the property owners are: Gerlach Construction owner Mark Gerlach and Brian Bloomer, co-owners of Storage Solutions; and Brad Vandegriffe and Jeremy Geisler, who own rental properties and are opening T3 Fitness.
