BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: dmonroe814 on October 31, 2014, 11:17:40 AM
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Our pro Shop Owner, Steve Mullan has just had his lease cancelled by Bowlmor/AMF in all 3 of his Virginia Pro Shops. I believe Bowmor is bringing in their own pro shops. Sucks, especially since all 3 of Steve's Pro shops were very successful. Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville all given 30 days to vacate.
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Bowl New England did the same thing but for a different reason. They wanted the space in order to expand their recreational environment (more video games) and NO pro shop.
They figured the space was more profitable as recreation then from the rent of the pro shop.
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Bowlmor house I bowl at doesn't have a proshop any longer and the space where the shop and the lockers were located is now a game room area. With some video games, pool table, and stuff animal thing.
If all Bowlmor centers will no longer have a proshop, it'll suck really bad for those who have no access to shops in their area. Owners will have to work out of their garage or rent a place in a strip mall......sad
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They kicked out the shop that my driller had for 20+ years. Even worse, it was a very high-volume pro shop as well. But Bowlmor/AMF gave her an insane increase of $20k/month in rent and she basically told them to go do something to themselves.
Since that point, she moved her shop to an independent bowling center only a few miles away that still does high-volume. Word of mouth reputation helps and she kept almost all customers with the move.
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They kicked out the shop that my driller had for 20+ years. Even worse, it was a very high-volume pro shop as well. But Bowlmor/AMF gave her an insane increase of $20k/month in rent and she basically told them to go do something to themselves.
Since that point, she moved her shop to an independent bowling center only a few miles away that still does high-volume. Word of mouth reputation helps and she kept almost all customers with the move.
$20k in rent? I would've given who ever told me that a bag of dildos and some choice words.
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There were plenty of choice words. Even worse for Bowlmor/AMF, this is a 60 lane house that has been featured over the years in several PBA tournaments shown on TV. On top of that, they were trying to keep machinery and inventory that she purchased without funds used by Bowlmor/AMF. Needless to say, she cleaned house with the shop at the end of that month and relocated to a smaller 36 lane place only about 2-3 miles away that sees its share of tournaments locally and isn't having those problems anymore.
The people that replaced her shop are a complete joke. They're now using a junior coach who I actually heard say "Umm...this will work really well." When questioned on cover, and the technical stuff, the coach had absolutely no clue and was just trying to sell a ball. Sad thing is that I actually talked to the person when the guy left the counter and went over everything and steered them to the person that drills my stuff at the new shop.
Big difference from someone who would take you on the lanes, see your game, give you 2 or 3 recommendations based on what was seen, specific layout information, and then watch to see if any adjustments needed to be made with a weight hole or surface. And they wonder why there was a huge exodus of customers that went to the smaller 36 lane place. Word of mouth and a good reputation go a long way.
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There were plenty of choice words. Even worse for Bowlmor/AMF, this is a 60 lane house that has been featured over the years in several PBA tournaments shown on TV. On top of that, they were trying to keep machinery and inventory that she purchased without funds used by Bowlmor/AMF. Needless to say, she cleaned house with the shop at the end of that month and relocated to a smaller 36 lane place only about 2-3 miles away that sees its share of tournaments locally and isn't having those problems anymore.
The people that replaced her shop are a complete joke. They're now using a junior coach who I actually heard say "Umm...this will work really well." When questioned on cover, and the technical stuff, the coach had absolutely no clue and was just trying to sell a ball. Sad thing is that I actually talked to the person when the guy left the counter and went over everything and steered them to the person that drills my stuff at the new shop.
Big difference from someone who would take you on the lanes, see your game, give you 2 or 3 recommendations based on what was seen, specific layout information, and then watch to see if any adjustments needed to be made with a weight hole or surface. And they wonder why there was a huge exodus of customers that went to the smaller 36 lane place. Word of mouth and a good reputation go a long way.
This wouldn't happen to be in the Buffalo, NY area, would it?
BL.
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Yes it would be. Rumor has it that Benderson may buy out the building to add additional retail.
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There were plenty of choice words. Even worse for Bowlmor/AMF, this is a 60 lane house that has been featured over the years in several PBA tournaments shown on TV. On top of that, they were trying to keep machinery and inventory that she purchased without funds used by Bowlmor/AMF. Needless to say, she cleaned house with the shop at the end of that month and relocated to a smaller 36 lane place only about 2-3 miles away that sees its share of tournaments locally and isn't having those problems anymore.
The people that replaced her shop are a complete joke. They're now using a junior coach who I actually heard say "Umm...this will work really well." When questioned on cover, and the technical stuff, the coach had absolutely no clue and was just trying to sell a ball. Sad thing is that I actually talked to the person when the guy left the counter and went over everything and steered them to the person that drills my stuff at the new shop.
Big difference from someone who would take you on the lanes, see your game, give you 2 or 3 recommendations based on what was seen, specific layout information, and then watch to see if any adjustments needed to be made with a weight hole or surface. And they wonder why there was a huge exodus of customers that went to the smaller 36 lane place. Word of mouth and a good reputation go a long way.
This wouldn't happen to be in the Buffalo, NY area, would it?
BL.
It sure does sound like Sue's shop....Hmmmm....and there is now a new independent shop at another AMF in the "Buffalo airport" area. But that shop has others , and heve a great knowledgeable staff.
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That would be AMF Airport, which replaced the prior independent shop with National Bowling Store. That place does have a good staff, including Ryan Ciminelli. AMF Thruway is where Sue had her shop which moved to Broadway Sports Center.
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They kicked out the shop that my driller had for 20+ years. Even worse, it was a very high-volume pro shop as well. But Bowlmor/AMF gave her an insane increase of $20k/month in rent and she basically told them to go do something to themselves.
Since that point, she moved her shop to an independent bowling center only a few miles away that still does high-volume. Word of mouth reputation helps and she kept almost all customers with the move.
$20k in rent? I would've given who ever told me that a bag of dildos and some choice words.
I'm sorry... I know this is way off topic, but I like this comment +9000!!!
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They kicked out the shop that my driller had for 20+ years. Even worse, it was a very high-volume pro shop as well. But Bowlmor/AMF gave her an insane increase of $20k/month in rent and she basically told them to go do something to themselves.
Since that point, she moved her shop to an independent bowling center only a few miles away that still does high-volume. Word of mouth reputation helps and she kept almost all customers with the move.
$20k in rent? I would've given who ever told me that a bag of dildos and some choice words.
I'm sorry... I know this is way off topic, but I like this comment +9000!!!
No apology needed. I really like the comment too.
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That would be AMF Airport, which replaced the prior independent shop with National Bowling Store. That place does have a good staff, including Ryan Ciminelli. AMF Thruway is where Sue had her shop which moved to Broadway Sports Center.
I thought this sounded familiar. I was talking to her this summer when we were up there for youth open. She was telling the tale to owner of BowlerX. Nice little set up where she's at now. Little being the operative word, but it didn't take a long time to figure out she was the goods. Hope she continues to do well.
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That would be AMF Airport, which replaced the prior independent shop with National Bowling Store. That place does have a good staff, including Ryan Ciminelli. AMF Thruway is where Sue had her shop which moved to Broadway Sports Center.
I thought this sounded familiar. I was talking to her this summer when we were up there for youth open. She was telling the tale to owner of BowlerX. Nice little set up where she's at now. Little being the operative word, but it didn't take a long time to figure out she was the goods. Hope she continues to do well.
That is exactly who I was thinking of and wondering if it was her. Sue is one of the best out there, and I'd trust anything she says. I'm glad she has another spot, ans should definitely do well, especially if Ryan and Liz are there.
BL.
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Liz is over at Broadway Sports a lot and actually have gotten to talk with her several times. Great person. Ryan is at AMF Airport but also bowls in league Tuesday nights over at The Edge Bowling (a 12 lane wood house that Sue's family bought a while back). Tuesday nights are when they use PBA patterns and Ciminelli shot 300 on Badger a few weeks back.
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Tonight, the owner received a phone call from the new owner of the Pro Shop cartel. They offered to buy his inventory and the job of Managing the three pro shops he owned and keeping any of the drillers he wants. His first thought was ....., but we will see what he does after he sleeps on it for a few days.
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Do you think this is a trend which will happen at all Bowlmor/AMF alleys?
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this happened to the operator at white plains bowl as well. 25 years there and the bowlmor district manager just pulls him over to the side at the end of the summer and says they dont plan on retaining the services of a proshop so he was given 60 days to move out and ended up getting extended to this weekend. adn this is at a multi level high volume center.
great talent and great person just kicked to the curb for no reason.
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The Buffalo, NY are is lucky to have the talented professional drillers that we have. But as stated, it seems that Bowlmor/AMF doesn't see their true value/worth. With all the great staff at National Bowling Supply in their 2 locations (Doug Heim, Steve Hoskins, and others), Then Jack Jurek and Jeff Walsh running the 2 Bowlers Choice shops, and Susie J. at her place. Almost anyone can access one of these places easily.
But like the rest of the industry, the good houses, and good pro shops are getting harder and harder to find....all slowly fading away...as it seems that the PBA and better leagues are. The times they are a changing.
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All of this regarding Buffalo/Tonawanda/Cheektowaga is good to know, because if I didn't have a shop out here on the west coast to go to, I'd be getting everything from over there, and pitch in more on top of shipping. I'd trust anything that Ryan, Jack and Liz would say, and Sue... I can't give her enough praise.. She's the best.
If I can make it to Nats in 2018, I know exactly where I'm headed.
BL.
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Bet the top 3-4 online pro shops are high fiving each other. Another stab in the back to local pro shops pushing more and more business to the Internet.
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In reply to thedjs: I do think this is going to be a trend at AMF houses. They have some type of partnership with a pro shop franchise. They wanted the owner to come back and manage his 3 current shops and wanted to hire his current staff to run them. The purchase price for the equipment, inventory, and his services were just too low for him to accept. I have a Storm contract and one of his other drillers has a Brunswick contract. We wold have to give them up to work for AMF. Not going to happen. I think we will be opening a shop in a nearby independent house. The pro shop coming in is all Ebonite, and the our customers are already talking a boycott of the new pro shop (not our suggestion) and want us to let them know where we end up. Good luck to independent Pro shops at AMF houses.
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this happened to the operator at white plains bowl as well. 25 years there and the bowlmor district manager just pulls him over to the side at the end of the summer and says they dont plan on retaining the services of a proshop so he was given 60 days to move out and ended up getting extended to this weekend. adn this is at a multi level high volume center.
great talent and great person just kicked to the curb for no reason.
He was the only one that had my Ebonite Cyclone and drilled it for me, it was really sad and I feel for him, took time to help me as I told him it's been awhile since I've been bowling but I needed another ball since I outgrew my old one..
Did he relocate?
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Bowlmor here made the proshop space into a game room for video games, pool, etc.....lockers were moved to the corner behind the kitchen and the trash can smells that is located in the area......