Economic climate harsh to some lanes

At least two bowling proprietors who responded to an informal survey deserve some love, considering the current economic climate.

Holiday Bowl’s Tom Eframedes and McKinley Lanes’ Marty Letscher gave a little insight into the state of the lanes.

“Has the economy hurt us? No doubt about that,” Eframedes said of the continued downturn that has affected every segment of society.

“As soon as the guys are done, they don’t hang around the bar anymore,” Eframedes said of what could partially be the result of the no-smoking law.

“The first year the smoking law went into effect [several years ago],” Eframedes said. “I told the guys: ‘I’m going to lose about $48,000 in sales at the snack bar.’ I was close.

“I lost $46,000 in sales, but I can’t blame everything on smoking. It’s the economy, too, for sure.”

The proprietor said he used to get home later, but now, he’ll get home earlier.

“That’s a couple hours of sales down the drain.”

College and pro football on the weekends has hurt the open bowling part of the business.

“Once football is over, open play picks up,” Eframedes said of bowlers not committed to a league. “The first thing they’re going to stop is [outside-the-home] entertainment because there’s not enough money to go around.”

Although Holiday is full almost every week night, half of his 36-lane house is available for open play on Friday nights and Sundays.

On a positive note, Eframedes said he’s fortunate to have gained two leagues: the Tuesday morning Zodiac women’s league and the Seesters Catering/PBA Matchplay league for men.

“They seem to enjoy themselves,” the proprietor said. “They’re not shooting lights-out, but they don’t kick the ball return, either,” he said, noting that bowlers don’t become too frustrated because they realize the difficulty of the various pro oil patterns.

Nine teams comprise the Seesters Catering-sponsored league.

McKinley’s Letscher summed it up this way: “Nobody’s good.”

But at least his house hasn’t lost numbers — most likely due to the closing of Kay Lanes in Girard, where the sign on U.S. 422 still reads: Thank you; good bye.

“Actually, we’re up bowlers, but a lot of it has to do with Kay Lanes,” Letscher said of the spillover that has kept him from going backwards.

“It’s not bad, but with this economy you don’t expect a whole lot.”

Along the promotional lines, Letscher is trying to organize a 9-pin no-tap league on Thursday nights.

“I’m struggling to get it going,” he said of the four or five teams so far. “We’re trying to get a few more. It’s just a 10-week season. It’ll be a fun league.”

The most recently reported top performance was Adam Barta’s 300-299-246 — 846 in Ron Haus Auto at Wedgewood.