“Kettering is a very family-oriented city and we wanted to provide another fun option for those families,” proprietor Joe Poelking said.
Eight bowling lanes were eliminated to create the two-story, 4,500-square-foot laser tag arena. Bowlers still have 40 lanes for league and open play as well as the ever-popular Cosmic Bowling.
“This is a trend in the industry,” Poelking said. “We have to do more and more to stay relevant.”
Long gone are the days of dark, smoky bowling alleys. Bowling centers are now brightly lit, family-friendly businesses with restaurants, arcades, private party rooms and even laser tag. Many traditional centers — like Poelking Woodman – have transitioned into what the industry calls Bowling Entertainment Centers (BEC) with a variety of entertainment options. New builds — like Main Event in West Chester – often fall into the Family Entertainment Center (FEC) category, with bowling, laser tag, billiards, an arcade and ropes course.
This is not the first Poelking bowling center to add a unique component to its traditional options. Both Poelking Marian Lanes and Poelking South converted several lanes in the Huber Heights and Centerville centers into small, upscale bowling venues with state-of-the-art audio and video systems, trendy furniture and private bars.
“We are still a bowling business,” Poelking said. “But we feel it’s necessary to change to be on the forefront of what’s going on in the industry.”
The grand opening of Woodman Lanes Laser Tag coincides with the traditionally slow summer season for bowling centers. The addition of laser tag, which can accommodate 26 players at a time, might help offset the reduced number of summer league bowlers.
Lazer Frenzy, a one- or two-person interactive game (think Mission Impossible on a small scale amidst a maze of laser beams), is a fun addition to the nearby prize-redemption arcade.
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