By Gary Lloyd
Lightning Strikes on Roosevelt Boulevard in Trussville has been acquired by Vermont-based Bowl New England.
Bowl New England President Tim Corley said the company acquired the Trussville bowling alley Oct. 16. Corley did not disclose the acquisition cost.
The company, in business 45 years, owns and operates about 20 bowling alleys in the Northeast, two in Chattanooga, Tenn., and a couple more in North Carolina.
Corley said the bowling alley has been renamed Spare Time Entertainment and will undergo a two-phase renovation. The first phase includes removing eight lanes to add a two-level laser tag arena and adding a 50- to 75-piece arcade room with a redemption prize store. Corley said that phase is in the permit process and will take about three months to complete.
The second phase will include a complete renovation of the interior, new seating, a new control desk, a restaurant/sports bar, and a VIP suite that includes six to eight lanes for group events and corporate parties.
The bowling alley will have 30 to 32 total lanes, Corley said.
All the renovations are expected to be complete by Sept. 1, 2014. The plan, Corley said, is to stay open during the renovations, though there could be a four-week period of being closed.
Corley said a renovation was done to the Spare Time Greensboro bowling alley in North Carolina, a venue that will mirror what the Trussville location will likely look like. Check out the Greensboro location here.
Corley said alcohol will be available at the bowling alley but the entire facility will be non-smoking.
“We’re creating a much more family-oriented entertainment venue for the city of Trussville,” Corley said. “We’re really excited to be in that area.”
Lightning Strikes has been the location of ESPN-televised Professional Bowling Association tournaments and earlier this year hosted the PBA50 Greater Birmingham Open.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.