“It is kind of surreal.”
After a month of renovations, that’s what was incoming Nechako Lanes owner Michael Giles had to say while watching the first group of bowlers put his lanes to use since taking control of the business.
The bowling alley officially opened its doors to the public again yesterday (Friday), after being closed for most of the summer, with a completely fresh look awaiting customers inside and out.
It was day one of four of their grand re-opening and 70th-anniversary bash, which will see bowlers play and eat for half price throughout the duration of the long weekend.
“It feels pretty good to have it all done, decked out, and ready to go for the weekend,” Giles said.
Of the many changes made to the building, Giles said the first thing regulars will notice is “a much better sightline and open feeling” after re-arranging the entranceway.
“They’ll notice a major change in the colour scheme with the painting, the bench tables that were here before are pushed up to give some more room, and a new counter that was just completed [on Thursday],” he said.
Kids who come to the alley this weekend will have the chance to enter a pin-naming contest, where they can submit a name for one of 14 decorative wooden pins along the supporting pillars.
Giles said winners will be selected at random, and everyone who wins will get a surprise prize pack for their efforts.
Kids 12 and under will also be able to bowl for free.
The re-opening has also drawn the eye of city hall – Mayor Simon Yu and a handful of city councillors will be bowling with people from 2:00 to 6:00 this afternoon.
While all the renovations were taking place, Les Wahlund, one of the previous owners of the business who ran Nechako Lanes for nearly 20 years, watched on as the building underwent a total transformation.
“It is actually kind of nice,” Wahlund told My PG Now, watching the re-opening day unfold. “It needed a facelift, it was time.”
Prior to owning Nechako Lanes, Wahlund was a long-time bowler and member of the community who played (and still plays) in multiple leagues per week, as well as countless tournaments.
“All of the bowlers that come in and bowl league, they are considered family,” he said. “We have a really good bunch of people that bowl out of here, and some very good bowlers that bowl out of here that have represented Nechako Lanes provincially, nationally, and had huge success doing that. This will be nice for them.”
With a smile, Wahlund added bowling leagues for all ages and abilities start up after labour day weekend, and for anyone who is interested in playing – or becomes interested over the weekend celebration – to reach out to the lanes.
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