Duckpin Proprietors

Jan 11, 2017

Bowling Academy in E. Providence, R.I. was featured in the January issue of Bowling Center Management magazine. Congratulations to Peter Capello, proprietor, and his staff on this article.

Dec 28, 2016

An article in the December 27 Baltimore Sun noted that Ken Staub, owner of Patterson Lanes in Baltimore, will be investing $250,000 in the center. Ken acquired the center this fall. Another article appeared in this week’s Baltimore Business Journal.

Nov 22, 2016

Sandi Thomas has been a duckpin bowling leader in the Nutmeg state since she started bowling in her teens. She has enjoyed a solid career on the lanes and is a key proprietor in the duckpin industry. She entered the business 29 years ago as a part owner of Johnson’s Lanes in Hamden and assumed sole ownership 10 years ago. Sandi has worked hard to promote duckpin bowling and currently serves as a Board member of the Duckpin Bowling Proprietors of America and the National Duckpin Youth Association.

Some of her noted bowling accomplishments include six No.1 CT state rankings and 11 top twenty NDBC finishes. Her best season was 1993-94 when she averaged 144. Sandi has bowled eleven 200 games (225 high) and six 500 sets (538 high). She has won 32 tournaments, including three WNDA Pro Tour titles. She is a member of the Connecticut Duckpin, WNDA, and National Duckpin Bowling Congress Halls of Fame.

The Duckpin News asked Sandi about her career and thoughts about the duckpin game.

Q. How long have you been a proprietor?

A. I bought into Johnson's in 1988 and took sole ownership in 2007.

Q. How did you get into the business?

A. I started as a bowler, a coach for the Juniors, did desk work for a couple of years, and then bought into the business.

Q. What year did Johnson Lanes open?

A. Johnson's has been open since 1955.

Q. What do you enjoy about the business?

A. The variety, the customers who can make or break a day. I love working with the kids.

Q. What are your biggest challenges?

A. Being able to operate at a cost effective way, whereby I can pay my bills and not feel like I'm overpricing my customers.

Q. What changes or adjustments have you had to make over the years to meet customer needs and remain successful?

A. We offer more special pricing events, additional time at no cost, and free shoe rental.

Q. What role does Johnson Lanes play in your community?

A. We are a well respected member of the community. We provide gift certificates to school, church, or youth groups for their auctions. We have a 1-1 format, whereby special needs bowlers and their aides can come in and bowl for $5 each per session.

Q. Since your center is in an area that does not have many other duckpin centers close by, do you often get people coming in who have never seen or bowled duckpins and what is their response?

A. We tend to get a lot of walk ins by the nature of our being in a shopping plaza. So many wonder if we switch over to the big ball game at night. Once they try it, they find it fun and so much more challenging.

Q. What is your favorite duckpin memory?

A. I would guess being ranked No. 1 in CT in 1991-92 and my first Pro Tour win at White Oak Lanes when I went head to head against Pat Rinaldi. She is the No. 1 bowler in my book.

Q. What are your thoughts about the future of duckpins?

A. We need to work together as a single unit, not focusing on what was 20 years ago, but look to what we need to do today and more importantly, tomorrow. Customers are our lifeblood and we have to keep a clean, well run center. Polite desk personnel are a must. If we could get a universal program that would be available to all bowlers, whether they are in CT, MD, RI, VA, wherever, the offer would be honored at all centers. I know that's generic but there could be a Summer program where we don't give it away, but offer a reasonable discount.