Menards Subdivision (NWC 204th & West Dodge)
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- Coyote
- City Council
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Apparently having a PBA event in Omaha is no longer news:
Angelo, Nation earn first titles
Angelo, Nation earn first titles
Mail Tribune wrote:It was a day of firsts as Brad Angelo and Stefanie Nation each captured their first career PBA titles at the Pepsi Viper Championship at Thunder Alley in Omaha, the second stop of the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour. Angelo, of Lockport, N.Y., who entered Sunday's live televised finals as the No. 3 seed, defeated No. 4 seed Wes Malott of Argyle, Texas, 222-195, and No. 2 seed Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla., 221-214, in order to advance through the stepladder format. Williams Jr., who is the all-time PBA titles leader with 44, became the first to surpass the $4 million mark with his third-place finish.
- gisbuxfan
- Library Board
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Thunder Alley comes to abrupt end
http://www.omaha.com/article/20090609/N ... /FRONTPAGE
http://www.omaha.com/article/20090609/N ... /FRONTPAGE
JUAN PEREZ JR. AND JASON KUIPER wrote:Fans of Thunder Alley, the mammoth bowling and entertainment center in the Elkhorn area, were served a gutter ball Monday as the business abruptly closed its doors less than two years after its ballyhooed grand opening.
The exact circumstances behind the sudden closure were unclear Monday evening. Bowlers and employees arrived at the 86,000-square-foot facility to find darkened windows and locked doors marked with "closed" signs.
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- Parks & Recreation
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- Parks & Recreation
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Really? Â I've never been to Thunder Alley but I always figured it was a good location for lack of other bowling alleys. Â I am assuming Elkhorn probably has a bowling alley, correct me if I am wrong, but besides that the farthest west bowling alley I can think of is Cougar lanes on 144th and Industrial Rd. Â I did look at the prices one time though and it seemed really expensive. Â Charging by the hour rather than by the game seems like a rip off.worse location.
i know someone who worked there (until yesterday) and he said the problem was how it was run. Had something like 10 different managers, all making 50k+ a year. Additionally, the owner paid outside sales people a generous hourly figure, rather than on a commission basis. The owner was coming up short by about 10k a month, but could have easily made much of that up by stream-lining management. Apparently it was generally busy, and the expensive 'per hour' basis (which i agree seems like a rip) didn't deter as much as i thought it would. Everyone said that it was very nice, but like i said--it was poorly run. Could have 2-3 managers, commission based sales people (so if they weren't able to bring in parties or corporate events the alley wasn't paying them), and change pricing a tad to draw in people. Sad to see it go, though I've never been there. I hear it was the only PBA sanctioned lane in the area.
Go Cubs Go
- nebugeater
- City Council
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There was / is another bowling lane in Elkhorn. Â It closed when this was built as I believe the Owner of the original Elkhorn Lanes was a part owner in this new venture. Â After being closed about six months it was sold and maybe resold and get this, opened back up as a bowling ally. Â
Anyone think this is a financial reorganization and the place will open back up in some way shape of form. Â I have never been there but knowing a few people that bowl a bunch and have been there they always say it is busy. Â No I know busy doesn't mean profitable but it sure plays a role.
Anyone think this is a financial reorganization and the place will open back up in some way shape of form. Â I have never been there but knowing a few people that bowl a bunch and have been there they always say it is busy. Â No I know busy doesn't mean profitable but it sure plays a role.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
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Ted Baer is one of if not a majority owner.nebugeater wrote:There was / is another bowling lane in Elkhorn. It closed when this was built as I believe the Owner of the original Elkhorn Lanes was a part owner in this new venture. After being closed about six months it was sold and maybe resold and get this, opened back up as a bowling ally.
Anyone think this is a financial reorganization and the place will open back up in some way shape of form. I have never been there but knowing a few people that bowl a bunch and have been there they always say it is busy. No I know busy doesn't mean profitable but it sure plays a role.
Yes.omahastylee459 wrote:Really?worse location.
No signage. Â You can't see it from Dodge OR the Hwy (30, I think?). Â It's hidden behind a Menards, Jimmy John and Arby's. Â
Did anyone ever see any ads for it? Â If not for two articles in the OWH and this forum, I would never have known it existed.
PLUS, it was in the middle of BFE. Â And no, just because a couple of you might live within 4 miles doesn't make it NOT in the middle of BFE. Â Elkhorn has some nice homes and a great school district, but by and large that isn't a demographic that's going to pay $25/hr per lane to bowl.
Honestly, I think this would have gone over well near Crossroads.
Stable genius.
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In one form or another it would have been cool at Aksarben. Â For what it's worth, it might have been a good fit where the walmart is going in south of pacific on 72nd.Big E wrote:Yes.omahastylee459 wrote:Really?worse location.
No signage. You can't see it from Dodge OR the Hwy (30, I think?). It's hidden behind a Menards, Jimmy John and Arby's.
Did anyone ever see any ads for it? If not for two articles in the OWH and this forum, I would never have known it existed.
PLUS, it was in the middle of BFE. And no, just because a couple of you might live within 4 miles doesn't make it NOT in the middle of BFE. Elkhorn has some nice homes and a great school district, but by and large that isn't a demographic that's going to pay $25/hr per lane to bowl.
Honestly, I think this would have gone over well near Crossroads.
- nebugeater
- City Council
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How many of you have actually been there that are condemning the location? Â I have not and i stated that, but I have talked to plenty that have and people in the place are not the entire issues. Â From the post from the newguy too it sounds like enough people could find the place. Â Management issues can kill a place fast.
I agree the old location should have probably been taken out of commission. Â I understand that the old location is full up on leagues.
I agree the old location should have probably been taken out of commission. Â I understand that the old location is full up on leagues.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
Anyone I know that went there said the place was always busy and everyone had a great time.
Sounds like bad management to me.
Sounds like bad management to me.
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- TitosBuritoBarn
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- nativeomahan
- County Board
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- nebugeater
- City Council
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For what it's worth in the "it was sudden" department.
My wife works with a person that had a neighbor that was hired there on Friday, completed the paperwork needed, and when they showed up for their first day of work on Monday found the signs that said they were closed. Â Guess at lest some in management didn't know if the pending plans.
My wife works with a person that had a neighbor that was hired there on Friday, completed the paperwork needed, and when they showed up for their first day of work on Monday found the signs that said they were closed. Â Guess at lest some in management didn't know if the pending plans.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
I can see this place coming back in the Fall. Â Location is solid for what they are trying to do. Â It's really not just a bowling alley. Â It was big on the games, sports bar, and food. Â I know a lot of West O/Elkhorn birthday parties where there. Â Sounds like if they redo upper management they can make a go of it. Â They did advertise out west. Â We live near 156th and Fort and got plenty of advertising from them.
Greg
Greg
I don't believe that's true, the Thunderbowl in C.B. has hosted a couple PBA events in the last 4-5 years.thenewguy wrote:I hear it was the only PBA sanctioned lane in the area.
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
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--William Jennings Bryan
2008 NCAA Woman's bowling championship @ Thunder Alleyicejammer wrote:I don't believe that's true, the Thunderbowl in C.B. has hosted a couple PBA events in the last 4-5 years.thenewguy wrote:I hear it was the only PBA sanctioned lane in the area.
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icejammer wrote:I don't believe that's true, the Thunderbowl in C.B. has hosted a couple PBA events in the last 4-5 years.thenewguy wrote:I hear it was the only PBA sanctioned lane in the area.
I know they had, but since thunder alley opened (which had some of the same people involved in it), they decided to use thunder alley instead of thunder bowl...or so i was told by a person that worked there. Â They could be mistaken, though.
Go Cubs Go
nativeomahan wrote:I never understood the business plan for a place like this. Â It just didn't make a lick of sense to me.
What's not to understand about it? I'm a bowler...for the most part, bowling alleys are dumps. The "new" bowling alleys are trying to attract families and create a family environment. If done correctly, these places can do very well. Not knowing all the numbers, the figures I heard to open this place was a huge figure to get out from under. Also, if you are going to restructure yourself and possibly re-open, you didn't do yourself any favors from the little media circus you created.
I get the business, but I did NOT get the plan. Obviously business plans include extensive market analysis, and they did not do due diligence by allowing the old bowling alley to remain open with their entire client(league) base.Murz wrote:nativeomahan wrote:I never understood the business plan for a place like this. It just didn't make a lick of sense to me.
What's not to understand about it? I'm a bowler...for the most part, bowling alleys are dumps. The "new" bowling alleys are trying to attract families and create a family environment. If done correctly, these places can do very well. Not knowing all the numbers, the figures I heard to open this place was a huge figure to get out from under. Also, if you are going to restructure yourself and possibly re-open, you didn't do yourself any favors from the little media circus you created.
- nebugeater
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S33 wrote:I get the business, but I did NOT get the plan. Obviously business plans include extensive market analysis, and they did not do due diligence by allowing the old bowling alley to remain open with their entire client(league) base.Murz wrote:nativeomahan wrote:I never understood the business plan for a place like this. It just didn't make a lick of sense to me.
What's not to understand about it? I'm a bowler...for the most part, bowling alleys are dumps. The "new" bowling alleys are trying to attract families and create a family environment. If done correctly, these places can do very well. Not knowing all the numbers, the figures I heard to open this place was a huge figure to get out from under. Also, if you are going to restructure yourself and possibly re-open, you didn't do yourself any favors from the little media circus you created.
read all that has been written and I think the general consensus by those that have been there is that the amount of business, or at least perceived amount, is not the issue here. Â Granted the old ally doesn't help but I do not gather that it is the make or break issue.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
You are absolutely correct. If you investing that amount, you better do all the above. Whether it was customers, management, or something else, who cares...there closed. Hopefully, someone will come along and have better success.S33 wrote:I get the business, but I did NOT get the plan. Obviously business plans include extensive market analysis, and they did not do due diligence by allowing the old bowling alley to remain open with their entire client(league) base.Murz wrote:nativeomahan wrote:I never understood the business plan for a place like this. Â It just didn't make a lick of sense to me.
What's not to understand about it? I'm a bowler...for the most part, bowling alleys are dumps. The "new" bowling alleys are trying to attract families and create a family environment. If done correctly, these places can do very well. Not knowing all the numbers, the figures I heard to open this place was a huge figure to get out from under. Also, if you are going to restructure yourself and possibly re-open, you didn't do yourself any favors from the little media circus you created.
If it wasn't that then I don't know what it was. They did quite a bit of advertising (especially when they were first opening) and was still not enough.nebugeater wrote:S33 wrote:I get the business, but I did NOT get the plan. Obviously business plans include extensive market analysis, and they did not do due diligence by allowing the old bowling alley to remain open with their entire client(league) base.Murz wrote:nativeomahan wrote:I never understood the business plan for a place like this. It just didn't make a lick of sense to me.
What's not to understand about it? I'm a bowler...for the most part, bowling alleys are dumps. The "new" bowling alleys are trying to attract families and create a family environment. If done correctly, these places can do very well. Not knowing all the numbers, the figures I heard to open this place was a huge figure to get out from under. Also, if you are going to restructure yourself and possibly re-open, you didn't do yourself any favors from the little media circus you created.
read all that has been written and I think the general consensus by those that have been there is that the amount of business, or at least perceived amount, is not the issue here. Granted the old ally doesn't help but I do not gather that it is the make or break issue.
Please don't take customers advice on whether a business is busy enough to turn a profit. My friend owns a moderate sized bowling alley and spends close to $150k/year just for parts to keep the lanes running. Plus a mechanic or two who specialize in bowling equipment. They could be full from morning to night, but if you can't beat the overheads, your done. If your starting 10Million in the hole...you better know what you are doing, do it well and be spectacular.nebugeater wrote:S33 wrote:I get the business, but I did NOT get the plan. Obviously business plans include extensive market analysis, and they did not do due diligence by allowing the old bowling alley to remain open with their entire client(league) base.Murz wrote:nativeomahan wrote:I never understood the business plan for a place like this. Â It just didn't make a lick of sense to me.
What's not to understand about it? I'm a bowler...for the most part, bowling alleys are dumps. The "new" bowling alleys are trying to attract families and create a family environment. If done correctly, these places can do very well. Not knowing all the numbers, the figures I heard to open this place was a huge figure to get out from under. Also, if you are going to restructure yourself and possibly re-open, you didn't do yourself any favors from the little media circus you created.
read all that has been written and I think the general consensus by those that have been there is that the amount of business, or at least perceived amount, is not the issue here. Â Granted the old ally doesn't help but I do not gather that it is the make or break issue.
- nebugeater
- City Council
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S33 wrote:If it wasn't that then I don't know what it was. They did quite a bit of advertising (especially when they were first opening) and was still not enough.nebugeater wrote:S33 wrote:I get the business, but I did NOT get the plan. Obviously business plans include extensive market analysis, and they did not do due diligence by allowing the old bowling alley to remain open with their entire client(league) base.Murz wrote:nativeomahan wrote:I never understood the business plan for a place like this. It just didn't make a lick of sense to me.
What's not to understand about it? I'm a bowler...for the most part, bowling alleys are dumps. The "new" bowling alleys are trying to attract families and create a family environment. If done correctly, these places can do very well. Not knowing all the numbers, the figures I heard to open this place was a huge figure to get out from under. Also, if you are going to restructure yourself and possibly re-open, you didn't do yourself any favors from the little media circus you created.
read all that has been written and I think the general consensus by those that have been there is that the amount of business, or at least perceived amount, is not the issue here. Granted the old ally doesn't help but I do not gather that it is the make or break issue.
Mismanagement can destroy the most successful business. Â There are many examples. Â If you don't what to see that as an option that is fine.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!