Owner Christina D’Alessandro of Bradford Underground Bowl plans to reopen the lanes after the Labour Day long weekend.
The town’s only five pin bowling alley closed in March along with many other businesses when the pandemic first struck.
“People started cancelling before the March Break because they were afraid,” notes D’Alessandro, adding that she had a lot of parties and fundraisers booked before they were forced to close.
As the province entered Stage 3, D’Alessandro reached out to other local businesses to find out what the protocols were to ensure a safe reopening.
“We’ve had to reduce the lanes to every other lane,” explains D’Alessandro, noting the 12 lanes will be cut down to six. “And we will have limited seating areas… chairs have been eliminated.”
To bowl, customers are encouraged to make a reservation for a lane (for their family “bubble”) but walk-ins are also accepted. A hand sanitizer station will be set up at the front door entrance with a logbook to record customer names for contact tracing.
Masks will continue to be encouraged in common areas, but not mandatory in a reserved lane with one’s family/bubble. Surgical masks will be made available.
“We will be sanitizing shoes, lanes, seating areas, counters, and all [bowling] balls before and after each game,” explains D’Alessandro. “The bathrooms will be cleaned every 15 minutes as well.”
Birthday parties and private functions will be spaced out, and D’Alessandro is looking at options of having outdoor eating areas under pop-up tents in the parking lot (weather permitting).
“Everything is a bit of an experiment right now,” expresses D’Alessandro. “We’ll be looking to see what the traffic will be like to see if we need more help… we want to accommodate everyone.”
The alley will still be serving drinks, food, and alcoholic beverages (all in disposable containers), and the bar area has been rearranged to accommodate social distancing.
“We’re excited to be back!” exclaims D’Alessandro. “Hoping to see familiar faces [and] see the little kids out again.”
D’Alessandro notes that bowling fees have not been increased and remain at $4.75 per person, per game. They are now taking reservations for private bookings – the more advance notice the better.
“We just want people to get back out again,” adds D’Alessandro.
The bowling alley is closed Mondays and Tuesdays but open Wednesdays to Sundays with varying hours. Bowling leagues are pending for the time being.
For more information, visit: www.bradfordundergroundbowl.ca
