Battlefield Lanes to become full-scale family entertainment complex
MAY 2014
Battlefield Lanes announced Tuesday that it will begin a multimillion-dollar massive renovation and addition, transforming into Andy B's Luxury Bowling and Multi-Tainment Complex — the first of its kind in the Ozarks, according to a news release.
Construction begins this month with expected completion by the end of November. A groundbreaking will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Currently, the 1127 E. Battlefield Road location houses Battlefield Lanes Bowling Center, which has been operating since 1971. Upon completion, the facility will offer:
- Twenty-one lanes of traditional bowling with full food and beverage service on every lane.
- Ten lanes of luxury bowling (private bowling lanes with big-screen videos, music, flat-screen TVs and the latest in scoring) with full food and beverage service on every lane.
- A state-of-the-art underground 2,700-square foot laser tag arena for up to 20 multiple players.
- A large redemption game room and prize center with the latest games for adults and children.
- A full-scale restaurant and bar with catering menu.
- Corporate and private meeting and party rooms downstairs, equipped with 60-inch flat screens, laptop and Wi-Fi, karaoke consoles, surround-sound music and videos.
According to a news release, the new facility is expected to add dozens of jobs to the area, with an additional increase in sales tax and revenue to the city and Greene County.
"Our goal as a company is to offer healthy, safe and exciting entertainment to residents and families of all ages," owner Andy Bartholomy said in a statement.
"We believe the bowling centers are part of the American heritage and we want that heritage to remain the core of our foundation while adding other venues to our offering.
"By doing this, we create a positive atmosphere and experience that appeals to everyone. It's good for the community and it's good for business."
"We are very excited to be able to offer this to the area residents."
The corporate headquarters for Bartholomy Bowling Centers will be housed there as well.
Springfield location will be third Bartholomy Bowling site
This location will be the third Andy B's complex among Bartholomy's bowling centers.
One is in Tulsa, Okla., and the other in Bartlett, Tenn.
Bartholomy also owns seven other bowling centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee, as well as Starlite Lanes in Lebanon and Buckhorn Lanes in Waynesville.
Under the Bartholomy Bowling Center corporation are two brands: Andy B's and Bartholomy Bowling.
The Andy B's are full-scale luxury entertainment venues, like the one coming to Springfield; the Bartholomy Bowling Centers are traditional ones.
JR Huyck, a longtime resident of Springfield and lifelong competitive bowler and sales professional, is the general manager of Battlefield Lanes and will assume the same role when it becomes an Andy B's complex.
"We know that this new venue will have a positive economic impact for the Greater Springfield area, from a resident perspective as well as bringing in additional tourism dollars," Huyck said in a statement.
"We are so pleased to be a positive force in our community. We are creating Springfield's 'go to' destinations for entertainment and dining in the Ozarks."
About the groundbreaking
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce will host the groundbreaking at 11 a.m. Thursday in the parking lot of Battlefield Lanes, 1127 E. Battlefield Road. After the groundbreaking, attendees are invited inside Battlefield Lanes to review plans and renderings, play a game of bowling and enjoy appetizers.
This article originally appeared in a 2014 article in the Springfield News-Leader.
