Employees and members of the Andrade family gathered on the approach at Strike City for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting Wednesday afternoon, a major benchmark in a difficult rebuilding process.
The former Mariner Lanes has undergone a near complete renovation over essentially the past two years, providing for a major facelift of the bowling center opened in 1989.
“It means a lot, due to the fact that it’s been the most difficult time in my life and my family’s life,” Strike City owner Arnie Andrade said. “But the results; we’re truly happy and blessed that we’ve gotten to this point. And if we had to do it again, we would.”
The Andrade family, which had previously owned Spring Hill Lanes, purchased Mariner Lanes back in 2013. After a lengthy legal process to finally begin making improvements on the facility, virtually every square inch was worked over, according to Andrade.
Most of the changes are easy to spot. New carpeting, a new paint job, new furniture and new flat-screen televisions all around.
Bowling circles now feature black leather couches, new tables, a new computer scoring system with larger high-definition screens and new ball returns.
The final six lanes located in front of the snack bar have been transformed into what is being called the Kingpin area, a boutique setup designed to cater to parties and group functions. The hope, said Andrade, is that bowlers who make use of this area are “actually experiencing a whole new type of atmosphere that they would not have experienced in the past in a traditional bowling center.”
On the other end of the building sits a large arcade. The area had originally housed an arcade and pool room as well as office space before being converted into a bodega under previous ownership.
Spare Time Sports Bar and Eatery has also undergone a reconstruction and received its own new name, Uptown Bar and Grill. There are several other elements to the renovation, with some smaller cosmetic details yet to be completed.
“Everything that you can imagine in building a bowling center,” Andrade said. “I could highlight certain areas, but every single aspect of this facility we’ve touched.
“Taking an existing shell, not the way we would have done it, to accomplish what we have; I think everyone in our family is extremely pleased and happy with the results.”
Andrade credited his parents, who are part of the ownership group, for making the transformation possible. He believes the bowling center now falls in line with the improved quality of other entertainment and food venues in the area.
“We’ve been residences for close to 40 years. We’re proud of Hernando County,” Andrade said. “And we hope in the future, Hernando County becomes proud of us.”
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.