By Julie Ray
The letter “B” is a very big letter, especially if it is on the front of the newly renovated and revamped Andy B’s bowling lanes. In fact, it is impossible to miss at night when the extra large B is lit up in a reddish hue, bigger than life and is facing the main drag at the 6276 Stage Road location. In an effort to show off the entertainment venue, the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) recently held Business After Hours Thursday at the bowling alley.
The VIB (very important bowler) lounge was the location of the BACC function. Entering the property, one finds a bustling arcade with lights and bells and whistles. Just to the left of the arcade is the lounge, situated just beyond the two human sized lava lamps on either side of the lounge entrance. The lava lamps are a brilliant red and all the furniture and fixtures in the lounge are the same brilliant shade of red. The whole room gives the aura of a speakeasy. Inside the VIB lounge is a full service bar serving drinks and food items from the newly renovated kitchen. No stone was left unturned in the renovations. There is a 60-foot wide video screen, plush seating and lanes for VIB guests.
During the event, owner Andy Bartholomy spoke about the facility and his investment in not just the bowling alley but also the Bartlett community. General Manager of the property, Robret Luckett, also spoke. Luckett has been property manager through the entire addition of over 13 thousand square feet. Jerry Dupree of the BACC pulled the first door prize name out of the bowling bag after all the speeches were made. Greg Shelton, CPA won a $50 gift card to the game room. Shelton’s wife, Brenda quipped that it would keep him busy while she bowled.
For the rest of the evening, members of the Bartlett business community traded heels and oxfords for bowling shoes and bowled strikes, spares, gutter balls and everything in between. St. Ann’s new church secretary, Susan Hunt, attended the function with husband, Bob Hunt, son, Jake Hunt and friend of the family, Michael Powers.
Quietly overseeing the whole event from the bar area were the contractors for the bowling lanes, Syler Construction. Admittedly, the father and son contractors, Garret and Jerry Syler along with employee Jon Austin just wanted to “see if people liked it.” The overwhelming consensus was that it was a perfect strike.
