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the entire chain to prepaid bowling. However, Robert Another stickler for the instruction card was Neil Hup-
Kaplus (the son) and Irwin Kaplus (the father), owners fauer of the Triangle Bowling Centers chain. Triangle was
of Nationwide, were more conservative in their thinking a joint venture with American Recreation Centers, and
and liked the idea of providing a lane to the customer, I had completely forgotten about Hupfauer’s insistence
like a table in a cafe or restaurant, and settling the bill at for the instruction card until Jay Trietley of Strike Ten
the end of the experience. Entertainment, a former manager of Triangle Bowl-
Enter Boston Beer. It was interested in establishing its Richardson, helped me to remember during a recent
brands, particularly Samuel Adams, in the New York City conversation.
market. Even though lane cards were no longer required “Neil liked the card for the same reasons as Nation-
because of the scoring systems, we convinced the folks wide, and also to provide a disclaimer for insurance
at Boston Beer to print cards with instructions on how to purposes,” said Trietley.
use the system, as well as an ad at the bottom promoting What will the future hold? It looks like hard seltzers and
one of its products. craft specialties are on the rise as healthier alternatives to
The result was an instruction card for the scoring beer because they have fewer calories and carbs and less
devices that enabled the customer to bowl without inter- sugar. A recent Boston Beer presentation revealed that
ruption, rather than trying to decide in advance how consumers are spending the same or more on alcohol as
much time or the number of games they wanted to roll, they did pre-COVID but making fewer trips to the bar.
and whether they wanted to continue when the initial Perhaps a commemorative mug, shaker or bowling pin
time was over. glass could make the difference and increase the percent-
There are pros and cons to both methods. Obviously, age of return visits.
the prepaid method eliminates walkouts, whereas the Hmm… Percentages… Commemorative mugs.
postpaid idea provides a more hospitable procedure. Darius Brunner would be pleased.

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