brgrcru
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- Messages
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No we are not having a baby
Some of you knew , that I owned ,a little 8 lane bowling alley , in montrose . one of the oldest allies in California or the west. Started in 1936.
Been in my family since 1980. I have been involved since the early 2000's. My dad asked if I could run it for him . he was battling with a sickness.
We lived in canyon lake and I ran a trucking transfer business , as a o/o. For years. Before. So we sold everything and moved back to where I grew up.
Leased from him and my mom, for about 10 years . Until they both passed away . Then had to buy sister out , for a shit load of money .
The montrose bowl specialized in private events , movie , music video and even a bit of porn shoots in the early days . Rent the entire bowl for your party . We were doing between 40-60 events a month. Why ? well you could have a party at montrose , for almost less , then you could do one at home . For 80 of your guests . With no clean up and mess at your house .
When we bought sister out we quickly put new plumbing , electric, sewer, a/c, and lanes.
Fun Business to run as 99% of time , we had happy people to deal with. Great fun entertaining venue . But still a business and most every weekend and holidays we were at the bowl ,enjoying the hosts events.
More or less just the wife and I ran the place. With one extra local kid to help.
We had a very rich life . Not money wise , but could do what we wanted , When we Want. Leave for River sunday night come back Wednesday Glamis , skiing or nothing. Kind of a dream business and life.
But it was also taxing and we thought of selling and moving out of califorina . At 55 We decided to keep going for another 10 years.
Then 2020 hit . January we started feeling the slow down , no more bookings . By February were doing a few events , that were pre booked . By March completely dry. Not one event. Tried open bowling . Not many showed up , it was costing me more to stay open , then just close up and hang. Was threatened by the city . All this time I still had to make all the payments mortgage tax ins.elec. etc. thank full we had money saved.
By June , I was in a bad place mentally , what the hell am I going to do? physically I was still mountain biking and hiking .
mountain biking , I flew off the same big jump I always do , crashed and broke my wrist.
The day before, I signed up for truck driving school. I let my class a license expire. I never thought , I would drive a truck again .
Went to school and passed my test , with a cast on my hand.
By late July my bowl broker told me , we had some interest , in the bowl. One family would like to buy it .
They hit me in the knees , with there offer , we came with a little more , not going to be greedy , we accepted . After throwing over 8 k a month into something , with no income , I had no choice . I didn't see us opening anytime soon. It will take years , to get it back , to what it once was.
So the bowl is sold and I have my money , after 40 years in our family , it's a sad day , but thank God every day that someone , bought it ,that can sit , on it for a few years.
To my demise , somebody capitalized .
We Will miss the life that we had , and the bowling alley . But that's life . We moved on , the transition was easier . Because we were not working it everyday.
In the end we lost so much money, value on property, Income , expenses .
Made some of it back. On sale . More or less set for life . But I like to work . 9 months at home , no thanks .
Life goes full circle , now I'm back to trucking , running local flatbeds , and loving it . Until we find what our next chapter brings .
Sorry for the long thread , but never give up and allways look forward . Kind of been my motto .
Cheers , Bob
Some of you knew , that I owned ,a little 8 lane bowling alley , in montrose . one of the oldest allies in California or the west. Started in 1936.
Been in my family since 1980. I have been involved since the early 2000's. My dad asked if I could run it for him . he was battling with a sickness.
We lived in canyon lake and I ran a trucking transfer business , as a o/o. For years. Before. So we sold everything and moved back to where I grew up.
Leased from him and my mom, for about 10 years . Until they both passed away . Then had to buy sister out , for a shit load of money .
The montrose bowl specialized in private events , movie , music video and even a bit of porn shoots in the early days . Rent the entire bowl for your party . We were doing between 40-60 events a month. Why ? well you could have a party at montrose , for almost less , then you could do one at home . For 80 of your guests . With no clean up and mess at your house .
When we bought sister out we quickly put new plumbing , electric, sewer, a/c, and lanes.
Fun Business to run as 99% of time , we had happy people to deal with. Great fun entertaining venue . But still a business and most every weekend and holidays we were at the bowl ,enjoying the hosts events.
More or less just the wife and I ran the place. With one extra local kid to help.
We had a very rich life . Not money wise , but could do what we wanted , When we Want. Leave for River sunday night come back Wednesday Glamis , skiing or nothing. Kind of a dream business and life.
But it was also taxing and we thought of selling and moving out of califorina . At 55 We decided to keep going for another 10 years.
Then 2020 hit . January we started feeling the slow down , no more bookings . By February were doing a few events , that were pre booked . By March completely dry. Not one event. Tried open bowling . Not many showed up , it was costing me more to stay open , then just close up and hang. Was threatened by the city . All this time I still had to make all the payments mortgage tax ins.elec. etc. thank full we had money saved.
By June , I was in a bad place mentally , what the hell am I going to do? physically I was still mountain biking and hiking .
mountain biking , I flew off the same big jump I always do , crashed and broke my wrist.
The day before, I signed up for truck driving school. I let my class a license expire. I never thought , I would drive a truck again .
Went to school and passed my test , with a cast on my hand.
By late July my bowl broker told me , we had some interest , in the bowl. One family would like to buy it .
They hit me in the knees , with there offer , we came with a little more , not going to be greedy , we accepted . After throwing over 8 k a month into something , with no income , I had no choice . I didn't see us opening anytime soon. It will take years , to get it back , to what it once was.
So the bowl is sold and I have my money , after 40 years in our family , it's a sad day , but thank God every day that someone , bought it ,that can sit , on it for a few years.
To my demise , somebody capitalized .
We Will miss the life that we had , and the bowling alley . But that's life . We moved on , the transition was easier . Because we were not working it everyday.
In the end we lost so much money, value on property, Income , expenses .
Made some of it back. On sale . More or less set for life . But I like to work . 9 months at home , no thanks .
Life goes full circle , now I'm back to trucking , running local flatbeds , and loving it . Until we find what our next chapter brings .
Sorry for the long thread , but never give up and allways look forward . Kind of been my motto .
Cheers , Bob