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A listing of local smokefree dining and entertainment venues.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact: Paul Kreins (409) 749-0082 (cell)
3500 Regional Drive, Port Arthur, TX 77642
(409) 724-6845
PARK CENTRAL BOWL TO GO SMOKE-FREE
Park Central Bowling Center's new owner, Paul Kreins, has announced that the 40-lane recreational facility will go smoke-free beginning May 26, 2005.
"This is a bold move for us," admitted Kreins, who acquired the center in March, "But we feel it's the right thing to do at this time."
Kreins, a 30-year bowling industry veteran and consultant, says that many people, who otherwise love to bowl, won't go into bowling centers because of the smoke. He explained that Park Central Bowl is being re-positioned as family-friendly and kid-friendly through new promotional programs and that the decision to go smoke-free is a natural part of that business strategy.
Asked about the possibility of losing customers who smoke, Kreins explained, "We don't want to lose any customers. We are not telling customers who smoke that they can't smoke at all. We will allow smoking in designated areas (where minors can't go) such as the lounge. We want to accommodate all customers. But, the fact is, you cannot accommodate non-smokers in a smoking environment."
Kreins says that 11 states currently have indoor clean air laws that prevent smoking in bowling centers and that hundreds of cities have enacted similar ordinances. "Smokers are used to not being able to smoke in public places," says Kreins. "They can't smoke in malls, theaters, schools, hospitals, restaurants, sports stadiums or virtually any place children frequent. Bowling centers should be no different than those places."
Kreins, who does consulting for hundreds of bowling centers, has long advocated the importance of bowling centers being smoke free. "We [the bowling industry] have seen the number of league bowlers decline for 20 consecutive years. We know this statistic is directly related to the smoking issue. We know that many families won't set foot in a bowling center because of the smoke."
Kreins insists this is strictly a business strategy whose time has come. "Our smoking customers like to suggest that we're imposing our moral values on them, but this has nothing to do with that, it has everything to do with making a sound marketing and business decision. Seventy-five percent of the general population doesn't smoke. It's a simple matter of targeting the largest market segment possible."
Park Central Bowl has initiated several new youth and family-oriented programs and has partnered with five area school districts to offer their "Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Bowling" program this Summer. Port Arthur, Nederland, Port Neches, Orangefield and Bridge City students will each receive a card that entitles them to one free game of bowling (plus bowling shoes) every day, all Summer long beginning June 1st.
Kreins, who developed the "Say No to Drugs" bowling program 15 years ago, says it is being run successfully in dozens of communities around the world.
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