Bowling
Brunswick Teams Up With North Imperial Associates to Bring Premier Bowling & Entertainment Center to Imperial Valley
Companies, Community Officials Break Ground, Announce Jobs
EL CENTRO, Calif. (Dec. 4, 2007) – Brunswick Bowling & Billiards and North Imperial Associates, LLC, have announced plans to construct a state-of-the-art bowling and entertainment center at 950 North Imperial Highway in El Centro. Brunswick Zone XL El Centro will be the first of its kind in California and one of the newest locations in Brunswick's chain of more than 108 bowling and entertainment centers in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The center will be owned by North Imperial Associates, LLC, and managed and operated by Brunswick Bowling & Billiards. Brunswick Zone XL El Centro is scheduled to open May 2008.
“We are thrilled to bring Brunswick Zone XL El Centro to the Imperial Valley,” said Michael Malvin, North Imperial Associates managing partner. “With all of the growth in the Imperial Valley, this family fun entertainment center will be a perfect fit in the area, and we are pleased to facilitate the funding to make this project a reality.”
Brunswick Zone XL El Centro will feature more than 54,000 square feet of entertainment for leagues, parties, corporate meetings and group events. The facility will include 36 lanes of bowling, laser tag, a fun-filled video game arcade, Brunswick billiards room, large screen TVs, spacious meeting rooms and much more. Brunswick Zone XL El Centro will also provide a smoke-free bowling environment.
“The new facility will bring more than 100 new jobs to the area, full and part-time,” said Don MacBrayne, regional operations director - Brunswick Bowling & Billiards - Retail Division. “We look for individuals who are customer service oriented, want to grow with the company and, of course, want to have fun on the job!”
To reflect the changing face of bowling, the new center is designed to meet the entertainment needs of families, friends, groups and businesses seeking to enjoy everything from children's birthday parties, to casual bowling fun, to a place to celebrate a special occasion or hold a serious league competition.
“We are excited to bring the very best in bowling and family entertainment to the Imperial Valley,” said Warren Hardie, president, Brunswick Bowling & Billiards. “In addition to fun-filled programs and entertainment options, we look forward to providing our customers with the very best service possible.”
Duggins Construction of Imperial, Calif. is the contractor for the project and a founding investor and development partner. The El Centro Office of Rabobank is providing the mortgage financing for the project and the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development is providing loan guarantees to facilitate the project. The total project cost is more than $10 million.
"We are pleased to be a part of this amazing project which will provide a wonderful venue for fun and entertainment to the families and residents of the Imperial Valley," said Dave Takata, Rabobank regional president.
“USDA Rural Development is proud to support this bowling center with a $5 million loan guarantee," said USDA Rural Development state director Ben Higgins. "We are committed to providing businesses with the tools they need to create jobs, build new economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural communities like El Centro."
About Brunswick Bowling & Billiards
Brunswick Bowling & Billiards is one of the largest operators of full-service bowling and family recreation centers in North America; is a full-line supplier of bowling equipment, supplies and consumer products, and designs billiards tables and accessories. For more information on Brunswick Zone XL El Centro, call 1-877-FUN-BOWL or visit www.bowlbrunswick.com.
For further information, contact:
Katie Hasse or Mary Pettersen
Cushman/Amberg Communications
Office: 312-263-2500 Cell: 312-350-0502
khasse@cushmanamberg.com
