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ENLARGE
Curt and Mindy Wegener have owned the bowling alley since 1998.
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ENLARGE
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Curt Wegener, co-owner of Bowl Incline with his wife Mindy, bowls a few frames Saturday morning at the alley.
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Before his unfortunate death in October 2000, Incline resident Sam Waldman was best known publicly as owner of Bowl Incline and Incline Village Car Wash, and the founder of Kids & Horses Therapeutic Riding Program in Gardnerville, Nev.
Privately, the man was a lot more.
“I grew up and didn’t really have a dad, and with Sam, I could almost talk to him like a father,” said Leyton Collins, a 15-year employee at Bowl Incline. “He was just the greatest guy, someone who would do anything for us. He’d always try to do what was best, what he thought was right in his mind.”
There have been many stories since Waldman’s passing near the turn of the century. Those stories, and many more, are sure to be thrown around next weekend, when the bowling alley celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Bowl Incline has been around since the mid-60s, but it was in 1988 when Waldman, searching for a business opportunity on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore, purchased the bowling center. Since ‘88, it has stayed family owned, and next Saturday’s anniversary party will celebrate those 20 years.
And it will serve as a tribute to the man who made it happen in the first place.
“Sam always wanted his family together, and he wanted to be able to give things and enjoy things with all of us,” said Incline resident Mindy Wegener, who co-owns Bowl Incline with her husband Curt Wegener. Waldman was the Wegeners’ stepfather. “And having the bowling alley and the car wash was a way to do that.”
Collins agreed, saying the family atmosphere at the bowling alley was a big draw that made him stay.
“I’ve worked in bowling for a long time, at a lot of bowling centers, and I really like the family-run business,” Collins said. “You can just get much more accomplished, it’s a better working environment ... and it’s easier to get along with the boss.”
It wasn’t long after Waldman bought the bowling alley that he and his son David Waldman rolled out with a mass renovation. It’s hard to tell now, but Bowl Incline looked a bit different before Waldman took over.
Where the shoe counter stands now, there used to be another row of slot machines. Where the arcade sits now, there was a small luncheonette, which served hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos — regular bar/bowling alley food. There even was a large wall that separated the bowling alley from the bar. And the arcade used to be where the golf simulator currently resides.
Waldman was sure to go high-tech as well. The computer scoring system currently at the bowling alley is a set Waldman purchased shortly after buying the place in ‘88.
“It was actually one of the first models of electric scorers,” Mindy Wegener said.
After Waldman bought the car wash in March 1992, the Wegeners moved to Incline, at first to work at the car wash. They soon began working at the bowling alley and have been here since. Soon after, Collins joined the team to help as a mechanic and in the pro shop.
They Wegeners took over ownership in 1998, after David Waldman moved with his family to New Hampshire. In a way, Saturday’s event will be a 10-year anniversary for them.
The party takes place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Bowl Incline. Among the drink specials, free food and live entertainment will be a certain level of nostalgia, too.
“We’ll have a bulletin board full of pictures from years, and we’ve got an article from the historical society, from way back when the building was built,” Curt Wegener said. “We really want the community to come out and have a good time. Come out and eat and share some old stories ... I’m sure there’s plenty.”
Considering Bowl Incline has been in the Waldman and Wegener family for 20 years, there most likely will be quite a few stories to share.
“Twenty years is a big deal — there’s not a lot of business that can say that around here,” Collins said. “With the demographics and people leaving all the time, 20 years at one location is pretty big deal.”
Besides discounted games of bowling, Saturday’s event will feature a complimentary barbecue from Brimm’s Catering Co., and free entertainment from local bands Jacked Up and Pig Nation.
Saturday’s event not only is an anniversary celebration, but also a tribute to bowling alley’s generous community. It’s community that makes it easy for Bowl Incline to host private parties and events, such as the Bowl-a-Thon fundraiser and the Star Follies after party, among other events.
“You guys have kept us here so long, come out and have some fun,” said Mindy Wegener. “So come out and have some fun.”
If you go
What: Bowl Incline 20th Anniversary Celebration
When: Noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6
Where: Bowl Incline, 920 Southwood Blvd.
Free Food: There will be a complimentary barbecue, courtesy of Brimm’s Catering Co.
Cheap Drinks: There will be $2 domestic drafts and $3 micro drafts.
Bowl Cheap: $2 bowling games will be offered.
Accepting applications
Bowl Incline currently is seeking interested bowlers to join its 2008-2009 winter bowling leagues.
The four leagues for which people can apply are:
• Monday: Women’s Handicap League; starts Sept. 15
• Tuesday: Sierra Men’s Handicap League; starts Sept. 16
• Thursday: Mixed League; starts Sept. 11
• Friday: T.G.I.F.; starts Sept. 12
For information, call Bowl Incline at (775) 831-1900, or pick up an application at the bowling alley, located at 920 Southwood Blvd.
Privately, the man was a lot more.
“I grew up and didn’t really have a dad, and with Sam, I could almost talk to him like a father,” said Leyton Collins, a 15-year employee at Bowl Incline. “He was just the greatest guy, someone who would do anything for us. He’d always try to do what was best, what he thought was right in his mind.”
There have been many stories since Waldman’s passing near the turn of the century. Those stories, and many more, are sure to be thrown around next weekend, when the bowling alley celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Bowl Incline has been around since the mid-60s, but it was in 1988 when Waldman, searching for a business opportunity on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore, purchased the bowling center. Since ‘88, it has stayed family owned, and next Saturday’s anniversary party will celebrate those 20 years.
And it will serve as a tribute to the man who made it happen in the first place.
“Sam always wanted his family together, and he wanted to be able to give things and enjoy things with all of us,” said Incline resident Mindy Wegener, who co-owns Bowl Incline with her husband Curt Wegener. Waldman was the Wegeners’ stepfather. “And having the bowling alley and the car wash was a way to do that.”
Collins agreed, saying the family atmosphere at the bowling alley was a big draw that made him stay.
“I’ve worked in bowling for a long time, at a lot of bowling centers, and I really like the family-run business,” Collins said. “You can just get much more accomplished, it’s a better working environment ... and it’s easier to get along with the boss.”
It wasn’t long after Waldman bought the bowling alley that he and his son David Waldman rolled out with a mass renovation. It’s hard to tell now, but Bowl Incline looked a bit different before Waldman took over.
Where the shoe counter stands now, there used to be another row of slot machines. Where the arcade sits now, there was a small luncheonette, which served hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos — regular bar/bowling alley food. There even was a large wall that separated the bowling alley from the bar. And the arcade used to be where the golf simulator currently resides.
Waldman was sure to go high-tech as well. The computer scoring system currently at the bowling alley is a set Waldman purchased shortly after buying the place in ‘88.
“It was actually one of the first models of electric scorers,” Mindy Wegener said.
After Waldman bought the car wash in March 1992, the Wegeners moved to Incline, at first to work at the car wash. They soon began working at the bowling alley and have been here since. Soon after, Collins joined the team to help as a mechanic and in the pro shop.
They Wegeners took over ownership in 1998, after David Waldman moved with his family to New Hampshire. In a way, Saturday’s event will be a 10-year anniversary for them.
The party takes place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Bowl Incline. Among the drink specials, free food and live entertainment will be a certain level of nostalgia, too.
“We’ll have a bulletin board full of pictures from years, and we’ve got an article from the historical society, from way back when the building was built,” Curt Wegener said. “We really want the community to come out and have a good time. Come out and eat and share some old stories ... I’m sure there’s plenty.”
Considering Bowl Incline has been in the Waldman and Wegener family for 20 years, there most likely will be quite a few stories to share.
“Twenty years is a big deal — there’s not a lot of business that can say that around here,” Collins said. “With the demographics and people leaving all the time, 20 years at one location is pretty big deal.”
Besides discounted games of bowling, Saturday’s event will feature a complimentary barbecue from Brimm’s Catering Co., and free entertainment from local bands Jacked Up and Pig Nation.
Saturday’s event not only is an anniversary celebration, but also a tribute to bowling alley’s generous community. It’s community that makes it easy for Bowl Incline to host private parties and events, such as the Bowl-a-Thon fundraiser and the Star Follies after party, among other events.
“You guys have kept us here so long, come out and have some fun,” said Mindy Wegener. “So come out and have some fun.”
If you go
What: Bowl Incline 20th Anniversary Celebration
When: Noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6
Where: Bowl Incline, 920 Southwood Blvd.
Free Food: There will be a complimentary barbecue, courtesy of Brimm’s Catering Co.
Cheap Drinks: There will be $2 domestic drafts and $3 micro drafts.
Bowl Cheap: $2 bowling games will be offered.
Accepting applications
Bowl Incline currently is seeking interested bowlers to join its 2008-2009 winter bowling leagues.
The four leagues for which people can apply are:
• Monday: Women’s Handicap League; starts Sept. 15
• Tuesday: Sierra Men’s Handicap League; starts Sept. 16
• Thursday: Mixed League; starts Sept. 11
• Friday: T.G.I.F.; starts Sept. 12
For information, call Bowl Incline at (775) 831-1900, or pick up an application at the bowling alley, located at 920 Southwood Blvd.
