TEN-PIN bowlers will be dancing in the moonlight when Kaboom Entertainment reopens tonight for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic forced its closure.
When restrictions were enforced in late March, the popular bowling alley was forced to lockup and await the slow easing of restrictions that have rolled out over recent weeks.
But after a challenging period, the day has finally arrived where the entertainment complex can swing open its doors once again.
Kaboom Entertainment owner Stewart Owen cannot wait to welcome back the community tonight when he launches the first moonlight bowling to mark the reopening.
“It’s very exciting, I jumped up and put my uniform on today, just to make sure it all still fits,” Mr Owen said.
“Tonight will be our very first lights out moonlight bowling, usually we do lights out from 7pm to 10pm and then we close, but we are continuing from 10pm until midnight with moonlight bowling.
“We have done an upgrade over the lanes with some new lights, which we will flick on at 10pm and it will certainly change the atmosphere up here.”
But if you want to throw down a bowl and catch a glimpse of the new lights, Mr Owen said you will need to book from 9am today.
“I would definitely recommend booking a lane if you want to come
down – we are going to be open every night next week and then we’re into school holidays,” he said.
“I expect us to be busy because we have been lucky enough to be well supported by the community the last five years and we are getting a lot of positive messages they will come back and support us again when we reopen.”
Admitting it will be a new experience, Mr Owen said the business was committed to adhering to hygiene and social-distancing advice from health authorities.
“We will have hand sanitiser as you come in, there will be social-distancing on the lanes, all shoes will be sanitised and we will be cleaning bowling balls between lanes,” he said.
“We will comply with all the COVID-19 guidelines.”
In addition to Kaboom Entertainment, Mr Owen anticipated the Treehouse Adventure Centre would be given the all clear to reopen next week.
“We have not done our safety management plan for Treehouse, so we cannot say when we are going to open, but I would say it’s going to be next week sometime,” Mr Owen said.
“It could be Monday, it could be Tuesday, but if it’s not it will definitely be Wednesday.”
While closing down for such a lengthy period was not ideal, he said he had not stopped making changes to improve the experience at both businesses.
“We have been doing as much maintenance as possible, we have done the ramp, we have been painting, we have done the lanes and the machines,” he said.
“Then you have the Treehouse where the work has just been astronomical, but it’s been great to be able to expand in the downtime.”
Unable to contain his excitement, Mr Owen said the community was going to be particularly amazed by the work undertaken at the Treehouse Adventure Centre.
“I finished the pedal go-kart track this week and it is just the bees knees,” he said.
“I went in there yesterday morning and blew up all the bouncy castles, I turned on all the lights and just stood back to look at it and it really is going to be a cool space.
“I’m bursting at the seams to get these businesses back open.”
UPCOMING CHANGES
• Capacity limits scrapped
• One person per two square metre rule for businesses and venues
• Extra police checkpoints on Victorian border
• Pre-approval required for essential travellers (details not yet released)
• Non-essential NSW and Victorian travellers still have to quarantine
• Contact indoor sport will resume
• Gaming rooms will re-open
• Food courts will re-open
• Nightclubs and large crowds at events under consideration
