Strikes in the alley

Strikes Family Entertai-nment Center owners Jim Falls and Keith Burcham were prepared for rain Nov. 3 when about 40 friends, well-wishers, city dignitaries and investors met in a tent for a groundbreaking of their bowling facility.Strikes is the first new bowling entertainment venue to be built in Placer County in 20 years. Both owners are residents of Granite Bay. The pair met when Falls hired Burcham to work for his construction business and they coached football together at Granite Bay High School. They had known each other for eight years when they purchased Fireside Lanes in Citrus Heights in 2003. The old bowling alley, built in 1964, was in need of many upgrades and repairs. Their construction experience came in handy while they learned the bowling business.Hoping the clear skies that prevailed would be an omen, the two turned the first shovels of dirt for the new recreational spot then thanked everyone for gathering at the site where the 65,000-square-foot bowling facility will be built."It's a wonderful addition to Rocklin," said Linda Nagel, Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce director of media relations. "It's a much needed outlet for youth. But, the best part is, it bridges all ages." Falls said Strikes would celebrate its grand opening sometime in July, even though he and Burcham had planned for the center to open sooner."The process has been good," he said. "It has taken longer than we had hoped but I think that is a function of us not knowing what to expect when we got started. The city of Rocklin has been great to work with. They have kept to their schedules and have been looking forward to our project almost as much as we have."Rocklin Mayor Peter Hill joined the group who met for the Strikes groundbreaking."This is going to be a wonderful source of entertainment for the community," he said. "This is not the old-style bowling alley. This is a significant addition to the city." Using Fireside Lanes as a prospering training ground, Burcham revitalized a plan he had drawn out years earlier. He convinced Falls his idea for a family bowling featured recreational center was a good one.After the two found the Lonetree property, they were encouraged by the response of the Rocklin Planning Commission and City Council."Their response was overwhelmingly positive," Burcham said. "I thought, 'Maybe this is a good idea.'"Their "idea" at 5681 Lonetree Blvd. will feature 52 bowling lanes, with 32 dedicated to leagues. There will be 20 for open bowling, four of which will feature a "plushly" set-up for executive parties or celebrities who need privacy. Groundbreaking guests viewed a rendering of the center that showed 20 bowling lanes going in one direction and the other 32 the opposite.The restaurant, which will offer more than the typical fried appetizers, will have eight 20-foot video screens that sports teams can utilize for viewing their games while they eat.Party and meeting rooms, bumper cars, an arcade and a climbing wall are part of the plan."We did huge feasibility studies," Burcham said. "People want a place to go for year-round activities."Falls said he and Burcham had waited a long time for the reality of their plan to come to fruition."This had been a longtime dream that turned into a quest," he said. "Everybody has been so gracious and good. Now our wives realize we're not totally insane."