urney chocolates is a confectionery business now based in county kildare , ireland .

the brand is now operated by l.c. confectionery ltd . urney chocolates was established in 1919 by eileen and harry gallagher at their home , urney house , in the parish of urney , county tyrone .

harry gallagher ( born 1879 ) was crown solicitor for county donegal .

sweet-making was one of a number of local industries started by eileen gallagher based in the back garden of their house in an effort to stem the tide of emigration from the area .

the original factory burned down in 1924 and they moved production to belgard road , tallaght , dublin .

by the 1960s urney chocolates and its subsidiaries were employing almost 1,000 workers .

at that time it was considered one of the largest chocolate factories in europe .

the new york-based company , w & r grace bought urney 's out in 1963 and sold it on as a going concern to unilever in 1970 .

unilever soon changed the name to hb chocolates .

they ceased production in 1980 .

the former factory became a diy store .

urney chocolates

urney chocolates <EOT> “she was a remarkable woman and through urney chocolates , her memory lives on . ”

karen has also has a great blog on her urney project – yearning for urney .

urney chocolates , cutlery road , newbridge , co . kildare , ireland , co . kildare , ireland

the exhibition will include lots of memorabilia , including original urney chocolates and even former urney managing director redmond gallagher’s racing car . it’s sure to bring back plenty of memories !

made in ireland by urney chocolates , cutlery road , newbridge , co kildare . branded under the cleeves brand name .

“the only way to obtain a commercial quota was to diversify into sweet making . eileen adapted and urney chocolates was born . ”

while now based in newbridge , kildare , urney chocolates began life in 1919 as a cottage industry in the home of clady couple eileen and harry gallagher .

urney chocolates moved to a disused raf airfield while some of the original staff , including 25 female employees , a carpenter and two maintenance men , also relocated .

originally located in county tyrone , urney chocolates moved to the disused raf airfield on the belgard road in tallaght in 1923 where the business prospered for over sixty years .

in 1950s ireland , urney chocolates was a household name . a favourite for any sweet tooth was the urney two and two bar . a unique creation with a double fondant filling , coated with plain chocolate on top and milk chocolate on the bottom . each of the nine cream - filled squares were embossed with the legendary urney leprechaun .

south dublin libraries is delighted to present an exhibition sweet memories : the story of urney chocolates at the county library , tallaght from monday 23 rd august until saturday 19 th september .

while clearly the urney chocolates name has become a big business and profit pawn , the story of how it began life in the quiet cellar of a clady residence remains little short of remarkable .

“urney chocolates came about after eileen started making jam in her kitchen . there was a lot of unemployment in the area at the time so she started to look at ways of creating jobs .

the urney leprechaun made its debut in 1919 when eileen and harry gallagher first ventured into the confectionery business . over 40 years later and a move south to tallaght , co . dublin , urney chocolates and its subsidiaries were employing almost 1 , 000 workers . at that time it was considered one of the largest chocolate factories in europe , a far cry from its modest beginnings in the parish of urney , co . tyrone . this beautifully illustrated book tells the captivating tale of the rise and fall of urney chocolates and offers a fascinating slice of irish social history .

urney chocolates limited was set up on 18 nov 1957 and has its registered office in dublin 11 . its current status is listed as " dissolved " . it had 0 directors at the time it closed .

karen nolan is the great grand - daughter of eileen and harry gallagher and she has penned ‘sweet memories – the story of urney chocolates’ . as part of her research for the book she visited strabane and the original factory site .

an unlikely success story from the first world war , the demand for urney chocolates rapidly grew . two years into the business though and disaster struck . a fire in the basement reduced the house and makeshift manufacturing plant to ash .

looked at this site because i have an amazing urney marshmallow tin from maybe 50 , s 60 , s belonging to my family from kimmage , no big inheritance just my lovely urney tin and fantastic memories of dublin .

karen nolan , a graphic designer and illustrator living in county wexford ( and great grand daughter of the founders of urney chocolates ) , has researched and curated the exhibition . her research will be published in a new book , also called sweet memories : the story of urney chocolates , which will be launched , along with the exhibition , at the county library on thursday 26 th august at 7 : 00 p . m . in addition , an oral history project undertaken by south dublin libraries , whereby the stories and memories of ex - urney employees were recorded will also be launched on the night .

thanks , joan don’t know how this error crept in – urney chocolates was the largest chocolate factory in europe during the 1960s and finally closed its doors in august 1980 . i’ve made the necessary change . thanks for bringing it to our attention . kieran

earlier this week owner of urney chocolates , leo cummins , hinted that he is preparing to begin turning out two and twos once again . and if manufacturing does go ahead , it would mean a tasty trip down memory lane for thousands of chocolate lovers .

ah well i remember urney chocks . as a child of eight i was glued to the old bush radio on saturdays to listen to the the urney program and dantro the planet man ; i was a member of dantro the planet man urney club . sure rip it up jamser didn’t hold a candle to dantro as far as i was concerned ; sorry maurene .

new york based company w & r grace bought urney’s out in 1963 and sold it on to unilever in 1970 . leo cummins has since acquired the urney chocolates brand name and has to date relaunched wilton macaroon bars , cleeves toffees and hadji bey’s turkish delight . and if whispers coming out of the plant are to be believed , the two and two could be back on the shelves shortly .

as the popularity of urney chocolates grew , the gallagher’s moved their fledgling business to a nearby factory premises before shifting it to dublin . at the height of its popularity in the 1960’s the company employed over 1 , 000 people and was considered the largest chocolate factory in europe .

what a great find ! i’m the granddaughter of harry & eileen gallagher , this has filled me in on what happened after urney passed out of the family . what became of the site , and urney house where they used to live ? torn down , i suppose 😦

undeterred though , eileen moved her business to the grounds of urney house where she continued to produce confectionery until in 1922 fate struck again .

an exhibition detailing the history of the urney chocolate factory which was located in tallaght . exhibition on display from 21st august to 25th september .

hi , i worked in urney’s , i feel i must correct the date of closure ! i was married in 1972 , still worked in urney’s . i was still there during 72 until i left later in the year . loved the place by the way , some fun time memories .

unilever , owner of walls ice cream , acquired the entire enterprise in 1976 . concentrating on hb ices , unilever continued to make confectionery under the name of hb chocolates . however in the face of increased competition , sales dropped considerably and hb chocolates closed its doors for the last time in 1980 with 300 employees on the payroll .

the fact that findlaters was faltering was not a secret , and predators were circling the camp . inquiries for the company came fast and furious : in august 1961 from louis elliman for the properties , in november 1961 from urney’s chocolates , presumably to diversify , and in february 1962 from our long term competitors , liptons . †

urney chocolate factory was situated on the belgard road in tallaght ( in the old aerodrome buildings ) from the 1920s , through its high point in the 1960s when urney chocolates was the largest chocolate factory in europe until it eventually closed in august 1980 . it was a household name in ireland at the time and was a massive employer in the area . an exhibition entitled ‘sweet memories’ which tells the story of urney’s was on show in the irish agricultural museum in wexford earlier this year , and will be on view in the county library in tallaght in may 2010 . this delightful exhibition was curated and illustrated by karen nolan , whose great grandparents founded the company way back in the early 1900s .

through wwii the firm continued to prosper until in 1950 harry gallagher retired . harry and eileen continued to live on the urney site in tallaght and did so for the rest of their lives .

all the surviving machinery from the factory at urney was hauled 160 miles and new equipment was bought to make chocolate . the irish army remained on the site for about six months while the factory was established .

i remember the urney’s radio show with gay byrne . he presented some kind of space show called dantro . i sent for my dantro package and was enrolled in the group . my uncle bill clarke worked at urney’s in tallaght for a number of years and i remember he drove a borgward car . he left ireland in the early seventies and moved to england with his sons and my favorite cousins pat and billy .

by 1963 the urney chocolates factory was using 30 , 000 gallons of milk and 50 , 000lbs of sugar daily . to accommodate expansion and prepare for entry into the common market , a total of £500 , 000 was invested into the modernisation of the tallaght factory over the course of three years . a new three - unit plant was officially opened at tallaght in june 1965 by then taoiseach , sean lemass . the entire factory now spanned 350 , 000 square feet .

yvonne i’ve been speaking with a lady pat o’neill who worked in urneys . she remembers a nancy gilsenan from bluebell who worked there and who probably cycled to tallaght every day to work . she cannot remember what part of the urney operation she worked in . kieran

thanks for your comment ! i’m afraid you’re right – the house is no longer there and there is a retail park on the site of the factory . we have some photos and ephemera items relating to urney in our online archive that you might also be interested in – urltoken

hello people ! ! ! my mother remembers nancy gilsenan who worked in urney in the ‘packing’ dept . packing the delicate sweets into boxes……… . . my mother is teasie mccann now redmond who cycled from terenure to tallaght everyday , hail , rain or snow . and if they got a puncture on the way , their wages were docked…… . . no excuses . the memory my mother has is the shock she got when she first saw and had to use a dry - toilet in urney……… . that was so - so - so many years ago ! ! ! !

i used to work for urney’s from 1953 – 1958 in the factory during this period all the chocolates were hand - wrapped . in approximately 1956 or 1957 i was selected to represent the company in an advertising campaign when urneys’ introduced its first automatic wrapping machine and was asked to stand in a shop window in o’connell street while loading candies into the automatic wrapping machine ; the owner of the company mr gallagher would then hand out free samples to customers . this was my first job out of school ; i have lovely memories of this fun experience and am wondering if in your history collection if you may have a copy of the newspaper articles that ran that week or the poster that i was in advertising the machine and urneys’s candies and if i might obtain a copy ? thank you for your time and assistance . mary mcdermott ( née ) o’brien

nancy gilsenan , that was my mother ! ! her given name was theresa , but everyone called her nancy . oh my goodness ! ! would your friend happen to have any pictures of her ? my mom passed away and we have no pictures of her when she was young . she spoke all the time of loving her job at urney’s . we came here to america in 1953 , but mom never got over being homesick , she always wanted to go back .

we also have urney marshmallow tins my mm used to say they were the most airtight tins . sadly she passed away she was a great cook and must have used a lot of marshmallows and chocolate for her cakes and biscits she baked we stiil use the tins 1 has gone to canada , especially for the christmas cake . it is lovely to be reading about the factory , the people working there and the connections . i never realized it was in tallaght . great blog and very intersting well done .

the online home of our business hazelbrook confectionery ltd , its brands of cleeves and merrytime and its products such as iced caramels , macaroon bars and a wide range capability in both chocolate and sugar confectionery .

our 2000 sq metres factory is located in newbridge , co kildare , a town of over 20 , 000 people located just over 50km from dublin and just off the main dublin – cork motorway .

our management team and staff are highly experienced in the confectionery industry and our products and brands are all long term repeat sale items . hazelbrook confectionery has a strong domestic market sales base in ireland and is next seeking to grow its international sales of both branded and customer labelled / branded products . as a company we tend to focus on manufacturing and product development and generally leave distribution to partner customers .

we work closely with bord bia , the irish food board , and we are a member of origin green , ireland’s food sustainability programme .

hazelbrook has a wide range capability in both chocolate and sugar confectionery . . . .

from traditional bars , bags of sweets , gift range , custom orders , seasonal gifts range and much . . . .

cleeves toffees owes its origins to the entrepreneurship of one man , thomas henry cleeve . . . .

hazelbrook confectionery ltd cutlery road , newbridge , co kildare , w12 ad85 , ireland .

it began life right here in strabane back in 1918 and for decades was the chocolate bar choice of children across ireland .

now the classic confectionery two and two bar could be on its way back .

speaking this week , karen said she remained immensely proud to be part of such a fascinating slice of irish social history .

“it was 1918 , the end of the war , and sugar was scarce .

a war of a different kind came to their rescue though – the irish civil war . following partition , grants and tax breaks for small businesses were much more favourable in the newly formed irish free state , prompting the gallaghers to shift their operations to tallaght in dublin .

in 1975 harry gallagher passed away at 95 - years - old . his wife eileen passed away a year later at 89 - years - old .

it brought to an end a hugely colourful story of how a little cottage industry grew to be a global force , surviving the partition of a nation , a world war , and the troubles .

karen said , “it is a fantastic story . i originally wanted to write my great grandmother’s story because she initiated most of it .

“harry often gets the credit but it was really eileen who started it all . she travelled the world at a time when people didn’t do that sort of thing . she introduced the first white turkey to ireland from holland .

copyright © 2018 — the strabane chronicle . all rights reserved . part of the north - west news group .

the strabane chronicle is published by north west of ireland printing & publishing company limited , trading as north - west news group . registered in northern ireland , no . r0000576 . 15 main street , strabane , co . tyrone , northern ireland , bt82 8as

* update * to coincide with the national heritage week the exhibition will now run at the county library from 21st august until 25th september 2010 .

looking forward to this exhibition , my dad worked there in the early days , and he has very happy memories of that time . could i suggest that this event be also advertised in the tallaght echo , as i am sure there are lots of local people out there with good stories to tell of their time working there – but they may not hear about this exhibition or your call for their input . thanks .

my mother worked there in the 1930s or 40s . her name was theresa gilsenan . we came to live in america in 1953 . my mother has since passed , i live in upstate new york and would love to find a picture of this chocolate factory my mother spoke of so fondly . does anyone remember my mother or have a picture ?

your mother remembers my mother ? ( nancy gilsenan ) . would she have any pictures at all of the time they worked there ? were they friends ? my mother always spoke of urneys and all the people she loved there . she never got over being homesick when we came to america .

my father was the sales rep for urneys out in the far east in the early 1960s .

when we were clearing out the attic in my mothers house in dublin a few years ago , we came across lots of papers of my father’s , including references to sales out in singapre for example . interesting stuff .

my mother worked here and she told me she loved her job . she also said lifting the trays was the hardest part . anyway ! great products .

anyone remember jim kelly who worked on the weighbridge in urneys . jim only had one arm . also his wife elsie worked in the piping room . i lived in tallaght in the 60’s and remember the smell of the chocolate wafting down through the village . also the sound of the factory horn which was a great reminder of the time of the day .

my mother’s sister kitty kenny from peamount worked there in the 1930’s / 1940’s . another sister margaret ( pidge ) might have been there too . great stories from my childhood days .

summary : library plans and initiatives for the next 5 years open to you - south dublin ' s library development plan was launched by mayor paul gogarty on tuesday june 26th , 2018 . the plan was developed in consultation with the citizens of south dublin and sets out the strategies and work programmes for the next 5 years . you can read the full document b [ … ]

summary : a list of events related to history and heritage for summer 2018 join us at south dublin county libraries in celebrating our history & heritage events . read more

summary : a 5 year plan for public libraries in ireland our public libraries 2022– inspiring , connecting and empowering communities is a progressive strategy which aims to improve access , use and visibility of the library as a community hub , and develop the library as a focal point for community and cultural development . the national plan was launched on t [ … ]

summary : our latest what ' s happening brochure , covering what ' s happening across south dublin libraries , is online now . our latest what ' s happening brochure , covering what ' s happening across south dublin libraries , is online now . you can download it here .

south dublin libraries are inviting facilitators of events to join a library facilitator panel . the panel will be u… urltoken 4 months ago

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irish owned business producing macaroon bars , iced caramels , hadji bey , cleeves toffee and more for over 30 years .

also if you ' re buying from shops , remember the red box is from last year & the chocolate has been in storage for a year .

jedward easter eggs should also be available from some spar shops but we are mainly selling our limited amount online .

@ chizzzzyy yep ! you can now go here : urltoken to order them . it ' s the offical merch store of planet jedward .

@ houstonhol hi liz , you can go here : urltoken to order them . it ' s the offical merch store of planet jedward .

( contd ) & we ' re happy to be bringing it back . urltoken

delighted that our hadji bey packaging has been nominated for an icad award . the turkish delight brand originated in ireland in 1902 . . . . . .

@ jedwardnorthire we ' ll have the stockists confirmed in about a week . will let you all know then !

@ rathanganjedfan i ' m sure you can . our factory is actually in newbridge so a few local shops will always have them .

@ marrymejedward eggs will be out mid - april , almost there ! there is a limited amount bt we ' ll have all the info here for you stockists - wise .

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the exhibition runs at the county library , tallaght , from monday 23 rd august to saturday 19 th september and all are welcome . library opening hours are monday – friday 9 : 45 a . m . – 8 : 00 p . m . and friday & saturday 9 : 45 a . m . – 4 : 30 p . m .

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retail news is a one - stop shop for irish grocers , designed , researched and written with the retail manager and store owner in mind . keep up . . .

please read our product listing in full for any answers to any questions before contacting us in case all info is covered in our extensive product listing .

cleeves iced caramels – a random assorted mixture of fruit flavoured iced covered soft smooth to medium soft creamy smooth chewy caramel encased in a selection of iced colours which may include pastille pink , pastille yellow , pale pastille orange and sometimes white colour smooth sweet iced sugar coating - these iced caramels are a very tasty soft caramel sweet with a scrumptious thick layer of iced coating shell . the colours of icing vary per batch and are not a equal mix of colours may contain many more of one or two colours and less of another colour / flavour colours subject to current stock / manufacturer ' s batch .

the toffee caramel centre of these sweets does vary in texture during the cold winter time they can be a medium soft to medium hard chewy centre and during the warm to very hot summertime they can be more softer creamy chewy centre as all toffee / caramel reacts to extremes of temperatures .

each original iced caramel is individually twist wrapped in clear cellophane wrappers various colours and worded branded with cleeves iced caramels .

product / sweets shape / size / colour / style / packaging / wrappers ( where applicable ) / flavours / texture / taste may vary per batch and everyone ' s taste buds and opinions do vary and so we strongly suggest you only purchase a small weigh out amount of any sweets you have not had before or had in a long time to try for yourself before committing to purchase a larger sized weigh out in case they do not meet your expectations as we cannot accept any returns simply due to sweets not to someone ' s liking / taste if they are as per the manufacturer ' s recipe acceptance , as we are only a traditional sweet shop retailer we have no control over a manufactures product / ingredients / textures or flavour / taste / shape / wrappers etc .

product / sweets shape / size / colour / style / packaging / wrappers / flavours / texture / taste may vary per batch - image / s shown will vary from ones shown depending on your viewing device / equipment and settings / viewing programmes used etc - images colours can vary in shade / bright to dark / dull as images can be overexposed underexposed when taken and or displayed on different devices / equipment .

these sweets are approx 2 . 6cm ' s long by 2 . 6cm ' s wide by 1 . 5cm ' s deep and weigh approx 9 . 5g - 11 . 5g per sweet with a average of 10g giving you approx 11 - 12 sweets per 113g weigh out bag . - sizes / weights may vary per batch and per sweets , ( approx size / weight guide only ) .

keep in a dry and cool place away from sunlight . - if keeping more than a few days best to transfer them in to a sealed food container plastic jar / tub / sweet jar and keep away from direct sunlight or heat .

bb4 dates are usually 3 - 8 months on this product and as bb4 dates are only a manufacturer ' s estimated approx guide as to when they deem the quality of the sweets / product to be still at its very best , in most cases if stored correctly they will keep / taste great several months after the product best before dates .

we are selling these sweets just like you bought them in the good old days - straight from our very own traditional old fashion sweet shop , - where our shelves are packed with over 1000 sweet jars & sweet tubs and from the sweetie jar / tub hand weighed on approved trade scales to the weight of your choice - then into a clear poly heat sealed food / sweet bag and then a paper or paper and film bag . - please note - these sweets are not supplied in any original packaging such as wholesale sweet jar / box / tub / container etc and then shipped out usually within 1 - 3 working days via your selected delivery method at checkout .

the image and summary details have been prepared for illustration and information purposes only . on occasion the actual product may differ in colour / shape / size from that shown as well as any outer wrappers / packaging . whilst we have taken every care in preparing this summary and believe it to be accurate at the time this listing was created , it is not a substitute for reading the product packaging or label prior to use . you should note that products and their ingredients are subject to change without notice . if you do require precise ingredient information you should consult the manufacturer , whose contact details will appear on the packaging or label , alternatively and if they are not provided on the item purchased or they are a loose / weigh out bag / packet of sweets you can contact us before placing an order or add a note at checkout to request we check the ingredients / info provide is correct in case of any vegetarian , vegan , halal , allergy concerns as it is always best to add a note at checkout so we can double check they are all still as per advertised and or the ingredient and any claims are still correct . toffeeworld / allsorts4u is therefore unable to accept liability for any incorrect information . where this description contains a link to another party ' s website for further information on the product , please note that toffeeheaven , toffee world , allsorts4u , allsorts4uandme , pickasweet which are all trading names of toffee heaven ltd has no control over and no liability for the contents of that website .

to upgrade your weigh out bag of these sweets please see our drop - box option on this page .

all images text , design , artwork , templates & images in this item / product listing and any other listings displayed on this webstore or any other online platform are copyright protected and must not be copied in any way without our permission in writing .

all pictures and images on this website are not public domain . they are all copyright 2007 - 2014 of allsorts4u . co . uk . owned by toffee heaven limited and should not be copied , reproduced , altered in any way without the explicit permission of toffee heaven limited .

upgrade to 681g ( full pound and a half ) ( add £7 . 85 )

upgrade to 908g ( full two pound bag ) ( add £10 . 25 )

tasty iced caramels - a smooth soft chewy caramel covered in a sweet iced shell .

cleeves iced caramels – a soft smooth to medium soft creamy smooth sweet chewy caramel encased in pink or white colour smooth sweet iced sugar coating - these iced caramels are a very tasty soft caramel sweet with a scrumptious thick layer of iced coating shell . the colours of icing vary per batch and are not a equal mix of colours may contain many more pink or white colours subject to current stock / manufacturer ' s batch .

each original iced caramel is individually twist wrapped in clear cellophane wrappers with pink an black colours and worded branded with cleeves iced caramels .

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les douvres is a former 18th century manor house ideally situated in the quiet parish of st martin ' s in the south east corner of guernsey and referred to by many visitors as the most beautiful part of island . despite recent renovations " les douvres " exudes warmth and character with the aim to please the local community and holiday - makers alike : a traditional inn within a modern country house hotel . a great wine list , good beers and some excellent local food which is , wherever possible , local and seasonal , complimented by 20 rooms decorated in a mix of modern and antique furnishing .

les cotils is the perfect setting for an exceptional meal to help you celebrate a special occasion , enjoy a delicious sunday lunch or just pop in for a light meal in our conservatory . les cotils is fully licenced and can fully cater for all your drink and beverage requirements . bar facilities can be provided if required .

situated in st peter port ' s historic market square , less then 100m from the harbour , cafe delices offers a true continental experience . our menu includes freshly cooked crepes and galettes , croissants , steak frites , soup de jour and salad specials . we offer something to suit all tastes . we take pride in being one of the very few st peter port caf ? s to serve freshly ground coffee . perfect to enjoy in our al fresco seating area whilst watching the world go by in one of the towns only pedestrianised areas . open from 9am , our busy cafe will be the highlight of your visit . ps - don ' t miss our fantastic ice cream shop located next door with 16 delicious flavours from vanilla to the famous lemon meringue !

the duke is located in an enviable town centre location just 75 metres from the high street , and only 200 metres from the harbour . recently awarded aa * * * 82 % . all 37 bedrooms have been recently refurbished and include 6ft beds with egyptian linen , flat screen tv , ipod dock , hairdryer and ironing facilities . hot freshly cooked breakfast along with an excellent cold buffet is the best way to start the day . traditional bar meals are served in the admirals bar daily , with fresh fish always an option . if it ' s a1 location and high quality accommodation you are seeking , then ' the duke ' is the choice for you .

address : 5 market st , st . peter port , guernsey , gy1 1hf

the imperial hotel is located in one of the channel islands most stunning and panoramic settings - overlooking rocquaine bay in torteval , guernsey . surrounded by safe sandy beaches , crystal clear waters and miles of adjoining coastal cliff paths , this is an area of great natural beauty and a tranquil location to relax and unwind . the imperial hotel has been very popular with locals and visitors alike for over 100 years and today offers 17 en - suite bedrooms with spectacular sea views and serves the freshest guernsey seafood in the famous water ' s edge restaurant . book today and take advantage of our free car hire offer for the duration of your stay . for those who do not wish to drive we will supply you with an unlimited journey bus ticket instead .

cruising with the royal channel islands yacht club is different from cruising with other yacht clubs . the rciyc is a very inclusive and friendly club and our cruises include both motorboats and yachts . commodore ray redelinghuys and the cruising committee have planned a diverse and exciting cruising calendar for 2016 , which includes cruises to alderney , jersey & france . it all kicks off at easter with a cruise to jersey . at the end of april / beginning of may there is the ‘milk - o - punch’ cruise to alderney where we will spend some time with our friends at alderney sailing club . in early may we will gather in victoria marina to celebrate liberation day . at the end of may we will be visiting our old friends association nautique du légué ( anl ) . rciyc have been close friends with anl for over 25 years and meet up every year either in guernsey or le légué . we very much look forward to our visit .

we are a leading offshore chandlery , located in the vat free island of guernsey , in the channel islands . we stock a wide range of chandlery and non chandlery related goods a vast range of electronics at great prices including , garmin , lowrance , cobra , icom , furono , standard horizon , simrad , m tech , nexus and nasa . our shelves are crammed full of gps plotters , radars , fish finders , fixed and handheld vhf ' s , depth logs , battery monitors , navtex , epirb ' s and ais large ship detectors . a huge range of general chandlery is stocked from leading names including , aqua marine , holt , navimo , sea sure and xm yachting . we stock wet weather clothing from xm yachting , unique sail cloth jackets from quba sails , leisure clothing from semaphore and penduick , not to forget a massive choice of craghoppers trousers . wetsuits from typhoon are a new addition this year . shoes and boots are stocked from quayside . our non chandlery items are just as exciting , weather stations from oregon scientific and techno weather . in car sat nav systems from garmin including the ever popular nuvi ' s and zumo range . car cleaning products from auto glym . an extensive range of handy tools is also available . barometers and clocks are another example of our gift ideas . shop online now or why not visit our shop in guernsey !

marine & general is a boatyard located in guernsey , channel islands , offering a full range of services to all boat owners both leisure and commercial . we are the only volvo penta dealer in guernsey and can deal with all servicing requirements , replacement and warranty issues . with our 75tonne boat hoist we can lift almost any boat from 20 - 80ft

this stunning 4 - star hotel is nestled in the islands prettiest valley , perched high above fermain bay , with rooms offering breathtaking views out to sea . down a sleepy lane and amongst fabulous cliff walks , the hotel offers a world of calm and comfort . peaceful and secluded yet conveniently situated just 5 minutes from guernsey ' s charming harbour capital , st peter port , our hotel brings you the best of both worlds . with a choice of 2 superb restaurants and quiet , cosy lounges to relax in after dinner , a residents ' private cinema showing academy award winning films , an indoor - heated swimming pool and sauna , and wireless broadband access throughout the hotel , you are assured of a comfortable and memorable stay . the hotel ' s friendly staff are dedicated to providing the very highest standards of personal service and will be waiting to greet you with the warmest of guernsey welcomes

la grande mare hotel , golf & country club enjoys a reputation as one of the channel islands’ finest resort destinations and is the perfect retreat for both business and pleasure . situated on the isle of guernsey we have , over the past thirty years , developed world - class facilities at our four - star hotel and offer every comfort for the discerning traveller . within this site , you will find details of our hotel , services country club and amenities , along with information on our latest promotions and special offers . you can make reservations by phone or members can book online . we look forward to seeing you at the hotel soon .

oli’s passion for boats and boating started at a young age , from family canal boat holidays to national dinghy racing with the navy cadets . before studying at university , he spent a year sailing as delivery crew . extensively cruising the south coast of the uk , eastern atlantic coastlines , and trans - atlantic to the caribbean , oli covered some 7 , 000 nautical miles . he is still keen yacht racing crew , racing in the solent and around the south coast . oli studied yacht manufacture and surveying ( bsc hons ) at southampton solent university . he focussed his studies on hull design and sea - keeping through systematic tank testing and formulaic evaluation of custom built hull forms . post university , oli took up a position at a renowned all - service boatyard near exeter , delivering a wide range of repair , service and maintenance work on a variety of yachts and motorboats . the final three years here were as yard manager , overseeing the repairs department and storage facility . oli is also an active member of the international institute of marine surveyors , regularly attending training days , meetings and seminars .

located in the heart of st peter port within the bustling arcade . where clients come to shop , drink coffee , people watch and enjoy the serenity that guernsey has to offer . we pride ourselves on creating a relaxed environment where clients feel at ease . with a combination of broad experience , training and artistic vision , we form a perfect team . whether your looking for a blow - dry or a re - style , we have something for everyone . awarded perfect salon status 2012

in the heart of st peter port , guernsey you’ll find le petit bistro – authentic , rustic , and romantic , with all the joie de vivre , and le je ne sais quoi that france has to offer . owned and run by front of house delphine pesrin - auder and executive chef mickael pesrin , both professionally trained in the art of french cooking , you’ll find the spirit of france in every plate .

gibbs boat sales are the sole uk dealership for the prestigious cobalt boat range . this is an excellent opportunity for us and we relish the challenge of promoting this “high end” brand ! cobalt produce some of the finest boats in the world , the outstanding build quality and attention to detail is second to none in the sports boat market and the performance of the boats also lives up to this . cobalt have set high expectations for themselves . their aspiration is to design and build the very best boats . every time they succeed cobalt owners are treated to a tremendously rewarding ownership experience . each new cobalt becomes the realization of one of their boat owner ' s dreams . it marks the opportunity to create some of their life ' s best memories . our family ' s craft becomes their family ' s dream boat ! it is an awesome responsibility . this is a unique product that needs a unique dealership , gibbs boat sales is that dealership and we would love the opportunity to show you .

the valley restaurant / function suite is another dining option during your stay . exquisitely decorated , it is dedicated to accommodating larger parties , private functions and business guests in luxurious elegance , by prior arrangement . it can accommodate up to 120 people for private receptions , or up to 60 seated , and layouts can be tailored to your specific requirements . enjoy a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere and gourmet fine dining , safe in the knowledge that every aspect of your experience is being taken care of by our skilled and dedicated conference & banqueting team . perfect for weddings , family dinners , business events , corporate fine dining or just special birthdays . we are devoted to providing impeccable catering , from working lunches and cocktail receptions to gourmet 7 - course dinners . the menu includes a wide variety of both traditional and more innovative dishes whilst the extensive wine list offers something for every palate .

we are agents for avis rent a car here in guernsey and have desks in both guernsey harbour & airport terminal buildings or alternatively we can deliver your vehicle free of charge to anywhere on our beautiful island . we offer new vehicles top rent at excellent prices . please see our website for our latest special offers !

taj is guernsey ' s premier indian restaurant and has been serving the people of guernsey since 1989 . we are directly oppposite victoria marina on the seafront in st . peter port . open 7 days a week 12 . 00 - 2 . 00 for lunch and 5 . 30 - 11 . 00 for dinner we look forward to serving you , and would reccommend booking in advance .

les cotils is considered by many to be a haven of peace and tranquility . located above the picturesque harbour town of st peter port , on the beautiful channel island of guernsey , les cotils has been identified as a special place that wonderfully regenerates the entire person . we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you soon to this special place . five minutes from the main port , les cotils offers good rates which are ideal for visiting crew .

marine surveys uk has a philosophy of ensuring that its customers are provided with the the information that they need to buy , negotiate , repair or maintain their boat be it a powerboat or a sailing yacht . matt west , our marine surveyor looks to bring knowledge to our customers by carrying out surveys that ensure that they are informed as to what it is they are looking at and what the implications are , and all of this in plain english . we want to put you in charge of your own destiny with your own boat which in some instances can be one of your biggest purchases after your house .

the guernsey harbour authority is responsible for the administration and operation of the ports of st sampson ' s and st peter port and has other maritime responsibilities .

welcome to boatworks + guernsey in the channel islands . boatworks + ongoing programme of investment enables us to continually improve our level of service to you our customers and maintain our position as guernsey ' s no . 1 marine traders . in our clothing department we have carefully selected ranges of boat wear and leisure wear that we believe to be the best . boatworks + chandlery department is laid out in various sections to help you locate the products you are looking for more easily . boatworks + provides year round fuelling services in st . peter port harbour guernsey from its castle emplacement site . we also stock a comprehensive range of lubricants , sundries and provisions . our purpose built boatyard workshop can accommodate several vessels of up to 50 feet or 50 tonnes . our st . peter port slipway enables us to haul vessels ashore for short term emergency work and general maintenance . with the aid of our knipstra hydraulic boatlifter , we are able to move boats from our slipway into the boatyard , workshop or other locations . our fishing tackle department is conveniently situated close to the castle cornet breakwater , st . peter port , a popular guernsey angling destination . through our rigging division , â€śoffshore spars and riggingâ€ť , we are the channel islands regional centre for selden masts which also incorporates â€śproctor dinghy and dayboat mastsâ€ť . our staff are factory trained and certified by selden to specify and complete spars to a full range of specifications . we consider safety at sea paramount and have a large dedicated department to offer you the very best choice of safety equipment to aid safety and safe navigation . click to view detailed map illustration

address : boatworks guernsey , castle emplacement , st . peter port , guernsey , gy1 1au

the dorset yacht company at lake yard has proudly been a boston whaler uk distributor and dealer since 1974 and stands ready to assist you in finding the vessel that’s perfect for your boating needs . boston whaler boats are unsinkable ! for over 50 years , our patented unibond® construction has built a loyal following of boaters . whether its fishing , cruising , watersports or just enjoying time with friends , boston whaler has a runabout , tender , center console , cuddy cabin or walkaround to fit your boating style . it’s the reason we’re known as the unsinkable legend . for further details , just pop an email to us , and we will send you the full details and pricing . visit urltoken or call 01202 674531 – ask russell or deborah for a quote today !


bowlmor amf corp. is the largest ten-pin bowling center operator in the world with 306 centers , of which 295 are located in the united states , 8 in mexico , and 3 in canada .

the centers have an average of 40 lanes compared to the u.s. bowling center average of 21 lanes .

bowlmor amf ’s us centers represent 8 % of the country ’s 4,400 bowling centers .

its nearest us competitors in size are bowl-america , bowl new england , lucky strike , and main event entertainment , each with around 20 centers .

most of the other bowling centers in the united states are individually or family-owned .

bowlmor amf currently operates the following bowling center brands : bowlmor lanes , which focus on group events and open bowling .

bowlmor centers aim to provide “ high-end ” bowling in a modern lounge setting which includes audiovisual technology , such as plasma screens for automatic scoring and movie screens above the lanes , plus glow lighting , and glow-in-the-dark lanes .

bowlmor centers also have dj booths , sports bars and video arcades , mini golf , bocce , table shuffleboard , ping pong tables , air hockey , billiards , and boardwalk games , private party facilities with catering services , and full service restaurants .

bowlmor amf claims the bowlmor brand has a 35-50 % return on equity .

bowlero centers , which focus on group events and open play but will also incorporate bowling league play .

the bowlero brand is intended as a " mid-tier " offering , in which a traditional bowling center has been renovated to create what the company calls a " hip , fun environment . "

in may 2014 , bowlmor amf opened its first bowlero center in the renovated amf woodlands lanes in the woodlands , texas , featuring " recreational games and inventive menu items set in an eclectic environment that ’s full of nostalgic throwbacks . "

amf bowling centers in the united states and mexico , which continue to operate as traditional bowling centers where bowling league play continues to play a significant role .

bowlmor amf aims to increase open play and group events at these centers through the application of bowlmor ’s experience as well as increased marketing investment .

the company is also spending $ 32 million annually through 2018 to renovate these centers and expects that , by 2018 , around 25 of the amf centers will have been converted to bowlmor lanes and around 60 of the amf centers will have been converted to bowlero centers .

the brunswick bowling center brands , including brunswick bowling , brunswick zone , brunswick zone xl , and brunswick 's .

bowlmor amf plans to rebrand each of these centers to either bowlmor lanes , bowlero , or amf branding by 2019 .

the bowlmor and bowlero names are not exclusive to bowlmor amf and the bowlmor , bowl-mor , bowl mor , and bowlero bowling centers owned by others do not use bowlmor amf 's branding concepts .

the name bowlmor was first used in a hyphenated form in the 1940s by massachusetts attorneys howard dowd and r. lionel barrows in the creation of the firm bowl-mor , which first manufactured pinsetters for candlepin bowling , patented by mr. dowd , and later for duckpin bowling as well .

although the firm was defunct well before the end of the 20th century , many of its pinsetters are still in use .

in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 , bowlmor amf closed 34 of its leased centers and 7 of its owned centers because of negative cash-flow and other reasons .

in fiscal year 2016 the company closed an additional 9 centers .

within the united states as of july 2016 , centers actively operated consisted of 257 operating under the amf , brunswick , brunswick 's , and brunswick zone brand names , 19 as bowlmor , 7 as bowlero , and 12 as brunswick zone xl .

bowlmor amf

bowlmor amf <EOT> bowlmor bob is seen above bowlmor lanes on west 44th street in new york .

to learn more about our amf locations , please check out www . amf . com !

the agreement was announced today by pba commissioner tom clark and bowlmor amf ceo tom shannon .

the merger of bowlmor and amf resulted in a new company called bowlmor amf . it is the largest operator of bowling centers in the world with 7 , 500 employees and 272 bowling centers .

glassdoor has 263 amf bowling reviews submitted anonymously by amf bowling employees . read employee reviews and ratings on glassdoor to decide if amf bowling is right for you .

bowlmor amf formed in 2013 after amf bowling worldwide inc . and strike holdings llc merged . the company now has a combined revenue of $ 450 million .

ask a question about working or interviewing at bowlmor - amf . our community is ready to answer .

indeed , bowlmor amf is betting that emphasis will help it strike riches for some time to come .

for more information on bowlmor amf or to locate the nearest location , please visit urltoken or urltoken .

bowlmor amf ceo tom shannon is accused of using skype to make hiring decisions based on physical appearance and age .

the professional bowlers association and bowlmor amf , the world’s largest operator of bowling centers , have entered into an entitlement partnership agreement that will make bowlmor amf an official partner of the pba and official host of the 2015 chris paul pba celebrity invitational presented by amf on jan . 8 at amf bowl - o - drome lanes in torrance , california .

as a result of the transaction , amf , which filed for chapter 11 in may 2013 , will reorganize and combine with bowlmor to create bowlmor amf . the new company will be jointly owned by bowlmor , certain of amf’s second lien lenders , including an affiliate of cerberus capital management , l . p . and credit suisse . the new company will include three different brands and categories of bowling centers , including bowlmor centers , bowlero centers and amf centers .

as a result of the transaction , amf , which filed for chapter 11 in november 2012 , will reorganize and combine with bowlmor to create bowlmor amf . the new company will be jointly owned by bowlmor , certain of amf’s second lien lenders , including an affiliate of cerberus capital management , l . p . and credit suisse . the new company will include three different brands and categories of bowling centers , including bowlmor centers , bowlero centers and amf centers .

bowlmor amf was created from the merger of bowling chains bowlmor and amf bowling , which was in bankruptcy at the time . the company has $ 577 million in debt on its books , according to its most recent earnings report .

before the merger , bowlmor operated six bowling centers , which were under the control of tom shannon , who is now the chief executive , chairman and president of bowlmor amf .

the decisions by the amf bowling centers come in the wake of the merger between new york - based bowlmor and virginia - based amf bowling worldwide , inc . , about two months ago .

amf , now merged with bowlmor , has come a long way since we reported their filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2012 .

the news that amf woodlake lanes in woodland hills is dropping some of its bowling leagues is not an isolated occurrence in the amf spectrum .

bowlmor amf told the post in a statement that the company “does not discriminate on the basis of age or in any other fashion . ”

bowlmor amf acquires the brunswick corporation’s bowling centers business in september 2014 , expanding its north american presence , absorbing the only other major industry competitor , and ending a decades - long marketplace rivalry between amf and brunswick .

in an interview after the merger , shannon said that bowlmor was the “only bidder willing to pay” to help amf out of bankruptcy . it was the second time in 10 years that amf had been in bankruptcy .

about bowlmor amf : bowlmor amf is the largest operator of bowling centers in the world , with 264 domestic locations and 8 locations in mexico that specialize in corporate and special events , as well as league and walk - in retail bowling . the company was created in 2013 following the merger of bowlmor , an upscale bowling and entertainment company , and amf bowling worldwide , which was at the time the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers .

tom shannon , chairman , ceo and president of bowlmor amf said , “i am pleased to announce the completion of this merger . we are confident that bowlmor’s proven approach to marketing and operations , coupled with amf’s incredible scale and penetration in key markets , will ensure the company’s future growth and success and we are excited about the potential for renewed innovation and growth at qubica amf . ”

the acquisition of amf bowling worldwide , which at the time was the biggest name in the industry with hundreds of centers globally , served as a watershed moment for bowlmor amf , expanding the company’s portfolio to over 270 centers . in 2014 , the company acquired the brunswick corporation’s bowling center business , adding an additional 85 centers to the portfolio and solidifying bowlmor amf’s reputation as the worldwide leader in bowling entertainment . in 2017 , bowlmor amf officially became bowlero corporation , beginning a new chapter and signaling a new direction in the company’s continued growth .

) - - amf bowling worldwide , inc . and certain of its affiliates ( “amf” ) and strike holdings llc ( known as “bowlmor” ) , today announced the completion of their merger . the new company , known as bowlmor amf , is the largest operator of bowling centers in the world with 7 , 500 employees , 272 bowling centers and combined annual revenue of approximately $ 450 million .

tom shannon , chairman , ceo and president of bowlmor amf said , " i am pleased to announce the completion of this merger . we are confident that bowlmor’s proven approach to marketing and operations , coupled with amf’s incredible scale and penetration in key markets , will ensure the company’s future growth and success and we are excited about the potential for renewed innovation and growth at qubica amf . "

bowlmor amf isn ' t the only big player in the sport . competitors include lucky strike entertainment and splitsville , which market themselves more as entertainment destinations . but shannon said bowlmor places a greater emphasis on bowling than those rivals .

by 1999 , bowlmor lanes had become the highest - grossing bowling alley in the united states . following the incredible success of bowlmor lanes in new york city , shannon made plans to bring the bowlmor concept across the country .

alleging that bowlmor amf ' s " push to transform bowling joints from haggard to hip had an extremely ugly side , " the new york post ran a story on april 20 quoting several former bowlmor amf employees who believe the company makes its decisions to hire and fire people based on their physical appearance and their age .

“for generations , the amf brand has been synonymous with bowling in america , ” said brett parker , vice chairman , cfo and evp of bowlmor amf . “bowlmor is the leading upscale bowling brand . the completion of this merger will effectively bridge these two worlds , creating what we envision as the ultimate american leisure company . ”

new york - - amf bowling worldwide , inc . and certain of its affiliates ( " amf " ) and strike holdings llc ( known as " bowlmor " ) , today announced the completion of their merger . the new company , known as bowlmor amf , is the largest operator of bowling centers in the world with 7 , 500 employees , 272 bowling centers and combined annual revenue of approximately $ 450 million .

our portfolio of brands includes icons and innovators—from amf and brunswick zone , to bowlmor lanes and bowlero . get a better look at the biggest names on the lanes .

" for generations , the amf brand has been synonymous with bowling in america , " said brett parker , vice chairman , cfo and evp of bowlmor amf . " bowlmor is the leading upscale bowling brand . the completion of this merger will effectively bridge these two worlds , creating what we envision as the ultimate american leisure company . "

in 2010 , bowlmor times square opened in the former new york times newsroom .

, 2014 , bowlmor amf , the largest operator of bowling alleys in the world , threw the largest bowling party in american history . party go - ers from across 262

when competitor amf bowling worldwide filed for bankruptcy in 2012 , shannon saw another business opportunity .

welcome to bowlero corporation—the largest owner and operator of bowling entertainment venues in the world . bowlero corporation was founded in 2013 as bowlmor amf following the successful acquisition of amf bowling worldwide by bowlmor lanes . starting as a single bowling alley established in greenwich village new york in 1938 , bowlmor lanes revolutionized the sport and transformed the landscape of the hospitality industry , introducing the concept of high - end , event - centric bowling to the public and growing to six properties within a decade . throughout the early 2000s , bowlmor’s flagship venue , bowlmor times square , reigned as the highest grossing bowling alley nationwide

in addition , bowlmor amf will hold a 50 % ownership in qubica amf , the industry leader in bowling scoring , pinsetters , lanes , ball returns , pins and other capital and replacement equipment . the company and its partner , qubica , look forward to a revitalized and renewed focus on qubica amf and expanding its innovation leadership and customer focus in the bowling industry .

bowlmor ceo tom shannon then proposed another idea : acquiring brunswick ' s bowling centers .

“we’re proud to partner with the pba for this tremendous event and support the players who lead the industry , ” said tom shannon , bowlmor amf chief executive officer , chairman and president . “this is an exciting time for the bowling industry and bowlmor amf is committed to growing the sport at every level – from recreational bowling to league play and professional bowling . ”

the 65 - year - old , who is planning to retire in early 2016 , said he had originally wanted to merge the bowling products business , which includes bowling balls and equipment used in bowling centers , with bowlmor amf . but the companies ' attorneys said such a deal probably wouldn ' t pass antitrust muster . bowlmor amf also owns a 50 percent stake in qubica amf , which provides capital equipment such as ball returns and pins to bowling centers .

after securing patents and developing prototypes , amf unveils the first automatic pinsetter at the american bowling congress tournament in buffalo , n . y . it’s a watershed moment for bowling and for amf .

and now it appears , fewer and fewer amf bowling centers will offer league play as well .

bowlmor amf corp . formed in 2013 when bowlmor bought out the struggling amf bowling worldwide inc . that made the company the largest bowling alley operator in the world , and added three westside locations to its portfolio . bay shore lanes ( renamed bowlmor santa monica ) and mar vista lanes ( now bowlero mar vista ) have already received thorough makeovers , and the former el dorado lanes will be reopening as bowlero los angeles at the end of the month .

bowlmor amf owns 304 bowling centers in the u . s . , mexico and canada . it acquired brunswick corp . & apos ; s bowling centers in 2014 for $ 270 million .

brunswick announced on july 17 that it ' s selling its bowling centers to bowlmor amf for $ 270 million . it also said it ' s seeking a buyer for its bowling products business .

when brunswick ( bc ) ended its association with bowling after more than a century and sold its properties to bowlmor amf for $ 270 million , the bowling world was stunned . but the privately held bowlmor amf has won over the skeptics , and now it aims to attract new players through a $ 10 million ad campaign that began earlier this month , a first for the industry .

update ( april 22 ) : bji recently spoke by phone with dan dowe , the attorney for the plaintiffs in the equal employment opportunity commission filings against bowlmor amf described below , in which former bowlmor amf employees allege that the company engaged in discriminatory hiring and firing practices . mr . dowe told us that for this case he thus far is representing 56 clients from 16 states who had compiled on average 18 years of service before their terminations following bowlmor ' s takeover of amf and brunswick bowling centers , " most of them managers with detailed knowledge of [ bowlmor ' s ] insensitivity to age , and just taking people out based on look and appearance and age . "

a modern salute to the glory days of bowling , amf features family - friendly fun , league - ready play , and classic eats at locations across the nation . amf is casual recreation at its best .

it’s been learned that amf bay shore lanes in santa monica is apparently discontinuing all of its league operations .

“following the transformative bowlmor and amf merger last year , which established us as the world’s largest bowling center operator , the acquisition of brunswick’s bowling centers will further expand our geographic footprint , ” he said .

locations teamed up to help bowlmor amf earn a guinness world records® title for ' the most people bowling simultaneously in multiple venues ' and enjoyed a night of free bowling and fun with their friends and family .

atairos buys bowlmor amf for more than $ 1 billion the sale to atairos represents a windfall for owners including cerberus capital management , credit suisse and dg capital , according to the person familiar with the matter .

after opening an additional five highly successful venues throughout the u . s . , bowlmor purchases amf bowling worldwide . the deal rescues amf from bankruptcy and results in the formation of the world’s largest bowling entertainment company , with more than 270 centers and approximately 7 , 500 employees located throughout the u . s . and mexico .

the post reports that there " were many casualties along the way " to the company ' s expansion following its purchase of amf ' s 272 bowling centers in 2013 and brunswick ' s 85 centers the following year . bowlmor amf soon began rebranding select centers into hip , boutique - style hangouts geared toward a younger demographic .

the bowling industry , though , has had a rocky recent history . amf had sought bankruptcy protection twice since 2001 before bowlmor acquired it in 2013 with the backing of private equity firm cerberus capital management and credit suisse .

bowlmor amf is the largest operator of bowling alleys in the world , with 262 domestic locations and 8 locations in mexico that specialize in corporate and special events , as well as league and walk - in retail bowling . the company was created in 2013 following the merger of bowlmor , an upscale bowling and entertainment company , and amf bowling worldwide , which was at the time the world ' s largest owner and operator of bowling alleys .

, chief executive officer , president and chairman of bowlmor amf . " we ' re thrilled to be leading the resurgence of bowling and we pride ourselves on creating unique , high - energy venues that are true destinations . "

the record - breaking event was part of bowlmor amf ' s new national advertising initiative , ' bowling makes saturday night more fun . ' in recent years , a young , hip audience has flocked to bowling alleys on weekends unlike any time since the 1970s . the recent industry - leading merger of the upscale , trendy bowlmor lanes with the always classic amf , ensures that america ' s largest participatory sport will continue to attract millennials and beyond .

in july 2013 , bowlmor lanes took over amf and began transforming many of their shabby bowling centers much the same way it had with its new york spots , wooing millennials with night bowling , djs and eclectic food and cocktail menus .

in addition to the entitlements , bowlmor amf will be highly visible on pba telecasts , including a package of billboards , commercial spots and on - site signage , and recognition throughout the 2014 and 2015 seasons across the pba network including xtra frame online webcasts , pba’s official website , pba . com , and the full range of pba social media outlets , including facebook , twitter and youtube . bowlmor amf will provide the pba promotional support through its network of 340 domestic bowling centers .

private - equity firm atairos group is paying more than $ 1 billion for bowlmor amf , nearly four years after the world & apos ; s largest bowling - center operator exited bankruptcy protection , according to a person familiar with the matter .

colie edison , a spokeswoman for bowlmor , said the company aims to " introduce a new generation to league bowling , " adding that bowlmor wants to support professional bowling and is in talks with the pro bowlers association about sponsorships .

in muskegon , where bowling - equipment maker brunswick has a factory , the company ' s presence over the years has been shrinking . last year , brunswick sold its bowling center division to new york - based bowlmor amf for $ 270 million .

then , in the fall of 2010 , bowlmor lanes opened its flagship venue—its largest location to date—in the former new york times newsroom in new york city . hailed as an “epcot of bowling , ” the 90 , 000 - square - foot bowlmor times square was and continues to be manhattan’s premier entertainment destination along with its companion venue bowlmor chelsea piers .

former bowlmor manager adam csernay , 54 , believes that he was fired because of his refusal to terminate an older employee .

bji has reached out to bowlmor for comment , and we will update this story as more information comes in to us .

“i didn’t buy amf to get in bankruptcy a third time , but to save it , ” shannon said in the july 9 interview .

originally based out of new jersey , bowling’s biggest name gets its start as american machine & foundry ( amf ) , a machinery - producing subsidiary of the american tobacco company . in its original incarnation , amf manufactures sorting , packaging , and weighing equipment for the fledgling tobacco company .

update ( april 24 ) : bowlmor amf ' s colie edison , the company ' s vice president of marketing , responded this morning to bji ' s request for comment on the new york post story from april 20 alleging that the company engaged in discriminatory hiring and firing practices ( see below ) . we have reached out to bowlmor for further information , and we are awaiting their reply .

bowlmor amf — with locations across the country , including in times square and the chelsea piers site — is now facing more than 50 discrimination complaints filed with the federal equal employment opportunity commission . ten of the plaintiffs are from new york , according to their lawyer , daniel dowe .

“these people can’t get away with what they’ve done , ’’ insisted former bowlmor manager miguel martinez , 59 , referring to company officials .

planning your child’s next birthday party is now even easier ! book an amf bowling celebration online—within minutes—and design an unforgettable day of fun that everyone will enjoy .

following the incredible success of bowlmor lanes in new york city , shannon made plans to bring the bowlmor concept across the country , opening bowlmor bethesda in suburban washington , d . c . , in 2001 to accolades . a year later , shannon unveiled the now - closed strike long island , whose cavernous underground space housed 35 lanes , a full - service restaurant , and four bars . in november 2004 , the 34 - lane strike miami opened in the dolphin mall , featuring a giant , state - of - the - art , sports - themed restaurant . bowlmor cupertino was next to open , debuting in california’s silicon valley in 2007 , followed by bowlmor orange county in the summer of 2008 .

fast - forward to july 1 , 2013 . on that date , bowlmor took the bowling public by surprise , merging with industry leader amf bowling worldwide , inc . and forming a new combined company : bowlero corp . . the move ushered in a brand - new era in the company’s history , boosting the bowlmor brand from six to 15 venues nationwide and expanding bowlero corp . ’s combined institutional footprint to over 270 properties employing more than 7 , 500 staff .

following the trust - busting of the early 1900s , amf splits from american tobacco to become its own entity . the newly independent amf develops its cigar - making machines and patents and leases the machinery , charging royalties , revolutionizing the industry , and establishing a business model that will resurface once again with the advent of the automatic pinsetter .

the original bowlmor lanes opens in new york city’s greenwich village . riding the wave of enthusiasm and excitement that america’s “golden age of bowling” will bring , bowlmor plays host to some of the nation’s most prestigious tournaments and most notable figures throughout the 1940s , 50s , and 60s , including president richard nixon .

“bowlmor amf has established itself as the single most prominent operator of bowling centers in the united states and has announced its intentions to play a major role in future growth of our sport , ” clark said . “the pba is pleased to announce the formation of a relationship that will be mutually beneficial in the years ahead . ”

bowlmor is the most comically mis - named company in the world . i guess bowl - less didn ' t test as well in the focus groups .

“i put two and two together . … it’s because i’m overweight , i’m older , and i don’t fit the bowlmor vision of what they’re looking for . ’’

amf skyline offers best - in - class bowling and awesome anytime fun—featuring 24 all - star lanes , interactive arcade games , billiards , and an on - site pro shop . every big game gets better when you’re watching it at amf skyline’s sports bar , complete with flat - screen tvs , an impressive selection of beer and cocktails , and an inventive lineup of signature dishes . perfect for league bowling , casual outings , birthday parties , and corporate events , amf skyline lanes offers convenient laneside service and class - leading entertainment that is always ready to roll .

istar committed to buying the bowling center portfolio for $ 200 million and will lease the 58 properties to mechanicsville , va . - based bowlmor amf , which last week agreed to acquire brunswick’s retail bowling business for $ 270 million . in total , brunswick is selling 85 centers in the u . s . and canada as well as its bowling products business .

one of shannon ' s biggest challenges is balancing the needs of the league bowlers , who take their sport seriously , with those of more casual players looking for a fun night with their friends or a place to throw a birthday party for their children . shannon is also promoting professional bowling through bowlmor amf ' s ad campaign featuring pro bowler jason belmonte .

he had escaped communism and came to new york from hungary as a political refugee in 1988 and said he enjoyed working in the bowling industry — until bowlmor came in .

tom shannon acquires bowlmor lanes and turns the aged , run - down union square bowling alley into one of new york city’s most successful and sought - after venues , transforming the traditional bowling experience with blacklight lanes , video walls , and gourmet laneside dining . shannon’s upscale bowling model is a hit—and bowlmor union square becomes an instant celebrity hotspot .

amf fredericksburg offers best - in - class bowling and awesome anytime fun—with 50 all - star lanes , an interactive arcade , and an on - site pro shop . every big game gets better when you’re watching it at amf fredericksburg’s sports bar , complete with flat - screen tvs , an impressive selection of beer and cocktails , and an inventive lineup of signature dishes . perfect for league bowling , casual outings , birthday parties , and corporate events , amf fredericksburg lanes offers convenient laneside service , available private event rooms , and class - leading entertainment that is always ready to roll .

bowlmor amf does not discriminate on the basis of age or in any other fashion . we are aware of some untimely claims made against the company based on individual personnel actions that were taken several years ago . none are meritorious and in some cases the company suffered money and property loss . the company will vigorously defend any claims and believes that it will prevail . "

the former employees who spoke with the post and have complaints pending with the eeoc , including bowling - center managers miguel martinez and adam cserynay as well as former hr manager kelly shannon ( no relation to bowlmor amf ceo tom shannon ) , argue that some employees were terminated when executives , including shannon himself , singled them out as obese or " too old . "

cerberus capital and credit suisse obtained a 77 . 5 % stake in amf through their ownership of the company & apos ; s junior debt and by investing $ 50 million in a rights offering .

but shannon persisted , and mccoy eventually came to believe that brunswick ' s centers would be better off under bowlmor amf ' s ownership because of the changing nature of the industry . many operators no longer describe their bowling businesses as " alleys " since they offer other forms of entertainment , such as arcades and rock - climbing walls , to broaden their appeal to families .

arafat invested the money in new york - based strike holdings , owner of bowlmor lanes , through a holding company he created called onyx funds , according to bloomberg markets magazine .

virginia - based bowlmor amf , which has 7 , 500 employees and 272 bowling centers in the u . s . and mexico , said in a press release that its new concept , bowlero , a 40 - lane bowling alley featuring " recreational games and inventive menu items set in an eclectic environment that’s full of nostalgic throwbacks , " will open may 21 at 27000 i - 45 north .

" initially , when i read about [ brunswick ' s plans to sell ] , it was a surprise , " said bpaa president thomas martino in an interview . " when the details came out , we can see why they sold . bowlmor amf paid a good price for it . i don ' t blame them [ or selling ] . it ' s a lot of money . "

the ex - manager , no relation to tom shannon , said bowlmor asked her to start creating profiles for the managers in her region , which included a picture and a short biography .

the deal between bowlmor amf and brunswick will merge the top two bowling center operators in the country and include a combined 357 locations . it comes at time of huge changes in $ 4 billion north american bowling market . about 69 million people bowl at least one game a year , making it , in the words of the industry , the top " participatory sport " in the u . s .

a cut above traditional bowling , bowlmor’s upscale lanes feature black lights , sleek lounge seats , video walls , and superior laneside service . add signature menus and cocktails for one striking night out .

today , bowlmor operates 17 upscale bowling entertainment destinations , continuing the brand’s ascension by adding new features , developing inventive menus , expanding its online presence , and opening new venues across the country .

in the past year , bowlmor amf ' s mar vista center in los angeles saw revenue surge 157 percent , and another one in norwalk , connecticut , saw a 254 percent revenue jump , helped by a gain in millennial consumers . the company is taking a cautious approach to expansion and is focusing on fixing its existing locations this year , then it plans to open a handful of new ones in 2016 .

he recalled a day in late 2013 , shortly after bowlmor took over , when the regional vice president , justin hake and the chief operations officer , joshua silverstein , came to visit his center .

the sixth chris paul pba celebrity invitational presented by amf will return on january 8 to amf’s 40 - lane facility in suburban los angeles . the fundraiser for paul’s cp3 foundation will feature a number of well - known celebrities along with several pba stars . the event will be televised by espn on super bowl sunday , feb . 1 , at 4 : 30 p . m . et , leading into the most - watched television event on the sports calendar .

csernay , who has an eeoc complaint pending , worked as an assistant general manager at the chelsea piers bowling alley for three years and was promoted to general manager at the amf 34thavenue lanes , now bowlero queens , in 2012 .

beautiful people now regularly fill bowlmor’s alleys , including even first lady melania trump , who took her son barron and stepdaughter tiffany to the lanes at chelsea piers this month with 30 secret service agents in tow .

some customers upset bowlmor is several blocks from the campus of new york university and is popular with manhattan hipsters , who pay about $ 8 a game per person to bowl in the evenings and on weekends .

bowlmor amf ushers forth a new era in bowling and social entertainment , opening the very first bowlero in the woodlands , texas , in may 2014 . the quirky , edgy , retro - vintage bowling phenomenon combines blacklight lanes and arcade games with inventive eats and old - school décor . debuting to rave reviews , the brand quickly expands to additional locations in texas and california , with more planned to hit select u . s . markets soon .

in 1938 , the original bowlmor lanes opened its doors in the heart of greenwich village at 110 university place . bowlmor lanes was at the forefront of the bowling revolution during the sport’s “golden age , ” hosting the prestigious landgraf tournament in 1942 and one of the first televised bowling tournaments in 1955 . vice president richard nixon famously bowled on the lane in 1958 . through the ' 70s and ' 80s bowlmor lanes was home to the country’s top bowlers and became a regular hangout for village hipsters . but towards the ' 90s , as the popularity of bowling as a sport declined , so did the condition of the bowling alley .

in one of the biggest acquisitions in bowling history , bowlmor amf , the world’s largest bowling center operators , agrees to acquire brunswick’s bowling center inventory of 85 locations in the u . s . and canada for $ 270 million . brunswick corporation , which traditionally sells bowling equipment , entered the field of bowling proprietorship in the 1960’s . since then , the retailer has expanded to 87 locations across the nation and generated around $ 187 million in 2013 .

bowlmor told the post that the company “does not discriminate on the basis of age or in any other fashion , " and said the company " will vigorously defend any claims and believes that it will prevail . "

the perfect dc power play doesn’t happen in the halls of congress—it happens on the lanes . discover the potomac’s perfect place to bowl , dine , party , and play the day ( or night ) away at bowlmor bethesda ! located on westbard avenue ( just off river road ) , bowlmor bethesda features 34 electro - cool bowling lanes , an all - new interactive arcade , and a deliciously inventive laneside menu that features 5 - lb . hamburgers , 2 - foot hotdogs , and bowlmor’s signature lineup of original cocktails . roll in for a casual game , or begin designing your next great event with our dedicated team of party planning professionals .

for bowlmor amf : rubenstein associates marcia horowitz 212 - 843 - 8014 ( office ) 917 - 922 - 0408 ( mobile ) mhorowitz @ urltoken or for cerberus capital management , l . p . : peter duda , 212 - 445 - 8213 john dillard , 212 - 445 - 8052 cerberus media line 212 - 891 - 1558 or for credit suisse : drew benson , corporate communications 212 - 325 - 0932 ( office ) drew . benson @ urltoken

he was hired as a general manager at the rip van winkle lanes in norwalk , conn . , an amf center , and after almost a decade of working there , he was fired “out of nowhere , ” he told the post .

acting on little more than a hunch that bowling would always have a place in american pop culture , tom shannon bought bowlmor lanes for $ 1 . 4 million when it was on the verge of closing in 1997 . injecting the tired business with hip design , upscale cuisine and a full bar , and marketing bowlmor as a party venue , mr . shannon not only revived a greenwich village institution but changed the bowling alley industry .

just one year later , the company acquired brunswick’s bowling business , adding three new brands and another 80 locations to the bowlero corp . family . that same year , bowlmor bid farewell to its original union square location , closing the timeless bowling icon after more than 70 years of service . during its illustrious tenure , bowlmor union square played host to some of america’s most notable figures and rose to prominence as the longest continuously operating bowling alley on the east coast .

at the time , his purchase looked like a gutter ball . with little business background or knowledge of the sport , mr . shannon borrowed $ 2 million from friends , family and bowlmor’s sellers to buy and transform the dingy alley .

bowlmor , which is based new york , plans to retain brunswick employees and will continue to honor brunswick ' s commitment to leagues - - an issue that concerns some bowlers since catering to private parties has proven to be so lucrative .

bowlmor ' s purchase of brunswick ' s 85 centers is expected to close before year - end . bowling accounted for about 5 percent of brunswick ' s sales and employed about 3 , 500 of brunswick ' s 16 , 000 employees .

in 1994 , darden business school graduate tom shannon attended a birthday party at the then - dilapidated and financially strapped bowlmor lanes . the alley’s character and history instantly inspired the young entrepreneur . after three years of research and planning on how to build a viable business out of bowling , shannon secured financing and purchased bowlmor lanes . his vision was to inject hip design elements into the tired and aged alley , add dramatic architecture , and perform a complete remodel of the internal operations .

five ex - employees of bowlmor lanes in manhattan ' s union square sued owner tom shannon claiming they were dismissed because of discrimination that ranged from their race , their gender , or the fact that one was pregnant as well as a minority .

i ' ve heard that it ' s bowlmor policy to not oil the lanes if there aren ' t any leagues that day . heaven help any league bowler who wants to do a little practicing . . . be sure to bring your plastic ball !

still , long waits are certainly a good sign for the future of what was once america ' s favorite sort - of - sport . and in spite of some controversial changes , bowlmor amf has done a nice job preserving parts of the classic googie aesthetic that made these alleys so appealing in the first place . the exteriors of bowlero mar vista and bowlmor santa monica ( above ) certainly have that familiar " come bowl with us " look , and so far ( knock on wood ) the company has left the recently acquired covina bowl— a true midcentury masterpiece —well enough alone . of course , for those looking for that truly vintage 10 - pin experience , there ' s always the blessedly stuck - in - time—and independently operated—shatto 39 lanes in koreatown ( still advertising regular holiday hours on their terrible website ) .

in depositions included in their suit , the one - time bowlmor workers detailed how shannon allegedly also discriminated against certain people who would be allowed into the carnival night club above the bowling lanes , where celebrities ranging from swimmer michael phelps to paris hilton are known to be photographed .

starting in manhattan in the late 1990s , the bowling - company bowlmor , with a new kingpin at its helm , began taking over seedy rundown alleys and turning them into trendy hot spots , wooing 20 - and 30 - somethings with the promise of quirky booze - filled fun .

many alleys have disappeared . last year , mission hills bowl tore up its lanes and shipped them to vietnam . hollywood star lanes , immortalized in the big lebowski , closed its doors in 2002 . two years before that , the holiday bowl—a crenshaw boulevard staple where residents bowled through the 1992 riots—closed its armet & davis - designed doors for good . now , many of the remaining alleys from the golden age of bowling have been bought up by 10 - pin titan bowlmor amf corp . with more than a dozen locations in the la area , the company is now renovating many of the older sites that it operates .

the bowlmor money was among $ 799 million in international investments by arafat detailed in newly released documents , bloomberg markets reported . other holdings included $ 285 million in orascom , an egyptian cellphone company , and $ 3 . 2 million in the u . s . software firm simplexity , it said .

they must be converting those centers to the " bowl mor " brand . i heard somewhere , maybe bowler ' s journal , that bowl mor amf will have three or four different " levels " of centers , with " bowl mor " branded centers at the top as high end bowling lounges . the " amf " branded centers will be primarily focused on leagues , and i think it was something like " bowlero " or something for the middle ground . i ' m not really sure how many centers are going to be re - branded , but it should be a good thing for most places , since they ' ll be getting renovated or updated i would imagine .

as a gm with bowlmor - amf you are able to run your own business and make informed decisions . training is supplied for new managers and is a 4 week process that gets you ready for your new role . the job can be very stressful with you sometimes being " short staffed " due to labor and budget constraints . all - in - all it is what you make of it and if you aren ' t having fun then it will not be a fun place to be . on the other side this can be the most rewarding retail position out there with the advancement opportunities and relationships you can build with guests and associates .

belmonte says he isn ' t sure what would be next for competitive bowling . " bowlmor predominantly focuses on upscale ' fun ' bowling , " he says . " so from that point of view , league bowlers and competitive bowlers are hoping they see a strong value in the competitive bowler market . "

the revamp—which included installing video screens and glow–in–the–dark lanes and balls , and adding such amenities as cocktails and lane–side waiter service—made bowlmor a favorite of celebrities , hipster drop–ins and event planners . mr . shannon’s success in attracting a new generation of bowlers has inspired other chains , including california–based lucky strike , to adopt his strategies .

of course , these changes have not gone over particularly well with those walter sobchaks of the world , for whom bowling is a way of life . one of the hallmarks of bowlmor ' s business strategy over the years has been deemphasizing league bowling in favor of more profitable private parties and specials aimed at families and young professionals . the company also alienated many longtime bowlers by evicting beloved diner pepy ' s during renovations to bowlero mar vista . the venerable coffee shop was replaced by a food and drink area serving traditional bar fare . yelp reviews of both bowlero mar vista and bowlmor santa monica are filled with complaints about high prices and long waits for a lane .

“we embrace bowling as an entertainment experience and are focused on elevating bowling as a category , bringing it back into popular culture as well as furthering our commitment to league play . this acquisition will provide us with a strategic foothold in a number of additional markets while enabling us to further scale our operations and mission by leveraging our strong marketing , employee training and operational infrastructure . with our shared guest experience - focused values and philosophy , we are excited to welcome the brunswick centers and employees into the bowlmor amf family and anticipate a smooth integration . injecting excitement into the $ 4 billion north america bowling market is at the core of what we do and we look forward to providing great opportunities to our collective customer and employee base . ”

mike , thanks for posting the letter from bowlmor . after reading it i laughed until i hurt . imo it contained nothing of importance to the " league " bowler . he didn ' t explain anything nor offer a direction in which they would be proceeding . if it were a paper letter , i would have wiped my ass with it .

just an observation on the bowlmor take over . had our league meeting , and the general manager told us the following . the center won ' t open until 4 pm each day , and will close right after leagues are done each night , and practice cost $ 17 . 00 for 2 hours on the lanes not being used for leagues . amf used to give $ 1 , 000 into the general fund of any league of 20 or more teams , bowlmor will not . this is the best part , they instead will allow the league to bowl an extra week and only charge $ 5 . 00 for linage instead of $ 11 . 50 with the rest of the money from the weekly fees going into the league fund . it is amazing that they expect us to pay our weekly fee for another week so we can add to our own fund . they are not giving us anything ! ! ! it ' s all coming out of our pockets . they raised drink prices to the extent that people drink water now instead of paying $ 11 . 50 for a pitcher of beer . it ' s $ 4 . 50 for a bottle of beer . great business model going here .

is there any word to use , other than sad ? i can only hope that all those folks at amf houses have privately owned centers they can all flock to and help the place flourish . i know that may not be reality , but that ' s what i hope is possible more places than not . here in tucson , we only have one corporate bowling center ; the others are all privately owned and doing well .

alice rosenaur claimed in court papers that two weeks after she began working at bowlmor , she learned she was pregnant and immediately informed her surpervisors . while on jury duty about two months later , rosenaur received notice that she was going to be fired because of her poor sales records , the claimed in the deposition . rosenaur stated that she surpassed her sales quota the month prior and that she was being let go because she was allegedly pregnant and was of hispanic and mexican descent .

his company , strike holdings inc . , now has six alleys—in manhattan ; long island ; bethesda , md . ; miami ; and southern and northern california . revenues were $ 33 million last year , and mr . shannon expects that figure to rise to $ 40 million this year . he also plans to add four locations in california , florida and new york over the next two years . the well–known bowlmor name was maintained in the village , but the rest of the locations carry the strike moniker .

the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling entertainment centers , bowlero corporation delivers a strikingly unique experience to over 28 million guests at more than 300 locations throughout the united states . from value - based and mid - range brands to premium , high - end venues , bowlero corporation combines exceptional service , incredible value , first - class amusements , and the classic fun of bowling—all for an unforgettable entertainment experience .

see how we roll—and discover a striking new career . search open positions , learn more about our company culture , and discover all the benefits and perks you’ll enjoy as a member of our all - star team .

check out all the buzz surrounding bowlero corporation . explore our digital archives and find out how our innovative approach to fun is making headlines all across the media .

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they proved that hipsters are game for anything — as long as you make the hangout cool enough .

but the push to transform the bowling joints from haggard to hip had an extremely ugly side , former workers told the post .

in its greedy bid to make strikes and spares cool again , the largest recreational bowling company in the world threw out its aging “average joe” staff for “trendy , attractive” new hires — even hosting “beauty contests” on skype to hire the best looking “hippest” candidates , ex - employees say .

“you can’t treat people this way , ’’ he said . “we’re human beings , we’re not cattle . ”

it began operating in manhattan in 1938 , opening an alley on university place in greenwich village .

but while the spot lured top bowlers for decades , by the early 1990s , it was languishing — badly .

enter tom shannon . in 1994 , the darden business school grad visited the dilapidated alley for a birthday party . looking past the smoke - stained walls and shady neighborhood regulars , he saw dollar signs on every scratched - up red and white pin .

shannon , 51 , bought the alley in 1997 for $ 2 million with the help of investors and started transforming its greasy interior into a gleaming nighttime gathering spot for the rich and famous .

he eventually went national with his business plan , buying up tired alleys and breathing lucrative new life into them by installing massive flat - screen tvs , glow - in - the - dark lanes and upscale design elements .

between 2013 and 2015 , the company fired 287 managers from its 351 bowling centers , gutting the business from the inside out .

higher - ups replaced the outgoing managers with younger , more attractive talent who were given “comparable , if not higher” salaries , ex - workers say .

“we started terminating people for no reason at all , ” said kelly shannon , a former hr manager who oversaw new managerial hires in the northeast region and is now an eeoc plaintiff .

then company execs , including tom shannon , started visiting those centers , she said .

“if [ higher - ups ] went to a center and didn’t like the way the general manager looked . . . whether it be age or appearance , they came up with some way to terminate them , ’’ kelly shannon told the post .

“we were told a lot to give the excuse that ‘we were going in a different direction . ’ ”

the 35 - year - old former exec recalled a conference call she had with a regional vice president in chicago who had just done a site visit with a general manager there .

“ [ the veep ] made the comment that [ the manager ] looked like he weighed 435 pounds , ” kelly shannon said . “shortly after , we terminated him . ”

she said there was no documentation of bad performances by those who were booted — “just a visit from a higher up a few weeks before the firing . ”