Bowling alley reopens with families in mind

BONNERS FERRY — Liberty Lanes Bar & Grill: Historically AJ’s has reopened after an overhaul and remodel with the aim of being a welcoming place for families and a good time.

Robert Endicott and Gary Rhoads are the new owners of Liberty Lanes, Historically AJ’s, they want the place to become the beating heart of Bonners Ferry with safety and fun in mind.

“Laughter is contagious, and we hope that when people walk into Liberty Lanes, they hear families laughing and want to join in on the fun and safe environment,” Rhoads said.

After purchasing the property in April, the new owners planned to reopen in May, but that was put on hold as a serious remodeling took place in the kitchen, bar, bathrooms and entryway. Air conditioning was installed, and additional parking will also be added on the west side of the building.

The inside has drastically changed, with more light at the entryway and unnecessary wall structures removed to open up the space. Arcade games are being moved to a separate room near the front desk. The restaurant to the right of the entrance is also open and inviting for guests to move back and forth between ordering and bowling.

Other than the new addition of cosmic bowling and new shoes, the bowling alley itself saw little change, as the machines had already been remodeled a few years ago.

The crown jewel of the bowling alley is the new and improved sports bar, the only one in town. Hidden behind a door and out of view of the bowlers, is a 50-foot long bar, serving the largest selection of on tap beer in the county and displaying seven TVs.

The new bar is lined with wood paneling that gives it a fresh, clean, but nostalgic feeling. The owners said by putting in additional lighting and opening up the space, they hope more people will mingle and congregate, creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for those over 21.

They also aim to bring in karaoke and trivia nights at a later date.

A pool hall has also been added with coin operated tables. The pool hall has a separate entrance on the west side of the building for minors to access the hall, instead of passing through the bar. The area is a food and beverage free zone.

The bar also has its own pool table.

For food offerings, Liberty Lanes has something for every palette, and all ingredients are sourced from within 300 miles.

Endicott has a culinary background and is training the new executive chef, Mike Carmean.

“We are trying to cater to all tastes,” he said, noting they are continuing to refine the menu.

They will serve typical bar foods, such as wings, hamburgers, and familiar classics from the deep fryer, such as mozzarella sticks. One of a kind items will also be on the menu, such as the Guinness bratwurst, and beer battered cauliflower.

Pizza will be featured alongside fried pickles, the pub pretzel, which is huge, and much more. Salad offerings will also be forthcoming. Please inform staff of any allergies, and they will do what they can to accommodate.

All sauces are made in house, excluding ranch and blue cheese, Endicott said.

Drink offerings are also chosen with all tastes in mind. With the largest amount of on-tap options in the county, Liberty Lanes will be pulling out cold ones with a seasonal rotating tap. Their main tap will be TenPin Brewing from Moses Lake, Wash.

With the aim of focusing on the community’s culture, and standards, Sheryl Neal has been brought to the team to help Liberty Lanes continue to bridge the gap to the community.

Her past experience involves the establishment of the Rockstar Lions, which kicked off the world's largest anti-bullying campaign, which involves celebrities and other prominent figures out of Colorado. She didn’t stop there, but established a safe ranch for kids and other nonprofit campaigns that insured safety for underprivileged children exposed to trauma and horrible conditions.

“Her goal is to make sure that everybody has a place to be where they feel loved,” Endicott said.

She also helped establish the Libby vendors market which revolves around the idea of people helping people.

“Our goal is to cater to the community, to be a safe place for the team and kids to hangout,” Neal said.

Bonners Ferry doesn’t have a place for that, she said, noting that Boundary Bounce and the teen center are no longer open.

In order to keep the family friendly feeling and having safety in mind, cameras and motion detectors have been installed outside the pool hall for when kids travel along the building.

“This is to keep the staff and the community safe as well,” Endicott said.

Another way the owners are aiming to support the community is by taking a lower profit margin in order to pay their employees well.

“We want our employees to be some of the highest paid in town, and to look at this job as a career not just another job,” Endicott said.

When asked why change the business name to Liberty Lanes, Endicott said he and Rhoads had a hard time pinning down a new name. Eventually they decided “liberty” encompassed what they wanted to invoke at the bowling alley, with the idea of having the liberty to have a fun time.

“And Liberty Lanes sounds cool and rolls off the tongue,” he said with a smile, also noting everyone’s liberty is protected by law enforcement, military service members, firefighters and other first responders, which they respect and are grateful for.

Liberty Lanes has had a soft opening since the beginning of August. Their grand opening is Saturday, Sept. 2, over Labor Day weekend, where one free game will be given away to families.

Regular bowling prices are $7 per person per game with shoes included, or $40 per hour for a lane.

Birthday parties include one hour lane rental, two 12-inch pizzas and the birthday girl or boy gets a bowling pin signed by everyone in the bowling alley. Total costs $65.

Liberty Lanes is still able to take bowling leagues, but league organizers will have to facilitate the league.

The owners wanted to thank Tyler Morrison, local renowned executive chef, for his help behind the scenes and elevating the menu. Morrison has helped many restaurants hone their service and menus.

The bowling alley and grill is open Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. The Bar is open Sunday through Thursday noon to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays noon to 2 a.m.

For more information, call 208-267-1506 or stop by at 6662 Lincoln St., Bonners Ferry.