On Monday, March 26, Webster selectmen unanimously approved the transfer of the liquor license for Mohegan Bowl in Webster. Long-time owner Irene Pelletier, who founded the business in 1959 with her husband, will be retiring and selling the business to Ed & Kelli Kinsley of Mendon, MA.  The Kinsleys currently operate another bowling center in North Attleboro, MA. They explained to the Selectmen that the facility will undergo a major renovation to expand the business into a “Family Entertainment Center” offering Kids Birthday Parties, Corporate Parties, Family Bowling Specials, a large redemption game arcade, ice cream and a new casual dining restaurant-pub. They will also continue to offer traditional league bowling and work to maintain Mohegan’s position as one of the leading candlepin centers in New England.

The Kinsley’s stated that, during the initial phase, they will invest approximately $600,000 to renovate the aging facility with new lanes, automatic scoring, new furnishings and arcade games as well as cosmetic improvements such as paint and carpet. They further explained that the bowling industry has changed over the past 20 years, league bowling has declined and modern centers need to offer a variety of different flavors of bowling to make up for the lost business. Ed Kinsley said, “The traditional bowling center is like an ice cream store that only sells vanilla. Our goal is to offer a variety of “flavors” of bowling to appeal to all age groups from little kids to senior citizens. We host kids parties, corporate events, offer late night bowling for college students and cosmic bowling every Friday and Saturday night, family bowling specials on weekend days, as well as the traditional leagues.”

Kelli Kinsley further explained, “We have a 9-year-old son, and we recognize the need for a clean, safe place where families can go and have fun. We are very family- and kid-oriented. At our other facility, we have also been fortunate to participate in fundraisers for groups such as Make-A-Wish, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Relay for Life, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness and many others. We look forward to bringing that tradition of community involvement to Mohegan as well.”

The transaction is expected to close in mid-May, and the facility will remain open over the summer during the remodeling work. The Kinsley’s have a target date of Labor Day weekend for having all improvements completed.