Owners and Bee Cave residents Scott and Jennifer Emley said their project, High 5, has been packed since its Jan. 11 opening at the Oaks at Lakeway center. The entertainment venue features bowling, laser tag, a restaurant and bar, and arcade games.
With their hands-on approach, the Emleys oversee the center. Jennifer said she spent the first weekend helping bartend and credits the buzz to being located in a community that needed an entertainment center.
“We had a market study done early on, and it turns out this was one of the best places for this sort of thing,” Jennifer said. “When the weather’s bad, you need somewhere to go. Out in this area, there weren’t many options other than a movie.”
Although the Emleys are long-time locals, they spent a few years away living in Dallas and Colorado Springs for Scott’s job as a former technology executive. While in those cities, Scott said they enjoyed visiting entertainment venues similar to High 5.
“We had places there like [High 5] that we loved,” he said. “But once we moved back to Austin, we felt like we were stuck inside during the hot summer. I wanted to create a fun place to go.”
Scott said he presented Jennifer with a business plan two years ago, outlining his idea for the entertainment center. He said she loved it.
Jennifer said the center is designed to suit any age, and in an effort to keep it from feeling too “childish,” the Emleys created the upstairs area to have a more adult feel. Called “Up Top,” the upper level bowling lanes and bar become a 21-and-up-only area after 8 p.m.
Additional event rooms that can be booked for almost any event are also located upstairs.
“We’ve been booking events for six months already,” she said. “We’re already partnered with Lake Travis [ISD] to host an event for Project Graduation, and we’re looking forward to more community involvement.”
Jennifer said she was focused on maintaining the venue’s local vibe. Working with an architect, she helped design the ranch-industrial building with its authentic field fencing framed into the stairway and reclaimed Central Texas wood lining the walls.
Although the venue is suitable for all ages, evening bowling upstairs is limited to adults.[/caption]
Jennifer said her favorite High 5 element is the mural painted by artist Rory Skagen, a replica of his famous “Greetings from Austin” wall in downtown Austin.
David Detmer, High 5 food and beverage director and consultant, has helped start entertainment centers around the nation. After working with the Emleys, he said the most unique thing about the new venue is its dedication to local products.
High 5 co-owners Jennifer and Scott Emley opened the new Lakeway center Jan. 11.[/caption]
“Nothing on the menu comes from more than 100 miles away,” Detmer said. “The goal is to soon be 100 percent farm to table, but already everything comes from nearby.”
Other plans for the venue include eventual expansions, Jennifer said.
1502 S. RR 620, Lakeway 512-710-2695 www.bowlhighfive.com Hours: Sun.-Fri. 10 a.m.-midnight, Sat. 10 a.m.-1 a.m.
