Strikz owner Neil Farren built his business in Frisco to be closer to his family.[/caption]Thud, rumble, rumble, rumble, crash!
Families and guests can hear those traditional bowling sounds as they enter Strikz Entertainment, a family-owned and -operated entertainment center in Frisco.
Tickets from arcade games can earn players big prizes.[/caption]Owner Neil Farren opened Strikz in 2005. The venue serves as a family entertainment center that includes 32 bowling lanes, laser tag, arcade and billiards.
Farren said he spent his childhood in Dallas bowling alleys. His father was a bowling alley mechanic, so Farren said he knows all of the ins and outs of a bowling alley.
After he graduated from college, Farren went to work for Brunswick, a national chain with nearly 100 entertainment centers nationwide.
He said he did a lot of traveling internationally because of his job and was hardly ever home.
Having worked for Brunswick and seeing how family entertainment centers thrived in communities, Farren said he wanted to build his own center and believed Frisco was the place to do that.
“It’s been a learning experience coming from the [corporate world] to becoming a small-business owner,” Farren said.
Strikz resembles chain entertainment centers, but Farren said there are key differences between the businesses.
“We’re locally and family-owned with great guest services,” Farren said. “It’s all about operations.”
Farren said The Rose Room also helps set them apart from competitors. The Rose Room is a private bowling area featuring 12 lanes with lane-side beverage service, high-definition TVs and three 24-inch-wide HD screens.
On June 1, Strikz Grill debuted its revamped menu featuring new meals made fresh daily. The menu offers items such as pizzas, cheeseburgers and sandwiches. Gluten-free options are also available.
Strikz has two sports bars serving draft beers, wines and cocktails.
With Strikz being family-owned, Farren said all of his six children have worked for him.
“[My family is] happy that I’m around more than I had been; and having them all work for me has been a great experience,” Farren said.
Strikz gives back to the community by sponsoring nonprofits or hosting charity events throughout the year.
“We’ve been fortunate, so we like to give back to the community,” Farren said. “There’s only so much you can do, but if there’s a need we try to help out.”
In collaboration with Shenaniganz in Rockwall and Alley Cats in Arlington, Strikz will host the Snowball Express, a nonprofit that aims to provide happy memories for children of service members killed in action.
Farren said the vision for Strikz is to be place for everyone to enjoy, from families to businesses.
“People come in here with a smile, and we want them to leave with a smile because we’re selling an experience,” Farren said.
