A MAJOR bowling-themed restaurant chain has confirmed a shake-up to some of its operations after sales declines.

Customers can expect to find more activities to participate in while indulging in some of their favorite foods and drinks.

GettyA bowling-themed restaurant is adding more activities for customers (stock image)[/caption]

Pinstripes Inc.Pinstripes offers dining along with bowling and bocce ball (stock image)[/caption]

It’s no secret that elevated “eatertainment” has become exceedingly popular for American consumers over the past several years.

Eatertainment is effectively a dining experience that combines entertainment.

Some basic examples would be bowling alleys, mini golf venues, and dine-in movie theaters.

Pinstripes has been part of that charge with its bowling and bocce ball focus alongside the dining experience.

The company was founded by current president and CEO Dale Schwartz back in 2006, with its first and flagship location opening in Chicago a year later.

It holds 18 bowling lanes, 12 bocce courts, a wine cellar, a bistro, a bar, and a banquet area.

In 2024, Pinstripes has 18 locations in nine states, with the most recent opening on November 15 in Walnut Creek, California, about 25 miles northeast of downtown San Francisco.

While Pinstripes continues to expand with at least four new openings planned for 2025, Schwartz said sales were suffering amid inflation rates and economic changes.

POWERING THROUGH

“Consumer wallets remain pressured, and we are seeing this most pronounced in our open-play business, which was down approximately 13% year-over-year in Q2, while our event business was only down approximately 6%,” he noted in an earnings call in November.

Pinstripes cited a net loss of $9.3 million for the second quarter ending on October 13, compared to a loss of $7.7 million during the same period in 2023.

Revenues were also $26.5 million, up from $24.6 million in the second quarter last year.

In response, Schwartz emphasized significant changes, including more “beefed up” activities aside from bowling and bocce ball that have seen some success at Pinstripes locations.

“Our local-store marketing campaigns have seen exciting success as we have introduced activities such as kids clubs, comedy nights, line dancing, yoga classes, trivia nights, and many other community activities that complement our F&B and gaming offerings,” Schwartz assured investors.

With that in mind, all 18 locations will likely adopt the format to bring sales around for the brand.

OPENING PROMISE

Schwartz said the Walnut Creek location was headed in the right direction after the grand opening last month.

It offers customers “eight bowling lanes, two indoor bocce ball courts, and a private event space for groups of up to 1,500,” according to the CEO.

In total, the two-level location has about 25,000 square feet of space, similar to other Pinstripes, with a maximum of 38,000 square feet.

“Our opening to date has been very promising, and our initial private event bookings have been very strong, complementing the continued success of our San Mateo location,” Schwartz noted.

The CEO said the company had about $3.2 million in cash and expected “significant positive cash flow” amid the holiday season.

He also said on the earnings call that Pinstripes was in the middle of pursuing “additional external capital, which could include funding from new outside sources, as well as additional funds from our existing lenders.”

Pinstripes CFO Tony Querciagrossa emphasized that the company would make it “through most of calendar ’25” in the current financial position.

Several other eatertainment chains are also expanding.

A pickleball concept restaurant is opening more locations across the West and promises an elevated experience for guests.

Baseball fans are also losing it over a Topgolf-style baseball simulator venue called BatBox, which seeks to open multiple locations nationwide soon.

https://www.the-sun.com/money/13010267/pinstripes-major-changes-ceo-beefed-up-activities/