By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Nov 27, 2012 at 9:03 AM

David Bardon says bowling is in his blood. Bardon, who grew up in Elkhart Lake, has participated in the sport his entire life. Today, he owns five bowling centers, including one in Elkhart Lake, called Anchor Lanes, that was built by his father.

Bardon also owns JB's On 41, 4040 S. 27th St, formerly Olympic Lanes. After an eight-month renovation, JB's is now a modern bowling center that's more like Bayshore Town Center's iPic than a retro '70s alley.

JB's features more than 25 flat screen televisions, newly minted lanes featuring cherry wood panels and a private area for birthday parties, corporate events or a night on the town.

Along with regular bowling, JB's offers Galactic Bowling which includes a light-and-sound show combined with runway lights up each lane and a fog machine.

"The nice thing about bowling is that it's a life-long sport," says Bardon, who bowls three times a week. "Anyone, regardless of age or athleticism, can bowl."

A grand opening celebration called Strike For Tikes Grand Opening Celebration is set for Thursday, Nov. 29 through Saturday, Dec. 1.

Thursday, Nov. 29 will offer up a sports spectacular, complete with prizes and specials for NFL and sports fans of all ages throughout the day.

Friday will feature more prizes, a live band for karaoke, bowling and food discounts, along with a special challenge from JB's to have more than 1,000 games bowled by everyone in a five-hour period over the 35 lanes.

JB's will offer a special price of $2 per game Friday night to try to encourage the goal to happen. Galactic Bowling will also kick off at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

Finally, the weekend will wrap up with a Family Fun Day on Saturday, complete with prizes and family-fun activities such as face painting, clown shows, appearance by local fire departments and a special Parents' Lounge for moms and dads who want to watch the Saturday games.

Throughout the grand opening weekend, JB's On 41 will help raise money to purchase toys for children in need this holiday season. For each strike scored Thursday through Saturday, JB's will make a contribution toward the purchase of toys. Guests coming out also can bring new or lightly used toys to receive a discount coupon good throughout the holiday season.

The complex also features The Junction at JB's, a full service restaurant and bar that offers lunch, dinner and late night options for bowlers. The Junction's revamped menu offers homemade pizzas, a variety of sandwiches, salads and a Friday fish fry.

"We're very excited about this," says Bardon. "We want people to feel like coming here for food even if they don't care to bowl."

There's a full bar and a game room on site, too.

JB's is very kid-friendly, with bumper bowling always an option and balls that are as light as six pounds.

"My grandson is three and he bowls with a six-pounder," says Bardon.

Starting in early 2013, JB's will offer bowling instruction via a program called Bowling 2.0, a four-week bowling course taught by professional bowling coaches.

"Whether someone wants to stop in for one game or really focus on the sport and get better, bowling offers a very social, affordable, physically active experience," says Bardon. "It also adds healthy competitiveness to an afternoon or evening outing – if you want to take it there."


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.