For owners of abandoned bowling alleys, every month of vacancy costs
2,000–6,000 in maintenance, taxes, and lost rent. It’s a drain that gets worse over time—until the space feels like a liability, not an asset. But here’s the truth: that empty 2,000–5,000 sq. ft. venue is a goldmine for interactive entertainment. Activate Games’ rapid-profit bowling alley conversion program turns vacant alleys into cash-generating check-in spots in just 8 weeks—with minimal risk, no guesswork, and a clear path to recouping your investment.
Why Vacant Bowling Alleys Are a Low-Risk, High-Reward Investment
Most entrepreneurs avoid vacant venues because of “unknowns”—but bowling alleys eliminate 3 big risks that hold back other spaces:
- Predictable Costs: Unlike old factories or derelict buildings, bowling alleys have no hidden structural issues (e.g., mold, collapsed floors) 90% of the time. They’re built for heavy foot traffic, so floors, walls, and ceilings are already durable. Our pre-conversion inspection (free for clients) confirms no surprise repairs—so you know your budget upfront.
- Built-in Visibility: Bowling alleys are designed to be seen—they’re usually on main roads, near parking, and have large storefronts. This means you don’t need to spend $10,000+ on marketing to “put your venue on the map.” Just add a new sign for your activate game hub, and local drivers will notice immediately.
- Low Competition: Most areas have 0–1 interactive game venues—while every town has at least 1 abandoned bowling alley. Converting yours means you’re the first to tap into a hungry market (parents tired of playgrounds, teens bored of arcades, companies needing team-building spots).
Activate Games’ Rapid-Conversion System: 4 Steps to Profit in 8 Weeks
We’ve streamlined the conversion process to cut through red tape and avoid delays. Here’s how we go from “vacant” to “earning” in under 2 months:
1. Week 1–2: Market & Space Prep (No Construction Yet)
Before touching a hammer, we make sure your venue fits local demand:
- Local Demand Check: We analyze your area’s demographics (e.g., “30% families with kids under 10” or “200+ small businesses within 5 miles”) to pick the right games. For example, in a suburban area with lots of families, we prioritize low-energy, supervised games; in a city with young professionals, we lean into social, photo-ready setups.
- Permit Fast-Track: We handle permit applications for you—using our relationships with local governments to speed up approvals. Most clients get their “entertainment venue” permit in 7–10 days (vs. 4+ weeks on your own).
- Space Mapping: We use 3D software to design your layout—so you can see exactly where each game goes before we start. No guesswork, no last-minute changes.
2. Week 3–5: Quick-Install Game Zones (No Tearing Down Walls)
Our games are built for fast setup—we don’t need to demo floors or rewire the entire space. Here are 3 popular setups that install in 3–5 days:
- Quick-Play Family Zone: Uses 2 lanes (~700 sq. ft.). We roll out our Portable Puzzle Path—a foldable, interlocking mat with built-in sensors that lights up as kids solve puzzles. It connects to a small projector (mounted on a portable stand, no ceiling installation needed) and packs up in 1 hour if you need to reconfigure.
- Social Snap Zone: Takes 1 lane + a 8×8 ft. wall (~500 sq. ft.). Our Neon Selfie Battle uses a 8ft-tall, lightweight LED screen that hangs on the wall (no drilling into studs). Players pose to “catch” digital neon shapes, and the screen automatically saves photos they can text to friends. It’s designed for viral shares—we’ve seen 100+ posts from a single venue in its first week.
- Corporate Quick-Book Zone: Occupy 1 lane (~300 sq. ft.). The 15-Minute Team Challenge is a portable obstacle course (foldable ramps, soft hurdles) that sets up in 2 hours. Companies can book it for 1-hour slots (perfect for lunch breaks or after-work events) and pay 200–300 per session—with minimal staff needed to run it.
3. Week 6–7: Staff Train & Soft Launch
We don’t just hand you the keys—we make sure your team is ready to succeed:
- 1-Day Staff Training: We teach your team (even if they have no game experience) how to run each setup, fix minor issues (e.g., “how to restart the LED screen”), and encourage customers to post photos (e.g., “Say ‘cheese’ for a free sticker!”).
- Soft Launch with Local Partners: We invite 5–10 local businesses (daycares, pizza shops, gyms) for a free preview. They bring their customers/kids, post about it on social media, and become your first promoters. One client in Texas got 20+ birthday party bookings from their soft launch alone.
4. Week 8: Grand Opening & First Earnings
By week 8, you’re ready to open—and start making money. We help you plan a grand opening with:
- Local Media Outreach: We send press releases to local newspapers, radio stations, and mom blogs—most will run a free story about “the old bowling alley turning into a new game spot.”
- Opening Specials: Simple deals like “10for1hourofplay”or“Freesnackwithagroupbooking”drivefirst−timevisits.Clientsusuallymake3,000–$5,000 in their first weekend.
How to Keep Earnings Growing (Even After Opening)
The goal isn’t just to make money in week 8—it’s to keep earning month after month. Here are 3 easy tactics:
- Weekly “Theme Nights”: Pick 1 night a week for a special event (e.g., “Taco Tuesday” with a local food truck, “Glow Night” with discounted neon accessories). These nights boost slow weekdays—one client saw 200% more traffic on Tuesdays after starting “Family Game Night.”
- Corporate Membership Plans: Offer local businesses a “monthly team pass” (300/monthfor10visits)—itguaranteesregularrevenue.We’vehadclientssign10+businessesintheirfirstmonth,adding3,000+ to their monthly income.
- Referral Rewards: Give customers a free game token for every friend they refer who books a session. Word-of-mouth is free—and it’s the most trusted way to get new customers.
Activate Games’ Risk-Free Guarantee: We Don’t Get Paid Until You Do
We’re so confident in our system that we offer a profit guarantee: If you don’t make at least $5,000 in your first month, we’ll give you a free month of game updates and marketing support—no questions asked. We also include:
- 24/7 Tech Support: If a game breaks at 7 PM on a Saturday, our tech team answers the phone in 5 minutes and walks you through a fix (most issues resolve in 10 minutes).
- Free Game Updates: Every 3 months, we send new software for your games (e.g., new puzzles for the Puzzle Path, new neon shapes for Selfie Battle) —so customers keep coming back to try something new.
Ready to Stop Wasting Money and Start Earning?
Your vacant bowling alley doesn’t have to cost you another dollar. Activate Games’ rapid-conversion program turns it into a profitable hub in 8 weeks—with minimal risk, fast setup, and a team that handles the hard work for you.