NWI Bar - Set 'Em Up

Last Updated on Friday, 02 July 2010 01:02 Friday, 02 July 2010 00:57

NWI BAR

SET 'EM UP
BY: Mona Dickinson

After an almost two year hiatus, the bowling lanes and lounge at 135 N. Broad Street in Griffith are open again. Set ‘Em Up Lanes & Lounge opened eight weeks ago with a new name, new owners and a new look.

Owners Tony Hobson and Ralph McCampbell re-opened the building that formerly housed the Bowl Arena in downtown Griffith. The building was vacant for nearly two years when Hobson attended the Redevelopment Commission meeting and learned the building was still for sale.

Hobson and McCampbell had talked about opening up a business and were in the process of looking. Hobson said. “I knew the former owner and I shot pool here in a league. I thought the building had sold, but it all kinda fell into place after I attended that meeting.”

The new name – Set ‘Em Up Lanes and Lounge was developed by Ralph’s wife Jane. “We wanted to keep a bowling theme, and just came up with that,” said Hobson. “Our motto is ‘We set ‘em up…. You knock ‘em down.”

Hobson, a financial planner, also owns Hobson Financial Group, Hobson and Scott Insurance and Hobson and Scott Remodeling. When the sale went through, Hobson and his crew undertook an extensive remodeling project.

The remodeling project included a new roof, new flooring and a bigger bar, along with new ceiling tiles and fans. A stage for live entertainment or DJ’s was added along with a small dance floor in one corner of the area which houses the eight bowling lanes. A new PA system was also put in to pipe music to the lanes and bar. All new tables, pub tables, chairs and bar stools completed the look.

“The lanes and lounge were well established in previous years,” Hobson said. “We wanted to bring in some entertainment and special events and try some new things.”

The bar selection was expanded adding more domestics, imports and craft beer selections. A slushy machine serves a dual purpose – slushies for the younger crowd on the lanes side and as a base in some blended frozen drinks on the bar side.

A full kitchen menu is also available including sandwiches, munchies, pizza, wings and the house specialty, Hoagie. “Our wings are pretty popular, we offer seven different sauces and the wings are the jumbo wings,” noted Hobson.

The bar was a pretty popular place to watch the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup playoffs last month. Special events are planned for the Bears games, since both Hobson and McCampbell are self-proclaimed die-hard Bears fan. Flat screens are located throughout the bar and game and lanes areas making this a great place to watch games and events.

Along with daily drink specials, Set ‘Em Up offers Karaoke on Wednesdays, Entertainment on Thursdays and Fridays and Live bands on Saturdays. Hobson and McCampbell have booked some of the area’s most popular bands for Friday and Saturday nights in July which includes The Crawpuppies, Jack Adams and B.A.M., Rockzilla, The Unit and Zodiac.

The bar features two pool tables, complete with new felt and sticks; dart boards and a Golden Tee machine. Hobson plans to get involved with the local pool and dart leagues this fall, sponsoring teams and having leagues play at the bar.

Over in the lanes, the kids bowling birthday parties have been pretty popular. Family bowling specials are also offered, such as a game of bowling, hot dog, chips and a pop all for $5.

A Kids League is getting underway for the summer and leagues are starting to organize for the fall.

“We want to provide entertainment for all ages, whether bowling or listening to a band in the bar,” added Hobson. He invited residents to stop in and check out all the new amenities Set ‘Em Up has to offer.

“We are all about customer service and providing a friendly atmosphere,” Hobson noted. “We have a good group of regulars and you’ll feel welcome anytime. Whether you’re 21 or 80, you will feel welcome here.”

Hobson and McCampbell also plan to utilize the bar’s adjacent parking lot for outdoor events and activities. An outdoor concert with The Crawpuppies and barbeque is planned for July 3 and their plans are to participate in Griffith’s downtown activities, such as the Rock and Rail Festival in August.

Hobson and McCampbell said they’ve been pretty “hands on” getting the bar and lanes up and running again. They both plan to pull back and concentrate on their other careers, Ralph at Cargill, and Hobson a financial planner. Hobson and McCampbell wanted to thank all involved in the start-up, in particular Jane and Ashley McCampbell.

Set ‘Em Up Lanes and Lounge is located at 135 N. Broad Street in Griffith. For more information on leagues or upcoming events, call (219) 924-3181.