Big Al’s bowling center rolling into Boise

Vancouver-based Big Al’s is expanding to Boise, Idaho, where the company plans to break ground next month on its third bowling center in the Meridian Town Center retail development on farmland near the city.

“It’s been a successful business. That’s why we’ve launched into more of a growth stage,” said Daniel Kirkwood, vice president of Big Al’s developer, Kirkwood & Kirkwood Inc.

He said the company is looking for a fourth location in the Puget Sound region. Big Al’s has few competitors in the category of new bowling centers. The company’s state-of-the-art facilities cater to a broad demographic of younger adults, seniors and families.

Kirkwood expects an August 2012 opening for the Boise Big Al’s, which will offer the same activities available at the chain’s two existing centers in east Vancouver and Beaverton, Ore. However, unlike the existing single-story centers, the Boise site will be two stories tall.

The Big Al’s in Boise will offer 42 lanes of bowling, a sports bar and grill and a video arcade with 180 player positions.

Four Vancouver families are the private owners of Big Al’s. They include: Daniel Kirkwood and his wife, Melissa; Daniel’s parents, Al and Sandee Kirkwood; Daniel’s sister and husband, Kelley and Dean Gaylor; and Steve and JoMarie Hansen.

Kirkwood & Kirkwood was founded in 2004 by Daniel Kirkwood and Big Al, his father.

The Vancouver Big Al’s is at 16615 S.E. 18th St.