In South Carolina, things are being re-opened based on decrees from our Governor. So, last Wednesday our Governor made an pronouncement about reopening some additional "places. These included places like arcades, zoos and museums, but it did not include bowling alleys.
So bowling alleys were less safe than arcades and museums.
A local bowling alley in Irmo, SC (where I use to live and have bowled there, many, many years ago) asked to be allowed to re-open. the following is the text of the article from our local TV station WISTV about the request and the results.
Its a long read but, the last paragraph, I believe, says it all.
By Caroline Coleburn | May 22, 2020 at 7:13 PM EDT - Updated May 22 at 7:35 PM
IRMO, S.C. (WIS) - Two bowling alleys in Irmo have requested special permission from the Department of Commerce to reopen their businesses.
This comes as some tourist attractions across the state reopened Friday for the first time in more than two months. The governor’s reopening announcement Wednesday included places like arcades, zoos and museums, but it did not include bowling alleys.
Staff at Anchor Lanes in Irmo says when the governor did not announce bowling alleys in the group of businesses allowed to reopen, they were devastated.
“It’s been very disheartening and kind of like a blow when we see that the other venues are opening like us and do the things like us, and we have a space in our building, and we’re not close quarters," general manager Jane Thomas said.
Thursday morning, she reached out to Mayor Barry Walker and the Irmo Town Council for help.
Walker says he called the governor’s team, and Thomas filled out paperwork for business clarification from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
“They had to file that paperwork, but they needed some help.
They needed some outside political influence, and that’s what they pay me for, to be their advocate and their cheerleader, and that’s what I did,” Walker said. “I got on the phone with the governor. I got on the phone with the representatives here in Irmo, and I said we need to do something for these businesses.”
Thursday afternoon, Thomas received the email giving her permission to reopen.
Note: This re-opening was only for "league play". The general public is still prohibited from using the bowling alley.
https://www.wistv.com/2020/05/22/two-bowling-alleys-irmo-request-special-permission-reopen/] [url]https://www.wistv.com/2020/05/22/two-bowling-alleys-irmo-request-special-permission-reopen/[/url]
