COVER STORY
Grandson Jason an d son Bob Johannes carry on the family tradition.
“Cleanliness is a big thing,” he said. “If you see trash, pick it up. That's what's been pounded into my head.” Jason also learned another major factor. “Take care of your customers,” he said. “Make your customers happy, treat them good and they will come back.” Today the family only owns Park Lanes after selling Ranch Bowl in 1985 and Ranch Bowl West in 2010. Like his father, Bob Johannes has been backing away from the daily operations, leaving the management duties to Jason. “I have no schedule per say,” Bob said. “I'll offer ideas and guidance when needed, but I let Jason take the reigns.“ Bob doesn't miss the long hours required when your family owns the center. “Monday through Friday, I was here noon to midnight,” he said. “There were many weeks over
the years I saw the 100-hour mark. That got to be a grind after awhile. You have to move on.” Now that he's fully in charge, Jason Johannes truly has grown to love his job. “It's just the personal level of it for me,” he said. But it's not just Bob and Jason who work at the center. Becky handles the payroll and pays the bills. Jason's 22-yearold sister Kara is the assistant manager. And his children, age 8 and 10, help wherever they can. “It's a true family business,” Jason said. “The customers probably see one of us at least seven days a week.” “Continuity plays a big part from the customer standpoint,” Bob said. “They like to be involved in a family business where everyone has a vested interest in things running right and taken care of. I've learned over the last 40 years that you have to react quickly to what's happening around you. You have to adjust and adapt quickly. The advantage of a family-owned business is you can do that. Many times you come up with an idea and can make it happen the next day. Hopefully we'll keep it going. We are in a unique business. There's something about this business that lends itself to family ownership, and I hope it continues.”
Meet the Hartmans No family in America can likely beat the Hartmans of Collinsville, Illinois, for in 2012 they are celebrated 100 years in the business. It all started when Frank Hartman opened Hartman Recreation, a two-lane establishment in the old Fisher Plumbing Building. Frank was followed by son Charles, grandson Arthur, great grandson Artie and great-great grandsons Robb and Brent. For those counting at home, that's five generations of bowling proprietors. Frank operated Hartman Recreation until the mid-1920s when he and son Charles moved the business to the famed downtown Fairmont Hotel where they opened the 10-lane Fairmont Bowl. “It was in the basement of what was a big, luxury hotel,” Artie said. “It was a three-story building with a nice restaurant. It was the place the rich horsemen would stay. That was the place. I was about 8 or 10 years old when [grandfather] IBI
November 2012
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