By Abigale Kreinheder
The renowned Lawson Boat and Motor Company expanded their facilities once again. The company purchased the Fluvanna Avenue Bowling Alley (The Fountain Bowl) and transformed the iconic building into a state-of-the-art boat storage facility and showroom.
The company revitalized the building and simultaneously preserved local history. Their new spot now provides boating enthusiasts an unparalleled shopping experience and ensures high quality and secure boat storage.
The storage facility opened last Fall, 2022 and had a successful first winter storing boats. This past Saturday, the facility celebrated the grand opening of their boat showroom featuring new and used boats.
The bowling alley used to be one of the largest and greatest alleys in Western New York and an iconic site in Jamestown. Its doors were closed a while back leaving the space empty for quite some time, but the impressive renovation has brought fresh life into the building and to the future of the company.
Andrew Finson, the president of Lawson Boat and Motor was approached with the opportunity which fell perfectly in line with his vision for the expansion of the company. Along with the building, they acquired a significant portion of land to expand further in future years. He hinted to possibly starting a new project this summer 2023 or the following to keep on providing the best experience they can for their customers.
Lawson Boat and Motor Company has been serving the Jamestown community since 2019, providing locals and visitors exceptional boating experiences and customer service. The acquisition of the bowling alley aligns with the company’s commitment to growth and innovation and signifies a new chapter for the space and the company.
With the boat industry experiencing a surge in popularity, the new showroom and storage facility is a great addition. The spacious interior of the former bowling alley is meticulously redesigned to accommodate a range of different boats.
“The boats are stored where the lanes used to be, which are no longer there of course”, said Finson.
The new facility offers a cold storage option, a less expensive alternative to heated storage at their original location at the marina. The new facility has a dedicated service center. Each boat that comes in is properly analyzed and inspected for any restorative work and winterized for storage.
The new Fluvanna Avenue site is open for its first summer season after its transformation. The iconic bowling alley is now part of Lawson Boat and Motor Company’s next chapter