On June 1, Phase Two of Montana's re-opening plan will allow bowling alleys to open up their doors.
Phase Two allows for more than 50 people to gather with proper social distancing. MTN spoke with Black Eagle Community Center; they said to start, they will only do every other lane with eight people limit per lane. They will be opening up their lanes on Wednesday, June 3.
Greg Schoby, general manager at the Black Eagle Community Center, said, "It's exciting, you know, people need something to do. We have been slowly getting things back going without the bar being open. It's helped out with it being closed down. We are definitely excited to have the people come back especially with the bowling alley, that's our bread and butter."
Little's Lanes in downtown Great Falls plans to open on Monday, June 1.
In Helena, Sleeping Giant Lanes plans also to re-open on June 1.
Along with social distancing guidelines, owner Ron Bolan says bowling balls will be cleaned after each use, and cleaned and used balls will be on separate racks.
All lanes will be open with tables away from each other by at least six feet.
Service counters now have screens to protect both the employees and customers.
Bolan noted, “We're as safe or safer than any other business in Helena, large or small. We're doing what we can to make sure our customers are safe. We want our customers to know, we are taking the necessary precautions and following the guidelines the state has lined out for us.”
Here are some of the highlights of phase two:
- Avoid gatherings in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing. Groups larger than 50 people should be cancelled unless physical distancing can be maintained. It is recommended to continue to social distance in gatherings of any size.
- Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos remains in the same operations status as Phase One, but with an increase to 75% capacity.
- Gyms, indoor group fitness classes, pool, and hot tubs can operate at 75% capacity and only if they can adhere to strict physical distancing and they exercise frequent sanitation protocols.
- Concert halls, bowling alleys, and other places of assembly may operate with reduced capacity and if they adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines.
- All businesses are required to follow the social distancing and sanitation guidelines established in Phase One, and Montanans are strongly encouraged to continue sanitation practices, including hand washing and wearing masks in public places like grocery stores.
