Rack 'em and

crack 'em

Rich Pekarz has been offering Warren County entertainment options for over two years as the owner of Pioneer Lanes bowling alley. The popular hangout offers bowling, arcade games and, until about a year and a half ago, pool tables.

The pool tables had to be moved because of needed repairs to the floor in the area they were located. Construction is ongoing and the area will be transformed into new party rooms when work is completed.

The work, however, left Warren County with a lack of accessible pool tables, a fact Rich was often made aware of. "We don't hardly have anywhere in town  to play pool and I'm getting calls daily asking if we have pool tables," Rich said. The void prompted Rich to open his own pool hall just upstairs from Pioneer Lanes. "I think it'll be a good addition to the community for people who like to play pool," Rich added.

Rich is no stranger to business, having been in the restaurant business for over 15 years. Before buying the bowling alley, he owned and operated Stacked Bistro on Main Street. "I've been a bowler my whole life. I've owned the bowling alley for over two years now and we stay very busy and we are still continuing to grow," Rich said. 

That growth is apparent as Pioneer Lanes Pool Hall opened on the upper level of Garden City Plaza at 218 Hobson Street on Friday. Initial hours for the pool hall will be Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. "We will be testing out the hours and we will see if we need to stay open later or add more days," Rich said.

Bottle sodas and beer will be available to purchase. Rich says he will be looking at adding tournaments and leagues once the pool hall gets up and running. 

Unlike the Music Man, I see no signs of trouble in Tree City prompted by the presence of pool tables and I applaud Rich's efforts and wish him well. 

More time for

breakfast

There's good news for folks like me who enjoy a good breakfast biscuit but who don't always enjoy being awake in time to purchase it. Hardee's has expanded its breakfast hours.

Previously serving breakfast only until 10:30 a.m. on weekdays, Hardee's now serves breakfast until noon every day. The change took place a few weeks ago and provides an extra hour and a half each day to get Hardee's famous biscuits as well as sausage, bacon and all of their other breakfast offerings. I applaud the move and so does my snooze button. 

Chamber salutes

local business

The McMinnville - Warren County Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet on March 28 at the Milner Recreation Center. The banquet serves as a time for Chamber staff and Chamber members to get together, reflect on the past year, salute the accomplishments of local businesspeople and businesses and install new Chamber Executive Board members.

Awards bestowed included Distinguished Citizen, Carlene Brown; Edwin Partin Retailer of the Year, Prater's BBQ, Morrison; Free Enterprise Award, Douglas and Lanier Agency; Employer of the Year, First National Bank of Middle Tennessee; Community Impact Award, TCAT McMinnville; Volunteer of the Year, Hollie Cox; Ambassador of the Year, Kelsey Taylor; and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Raven Young.

Members of the 2024-2025 Chamber Executive Board members are, chair, CK Cayce; chair elect, Justin Walling; treasurer, Justin Scott; secretary, Carla Bush; and immediate past chair, Bryan Kell. Chamber Board members are Erica Bundy, Sherry Cotten, Chad Graves, Leslie Hayes, Autumn Malone, Phyllis Prater, Grant Swallows and Rhonda Walker. 

Ex officios include Terry Bell, Ryle Chastain, Jennifer Meredith and Wendy Sneed. The Chamber staff consists of President Melissa Mullins, Visitor and Relocation Coordinator Jackie Borowiak and Social Media Manager Lakelinn Simmons.

Before the presentation of awards and board members, a social hour and dinner was held featuring local artists Shelby Durham, Sharon Kelley, Dr. Trey Kirby, Chris Ousley, Roberta Reynolds and WCHS students along with music from the Southern Standard's own Josh Wanamaker. 

On behalf of the Southern Standard and Business Pulse, I'd like to say congratulations to all of the businesses who were honored for their achievements and to the Chamber of Commerce for all of its efforts to ensure Warren County's business community survives and thrives. 

We truly have a special community here in Warren County and the McMinnville - Warren County Chamber of Commerce strives to help spread that message on behalf of all of its member businesses.

Until next week,

same biz day,

same biz page

Thanks for reading all the way to the end, and thanks to Ben Lomand Connect for sponsoring the page.

Come back next week to see what local business news I can dig up this time. Finding something new each Sunday is a little like an Easter egg hunt and I always welcome help. 

So if you have a business you'd like me to feature, please let me know at editor@southernstandard.com.