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Inside Star Lanes Polaris, AAMA FEC of the Year Finalist, with Doug Mechling – Podcast Episode 124
Audio Links: Apple | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio | Pandora
Episode Description
On this special episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ kicks off a special 4-part series featuring the finalists for the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) FEC of the Year award!
We first sit down with Doug Mechling, owner of Star Lanes Polaris in Columbus, Ohio. Doug takes us behind the scenes of their 35,000-square-foot facility, sharing how they transformed a former Circuit City into a premier bowling-anchored destination.
“I think the best compliment we get is when people come in and ask, ‘How long have you guys been here?’ and we’re 13 years old. If you walked into our place, you would have no way of knowing.” — Doug Mechling
Doug digs into how they have stayed relevant by mixing in high-tech hits like 501 Darts, but the fancy stuff only gets you so far. The real reason Star Lanes Polaris is a top-tier finalist is its obsession with the small, unglamorous details that stick with guests long after they leave.
Key Takeaways
- Kill Your Darlings: Your personal opinion of a product matters far less than the data. If the guests don’t buy it, you remove it. Emotional attachment to underperforming features has no place in a top-tier FEC.
- Fix the Friction, Not Just the Fun: Make practical adjustments, like moving to handheld POS systems, to shave seconds off transactions and eliminate the awkward “server-walks-away-with-my-card” moment.
- Spot the “Newbie” Stare: Train your staff to recognize the body language of a confused guest so they can then provide a “Yellow Brick Road” experience that turns a first-timer into a regular.
- Redefine Congregate Space: Space is your most expensive asset. Star Lanes Polaris designed their venue to encourage groups to linger, eat, and spend more without feeling crowded.
Special thanks to Embed for their assistance with this AAMA FEC of the Year Series.
