North Versailles Bowl changes name
North Versailles Bowl has officially become the North Versailles Bowling Center thanks to an individual that had his first job as a concourse boy there thirty years ago.
Chris Oliver of Manhattan Beach, CA returns to see his family at least three times a year.
"When I walked into the center last March I found some of the same people still bowling there that did 30 years ago. It was like something was drawing me there, "Oliver stated. I had just retired and was looking for something to invest in. "It's a dream come true. It's like a Cinderella story."
He did every job there at one time or another - front desk, mechanic, oiled lanes and even drilled bowling balls. He was making $1.25 per hour.
On New Years Day, 1972 he was working the concourse with Debbie Pompilio who introduced him to a friend of hers, Sharon Palombo of North Huntingdon.
They are going on 27 years of marriage. Pompilio is his General Manager.
After working at North Versailles Bowl he started selling cars on Route 30 at J.C. Auto Sales, moved to Arizona and worked at a Chevrolet Dealer 10 years, working his way up to Asstant General Sales Manager.
On to a Chevy Dealer in Mesa where he was the General Sales Manager and after 18 months was offered the opportunity to be the General Manager of Champion Chevrolet in Manhatta Beach CA., which he ended up owning. In 1997 he became the first California Dealer to sell to a publicly traded company that was listed on the NYSE called AutoNation which is now the largest dealer group in the country with 386 dealerships in 17 states. He retired last February after managing the dealership he sold for four years.
"When I came home to the North Versailles area last March I was retired two months and was getting antsy in seeking another business opportunity," Oliver said. "I thought I would retire and lay around enjoying life. This center changed all that. I'm looking to make the center the premier center in the area. After all it's hosted the men's professional pro tour and both the Willie Stargell Sickle Cell Bowl-A-Thon and Bob Prince's Dapper Dan Charities. It deserves a face-lift and the right to shine again. It gave me my start."
They have a five-year plan with four immediate priorities. They'll remodel all the rest rooms, give the building a new exterior face-lift, repave and update the parking lot as well as adding landscaping along with repairs to the roof. Next summer they're shooting for the latest automatic scoring equipment. Oliver and Pompilo will attend the East Coast Proprietor's Convention at Trump Marina in November seeking the latest products.
"We're going to be very active in the community and aim to talk to customers and employees frequently to see what is needed to make the center succeed," Oliver said. "It's going to take a lot of work, but we'll do it. The juniors will be one of our priorities with the seniors being rewarded for all their patronage over the years.
"Stop in and see us at North Versailles Bowling Center on Route 30."
