Intuition is that sense of knowing what the right answer or decision is before you make it. For David Carmichael, following his intuition has paid off.
After being in the bowling business for over a decade, David determined his future in the industry needed to shift from operating traditional bowling centers to a focus on bowling-anchored entertainment when he moved his family to the Wake Forest area in 2011. “My future in the industry needed to focus on boutique centers where the focus is just as much on the food and beverage and gaming elements as it is on the bowling,” says Carmichael, Owner and Operator of Strike and Barrel in Downtown Wake Forest. “My research told me this area was demographically perfect for that concept, so we took a leap of faith and moved our family in order to explore potential opportunities.”
Once his family settled into the area, Carmichael says it was a “no-brainer” that Wake Forest be the first location for this new concept. With explosive residential growth, thriving demographics, and a community very supportive of small businesses, the Town was an obvious choice. After a few years in the area, David noticed that historic downtown Wake Forest was rapidly growing, but there was room for more business infrastructure to keep pace with the growing demands of the community. “My family went to Brooks St. Bowl and could tell that it was popular but that it was outdated and did not reflect the changing entertainment needs of the community. Once I knew the space next door was available it was a no-brainer to me that this had to be the first Strike & Barrel location,” says Carmichael. “I just intuitively knew that renovating that space and adding new amenities next door would be a perfect fit for the area.”
Located at 413 S Brooks Street, the former Brooks Street Bowl and the vacant space next door, opened for business as Strike and Barrel on November 7, 2019. Strike and Barrel is now a well-known social hotspot in the area, regardless of whether patrons are bowling or not. "Our bar is more impressive than most you will find in bowling-anchored entertainment centers,” explains David. “Our game room is extremely popular for both kids and adults, and our food offerings surprise many people in terms of quality.”
This hotspot is only going to continue to improve the town of Wake Forest as it expands. Currently, Strike and Barrel is well underway on a huge expansion that will more than double the size of the entertainment complex. “Our goal is to make downtown Wake Forest a true entertainment hub for the area,” says Carmichael.
The expansion will result in Strike and Barrel increasing from 11,500 square feet to almost 25,000 square feet and will include a more open concept. The existing bar will expand into a "U" in the new space, with a large commercial kitchen added that will allow for a full menu, comparable to any restaurant in the area.
New entertainment is also being added, including:
6 lanes of Duckpin Bowling - a version of bowling using a smaller ball, shorter lane and shorter bowling pins
A large turf area offering Fowling (throwing footballs at bowling pins), Cornhole, and other fun games
An additional gaming area that will include Bocce, Shuffleboard, Life Size Pong, Snookkball (soccer pool) and other rotating gaming elements
The new entertainment area will be modular, allowing the ability to host various groups in multiple seating arrangements. In addition, pockets of seating will be sprinkled throughout the facility, which will accommodate groups of various sizes. “In many ways, we are taking lots of outdoor gaming concepts and bringing them inside to go along with two different bowling concepts - all served by upscale food and beverage options,” explains Carmichael.
This expansion not only enhances the quality of life for the community but brings new investment as well. The project will conservatively infuse over $4 million in new investment into the downtown Wake Forest area and add over 60 new full-time and part-time jobs. “The large expansion of Strike and Barrel creates a new, positive economic impact to the Town,” says Jason Cannon, President of Wake Forest Business and Industry Partnership. “It will attract even more patrons from both inside and outside of Wake Forest and tangibly enhance the entertainment options the community is hungry for.”
Due to the pandemic, the project has had many obstacles over the last two years. However, Carmichael explains that the unwavering support from the community helped him listen to his intuition and convince him he made the right choice in selecting Wake Forest as the original home for Strike and Barrel. “This project is delayed over 2 years and will be more expensive than we ever imagined, but I still have zero regrets over any of it,” Carmichael explains. “I am 100% convinced this is where we are supposed to be, and the obstacles and delays will just make it all the more worth it in the end. We are insanely excited to be so close to the end and be able to provide Wake Forest with the bowling-anchored entertainment facility it deserves.”
While COVID-induced delays and supply chain issues have created numerous construction delays, Carmichael and his team are hopeful the expansion project will be completed in early June. You can follow updates on Strike and Barrel’s website, their Facebook, or by visiting them at 413 S Brooks Street in Downtown Wake Forest. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
