NEW PHILADELPHIA — After his success in opening his first pro shop at Park Centre Lanes in North Canton, Frank Testa had thoughts earlier this year about expanding his Ten Back Pro Shop to another center.
“We have every intention of getting into Eastbury,” the Massillon resident said of potentially leasing the space once occupied by Tony Johnson’s Itz-On. “But when it came to trying to staff it for the hours we wanted to staff it, we just couldn’t get the personnel for it.”
But a new opportunity opened up for Testa the past two months — one he calls a “win-win situation.”
This week, Ten Back Pro Shop opened a second location at Wabash Lanes in the space once occupied by PBA50 pro Steve Easterday, who recently announced his retirement.
Testa said this was an entirely different opportunity than the one he considered at Eastbury Bowling Center.
“The hours are more convenient for (stepson) Cooper (Smith) and I to divide and conquer,” Testa said. “And, in terms of equipment, everything that we need is currently there and nothing has to be purchased.
“For all intents and purposes, we are walking into a ready-made pro shop. So, from a financial standpoint, it has saved us a considerable amount of money. It’s just a win-win situation, and it provides a different market down there for us to enter.”
Testa and Cooper will “split everything,” he said, adding one or the other will staff the shop during its regular business hours at both locations.
During the summer months, Ten Back Pro Shop will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at Wabash, and 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at Park Centre.
“During the season, it it will probably be 3 or 4 to 8:30 during the week, with some times on Saturday and Sunday for youth bowlers and their adult night league,” Testa said of the new Wabash shop. “(Owner) Aaron (Shanklin) and I will discuss things when the season begins. We want to be there for the high schoolers and adults.”
Testa emphasized this will be a full-service shop, fulfilling all customer needs.
“We really don’t have any expectations, especially off how well things went at Park Centre for the first year,” the 41-year-old right-hander said. “I just want to make sure that the quality of work that we do there is the same quality that we do (at Park Centre).”
OTHER WABASH UPDATES
In addition to remodeling taking place over the past month with installation of new carpeting and wall coverings, several other items are on the agenda for Wabash:
- The center is providing its 425-space parking lot for use by food trucks and barbecue pits. Rent for spaces will be a donation to the high school bowling program of the vendor’s choice. Spaces are filling up quickly. Contact Shanklin at (330) 243-1154 for information.
- The PBA Central Region will be returning for a tournament Sept. 7 through 10. Again, there will be a draft of professionals held among interested area high school programs to use as a fund-raiser for the upcoming season. A year ago, seven schools participated, with each school receiving $500 up front from the money accumulated. But the team selecting the winning pro received an additional $1,500, with $1,000 going to the second-place team and $500 for third. Packets were mailed to Tuscarawas County area coaches, but others needing information, please contact Shanklin at (330) 243-1154.
- Wabash also will be hosting a two-day USBC Bronze coaching class Oct. 28-29. It is the only one being held in this area. This class will teach attendees how to coach bowling to youth, high school and adult bowlers. For information, go to: https://bowl.com/coaching/bronze-program