814 Lanes & Games — Local services in Hempfield Township

It's very clean and new feeling.

The arcade area was very small and was entirely ticket machines outside of three seated shooters. The game card and tickets felt very much like Dave and Busters, including the price, which actually may be more expensive than Dave and Busters. The cards are swipe only, not touch, which might be a little confusing for kids. It was 8 credits to spin the big wheel and the lowest denomination card was 40 credits...that's 5 spins. There were no machines that took less than 4 credits. I don't think this was a good value.

The bowling area was quite nice. The bowling balls are themed like pool balls for their weight which was cool. Their rental shoes are Velcro and nice, however we did have trouble getting the sizes we wanted and were given two left shoes at one point. The games are by time, which seems fairly reasonable, but for our group a thirty minute session didn't let the four of us get done and there's no option to purchase by game or get "insurance" that we could finish the game we were on. As one of our group couldn't fit in the shoes they were forced into (they didn't have an appropriate size available and you must play with shoes) time was wasted for her to go back and ask them to find a pair that would fit, which they were able to find on their second try. We were not credited for this time. We had to buy another 30 minutes to not be stuck with 8/10 frames completed.

The pins for the bowling are connected by little ropes which is the same as live casinos miniature bowling alley. They do seem to share the same problems in that many times a pin would fall, but not be counted as having fallen. The screens were fairly intuitive, but we weren't guided to the proper lane by anyone, and the lanes were somewhat unclear in their marking...it seemed like two lanes were claiming to be lane 5 and they were unclear at the desk due to switching our lane 3 times when we ordered. The console is nice in that it records the score by itself and has different game modes that are easy to switch between. I don't think the ball speed was measured anywhere. I'm not a professional bowler by any means, but the lanes seemed highly lubed... Maybe that's good, maybe that's bad, but the oil actually got on our hands and each of us dropped a ball at least once due to slippage.

The screens by the bowling seem blown out. I guess it's nice that they weren't too distracting, but seems like the projectors aren't pushing enough lumens for the lighting.

Overall, we liked the place and the bowling, but I wouldn't call it a...

Some startup troubles for what could be an awesome place we’re all lucky to have in our town. I love arcades, and travel to visit them often, first trip here wasn’t awesome

So here’s how to fix this place: 1: you need a host or hostess to literally walk everyone around your giant nice facility and explain each sections/events like a tour, (you haven’t been to busy to accomplish this yet, and what’s the worst case scenario, you actually have a line of people waiting to get in that creates some of the excitement this place is missing) this would help both the new staff get oriented and the patrons understand what all cool stuff you can do right away. (Because there’s a lot and it’s cool) So after brief tour you either seat them at a table with a brochure further explaining the options with their menu. Or cattle them off to their event of choice while reminding them they can hit the bar anytime! Food really sucks, it’s all frozen stuff just make basic fresh food. Give it flair like the games make a cheese dump cup for burgers and sandwiches. Plinks board for tater tots that allows them to fall into 2 sauce cups. (That’s free be a big hit) The first drink on the menu the hulk when we arrived the waitress said “just so you know everyone hates that hulk drink so maybe try something else” so I’d fix that the mojito was great! 4 . Cycle people back to the bar from the activities and arcade with announcements specials and fun. “Attention gamers $1 off drink for the next 7 minutes….. 5 get everything working…. the super cool video simulator is great but it didn’t work and we were refunded. 6 your arcade is cheaper than anywhere I’ve been even before it’s even half off. 25$ lasted 2 people over an hour of playing all the top games available you should charge more for that. Add karaoke to the private rooms that’s a huge hit everywhere I’ve seen it and axe throwing has failed everywhere I’ve seen it. If you do food and game/activity specials and ads people will come to give dinner and bowling a shot or dinner and arcade. Your place is so open people need some direction on what to do. Overall I’d love to see this place workout I love arcades. Best of luck I’m available for...

We went on a Saturday evening, so understood there may be wait times and it would be busy. Upon arrival there was a line out the door. Waited and were able to get on the list for bowling and would text when our lanes were ready, about 1 hour and 30 minutes was what we were told. Also asked about laser tag, also a wait with next available at 7:20. Got on the list hopeful we could do that then have bowling ready to go. Then go to get a table for dinner, another wait list, okay. When asked how long “it could be 5 minutes or 25 minutes, we don’t have a system so I have no idea.” Okay fine, will text when ready. Go to arcade to play while waiting. Finally get a text that table is ready. Sat and then…waited. Not one person spoke to use. 20 minutes and I stop someone who say she will be right with us. She comes back and apologizes, great, she is busting her butt! Takes our food and drink order because we were ready by that time. Get some of our drinks but not all. Now it’s time for laser tag so several go play and several stay at table. Still waiting. By the time they return, they are thirsty and still they don’t have their drinks. Ask. Still waiting. Finally just go to bar, which has people just standing around, and get a refill on the drinks we actually did get. Some food finally comes. Then the text that bowling is ready, now 2 hours has passed. We go over and stand by the counter with bowling shoes. Nothing. Ask the hostess if we have to wait in the excessively long line, again, even though we got the text our lanes are ready. She tries to ask the staff working the line. They ignore her. She tries again to be told yes, we have to wait again. No thanks! Not gonna bowl then. Rest of our food finally comes and rest of drinks. Ask to speak with a manager. Never comes. Pay the bill and leave.

Bottom line…could be awesome! Poorly managed. Have some staff standing around not assisting in the areas that is needed. Have a section for bowling shoes that should have a staff to get people that are being texted that their lanes are ready. Will not return, which is a shame since so close to home but would rather travel to Dave and...