Something new at Tulsa's Eastland Mall...bowling

Thursday, November 14th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Christmas shoppers at Tulsaâ€™s Eastland Mall will have something new this year. As News on Six consumer reporter Rick Wells explains, they can pick up a few strikes and spares along with the ties and toys, socks and gloves.

"I looked in here one day and said that looks kind of, I see bowling." Mick Sparks, already owns and operates a bowling center in Pryor. Last Christmas he and his wife were walking thru Eastland Mall noticed the empty Service Merchandise area and thought it looked promising.

"We're gonna have a restaurant, billiards, laser tag, video arcades, and a lot of fun." Eastland Mall marketing manager Lorna Milaccio is excited about the possibilities this new tenant will bring. "It is sure to increase traffic, and hopefully increase sales which makes the square footage alot more interesting." The square footage is the available space, there's a lot of it but some is already spoken for.

Simon Properties has owned Eastland since it opened in 1986. This spring they bought Woodland Hills Mall and she believes this new family competition is a good thing. "Businesses that might not fit in Woodland Hills will fit in Eastland Mall. Our craft stores Whatever and Whatever Plus." Those and many of Eastland's other stores are locally owned.

"There nothing like handing someone the keys to their space and they're excited and they're starting their own business or opening a second location."

Speaking of that about that bowling center, most of these workers are handling the painstaking chore of leveling the floor, it has to be level within a hundred thousandth of an inch.

Most areas of the bowling center will be smoke free, but there will be a special smokers lounge for those who need it. If all goes well the new bowling center should be open just in time for Christmas.