My name is Brian Menini, and I've owned and operated Brookfield Bowl for the past almost 20 years. Like many of you, I started with a passion for bowling and a dream of running my own center. What I didn't fully anticipate was how much of my time would be spent managing maintenance, tracking repairs, and trying to control costs.
For two decades, I've been in the trenches. I've dealt with every AMF machine quirk imaginable, and spoken with friends that have had the same issues on Brunswick A-2's and GSX machines, wrestled with aging 82-70s, nursed temperamental A-2s back to health, and learned every sound that signals trouble brewing. More importantly, I've experienced the frustration of trying to track it all, and the lack of necessary training materials.
The Plan
Three years ago, after yet another night spent digging through boxes of handwritten maintenance logs trying to figure out when we last serviced lane 14's pinsetter, I realized there had to be a better way. The industry had modernized scoring systems, added cosmic bowling, and revolutionized the customer experience – but we were still tracking maintenance like it was 1985.
That's when I decided to do something about it. I knew what bowling mechanics needed because I was one. I understood the daily challenges because I lived them. And I had 20 years of experience telling me exactly what features would make a real difference.
Over the next three years, I took my notes and drawings for a web application to solve these problems. I went through countless iterations, tested every feature in my own center, and refined the software based on real-world use.
The result is Lane Doctor – software built by a bowling center owner who truly understands what you need. Every feature and list of upcoming features exists because I needed it. Every workflow makes sense because I've done it thousands of times. This isn't just software; it's 20 years of hard-earned knowledge transformed into a tool that actually works.
Real Solutions for Real Mechanics
Lane Doctor includes pre-loaded parts databases for both AMF and Brunswick equipment because I got tired of looking up part numbers. It tracks costs by lane because I needed to know which lanes were eating my profits. It manages maintenance reminders because I learned the hard way that preventive maintenance is always cheaper than emergency repairs.
Today, Lane Doctor is used by bowling centers across the country. But at its heart, it's still the same tool I created to solve my own problems. When you use Lane Doctor, you're not just getting software – you're getting a solution designed by someone who's walked in your shoes, turned the same wrenches, and faced the same challenges.