Striking up new energy

WAUPACA – An unexpected turn changed the lives of two cousins, as they pulled into the
Waupaca Bowl one rainy afternoon and a couple weeks later they were signing the title.
Renee Larsen and her cousin Beckey Schwertfeger, along with Beckey’s husband, Dale, have taken over ownership of Waupaca Bowl and are set to give the local landmark a makeover.
RB’s Back Alley, which stands for Renee and Beckey, is the Waupaca Bowl’s new name and it is currently open and operating with the new owners.
Beckey was in town for the weekend, originally a Waupaca native but currently living in Indiana, and was out to eat with Renee when they decided on a whim to take right turn off the highway, instead of a left and check out the bowling alley they knew was for sale.

Renee said she was midway through her left turn when Beckey told her to turn right.
They went to the bowling alley and were able to get a card from the broker and within a couple of weeks became the new owners.
Beckey and Renee have their own experience in business, as well as coming from a family that
has owned and operated many businesses.
Beckey’s father owned Wally’s in King, and their grandparents owned several restaurants and bars in Milwaukee while they were growing up.
They both also have multiple investment properties, all of which made the decision to buy a business together an easy decision for them to make.
“We knew that this would be the year. We just really didn’t anticipate the bowling alley, but you can’t buy a bar nowadays without having food and offer something to bring people in,” Beckey said. “So, this was just sort of the perfect opportunity.”
The bowling leagues will not be disrupted and are continuing to run; however, the new owners would like to expand to horseshoes, volleyball, darts, pool and cornhole as they move into the future.
Dale said the courts would not be ready in time to have volleyball this year, but they hope to start a league next summer.
The horseshoe pits are ready and they are hoping to create one to two travelling teams for horseshoes in Waupaca.
Moving into the future they are hoping to add youth bowling leagues, possibly darts and maybe even a cornhole league.
Along with bar sports, Renee and Beckey want to have live music and DJ’s, trivia and bingo.
“Really just to kind of re-energize the entire place,” Beckey said. “It’s lacked some energy for some time.”
The space can also be used as an event space, including the option of renting out the entire building for a party, their banquet space can handle around 60-70 people comfortably.
Renee said they have graduation and birthday parties booked moving into summer as well.
Another aspect of the makeover is the food menu, which will remain the same, but with an expanded set of options.
They intend to continue the family-style broasted chicken, with four-to-twenty-piece chicken meals with a potato choice and coleslaw, they also have homemade pizzas and burgers as well as sandwiches.
They are also working on daily food specials, and possibly a late night menu with limited options.
The kitchen is expanding to also offer a full menu on Fridays, which previously the only option on Fridays was the fish fry.
Renee said their large extended family has suffered many losses over the past four years, which has brought them even closer together, with almost every employee working being a family member, minus two employees.
Overall RB’s Back Alley, formerly Waupaca Bowl, will be expanding as they move into their first few months of ownership.
“I think giving back to the community and keeping a place where kids can go and families can go is probably the best case scenario that we could ask for,” Beckey said.
Renee agreed and is ready to get started on giving the alley a new life.
“I look forward to the day that this becomes the happening place to be,” Renee said.
More information and updated hours can be found on Facebook at RB’s Back Alley, as the owners are looking to stay open later to accommodate their guests.
Any parties interested in forming a horseshoe team or joining a horseshoe team, or for more information about renting the event space, contact them through Facebook or by calling 715-258-
8915 or emailing rbsbackalley@gmail.com.