A new bowling centre has opened in the CBD as families and young people ask for more local entertainment and sporting venues in the Illawarra.
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Wollongong Strike Bowling swung open its doors at noon on Friday, joining the Funlab venues B. Lucky & Sons and Holey Moley in Wollongong Central.
The new entertainment centre includes 10-pin bowling alleys, laser tag for 24 people and two party rooms.
The bright and colourful design of the venue, created exclusively for Wollongong, was inspired by '80s Memphis and Miami beach culture.
Strike's operation co-ordinator Jaqui Williams said they had had their eye on Wollongong for some time.
"We felt like bowling and laser tag was a massive gap in Wollongong; it's why we chose those two brands to add in because they add so much value," Ms Williams said.
The venue will be the only Strike Bowling centre on the South Coast.
And it's not just for the kids, with a cocktail punch served in a disco available at the bar.
"We love creativity and fun. We like adults to feel like kidults. So we're trying to bring back that experience they should have just as much as the kids," she said.
Are there enough entertainment venues for kids and teens?
Gay Glover, watches on as her two granddaughters Sofia and Zara compete in the arcade at B. Lucky & Sons.
"We normally come here. Yeah probably for the older age group there's you know plenty of things to do, but maybe not so much for the younger ones," Mrs Glover said.
"We'd like the cinema to open again, I mean there was a cinema."
Mia Taylor said there aren't enough venues to hang out in Wollongong, with the main areas being the shopping centre and the basketball court on Burelli Street.
"Wollongong is like the main area everyone comes, everyone interacts. So now that there's a Strike Bowling, I think there's gonna be a lot more teenagers," the 16-year old said.
The Woonona resident said she'd like to see a nice big cinema.
"I feel like if we expanded some social areas around Wollongong that would be a lot better, more activities for teenagers to do [and] not just in North Wollongong but surrounding it as well," Mia said.
Farmborough Heights teenager Zaidyn Phan, said there are enough areas for young people but it would be better to have more variety.
"More sporting stuff like soccer," he said.
"[It's important] so people can have fun, be kids, because nowadays people want to grow up fast, just enjoy being a kid."
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Marlene Even
Journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. Previously a radio and podcast host at 2SER Radio.
Journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. Previously a radio and podcast host at 2SER Radio.
