SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Several members of the Planning Commission expressed “excitement” during tonight’s informal work session at the prospect of welcoming a family entertainment center to the Eastern Shore Centre.

Dane Haygood with H Properties LLC in Spanish Fort represented Frank and Sonya Cole, the owners and operators of Gulf Bowl in Foley, who are seeking an Eastern Shore location for a proposed 35,000-square-foot mixed-use facility that would include a 24-lane bowling alley, arcade, sports bar and grill, billiards, a mezzanine area and laser tag.

“We’ve been working with the folks at the Eastern Shore Centre for about six weeks, but we really had that on the back burner,” Haygood told the commission, noting time is a critical factor for the Coles whose financing package for the project expires in April.

The Daphne City Council nixed plans for the development at the southwest corner of the Lawson Road and County Road 13 intersection in a 4-3 vote at its Dec. 20 meeting

“My first thought was that this is the perfect location for something like this,” said Commissioner Kevin Diamond of the roughly four-acre site just south of Arlington Apartments and immediately north of the center’s large detention pond.

The lion’s share of discussion focused on the proposed facility’s metal façade which Haygood said the Coles have cleared with the shopping center’s owner and was adopted to defray costs associated with the failed attempt to locate in Daphne.

“I’m all for the concept. I’m just a little disappointed with the building,” Commission Chairman Carl Nelson told Haygood, noting his displeasure with the design would not affect his personal approval of the project. If approved, Haygood said the Coles could have the facility operational within nine months.

The item will be discussed in greater detail during the Jan. 10 meeting.

See the rest of this story in the Dec. 31 issue of The Bulletin.