What's on Tap? Bar remodeled to honor late founder
BUTLER TWP — The owners of the Family Bowlaway Fun Center are looking to forge an even stronger connection to the community that has used their lanes for more than six decades.
Joe Caparosa Jr. and Kevin Caparosa spent the past year remodeling the center’s bar to honor to their late father, Joe Caparosa, who founded the bowling alley.
The brothers named it the 11th Frame Bar and Grille, which is connected to the bowling alley on Fairground Hill Road, after their father’s former bar and lounge.
But the Caparosas also designed the bar to highlight the history of Butler, particularly the steel industry.
“We wanted it to reflect the significance of Armco in the community,” Joe Caparosa Jr. said.
The industry will be highlighted this coming week when some former steel workers attend an Armco dedication event there on Tuesday.
The Caparosas will be showcasing a new steel countertop from AK Steel added to the bar as well as a historic “Iron Man” trophy previously awarded to Armco employees for safety standards.
“They’ve been a signature piece of our community for 100 years,” Kevin Caparosa said of the steel companies.
But the 11th Frame Bar and Grille has had more work done. Perhaps the biggest renovation came with the construction of an enclosed patio deck, which can be opened during the warm months.
The deck is connected to the main bar but offers enough separation to allow for a designated smoking area, which includes a separate air ventilation system.
“About 50 percent of our bowlers are smokers,” Kevin Caparosa said. “We didn’t want to penalize them.”
The owners said the patio, which overlooks the city, also is a great view to watch fireworks.
The redone interior section of the bar has 22 televisions, including one in every booth. There are 40 beers on tap.
Almost all of the renovation work done has been by local businesses.
“We make our money in the county, so we wanted to spend our money in the county,” Joe Caparosa said.
The Caparosas said they have hired additional staff, including a chef.
The renewed focus on the bar will give customers more to look forward to during the summer.
“Bowlers want to get outside during the summer,” he said. “But we want to keep busy year round.”
The original 11th Frame Lounge opened in the early 1960s at the site of what is now the Tanglewood Center.
“We were still dishwashers back then,” said Kevin Caparosa.
While the new bar has been open, it’s grand opening is May 9.
