How One Establishment Combines Football and Bowling

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Bryan MacKenzie, owner of 1st & Bowl in Wauwatosa, to discuss bringing the unique combination of football and bowling from Detroit to greater Milwaukee. MacKenzie shares how the business has expanded beyond its signature game with pickleball, cornhole, a Nerf arena and other activities designed for families, friends and corporate events. He also discusses the creativity and flexibility required to run a local entertainment business, from rising operating costs to new ventures like mobile basketball and pizza promotions. The conversation also highlights 1st & Bowl’s partnership with Special Strong, which helps make fitness more accessible for people with adaptive needs. Jeff wraps up the show with producer Jaslyn Snell to discuss a potential Starbucks-Chipotle merger and recent roller coaster closures at Six Flags. The Upswing is presented by Horicon Bank.