April 4, 2025 • 7 mins
How Does Pins & Friends Contribute To Regional Tourism?
Discover how a unique entertainment venue is transforming downtown Bristol into a regional tourism hotspot. Chip Zimmerman, owner of Pins & Friends, reveals the surprising impact his duckpin bowling establishment has on bringing visitors to the area.
What makes Pins & Friends particularly special is its deep community integration. From participating in Halloween and Christmas parades to supporting local festivals in downtown parks, the venue has become an integral part of Bristol's cultural fabric. This involvement helps create a comprehensive downtown experience that encourages visitors to extend their stays and explore more of what the city offers.
Ready to experience this unique attraction for yourself? Visit Pins & Friends at 700 State Street in downtown Bristol, where bowling, food, and community come together to create unforgettable memories. Let the good times roll!
To learn more about Pins & Friends visit:
https://www.PinsAndFriends.com
Pins & Friends
700 State St.
Bristol, TN
423-574-7467
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Pins and Friends podcast.
We're all about the downtownBristol experience bowling
events, tasty food andunforgettable fun.
Join Chip Zimmerman, owner ofPins and Friends, as he brings
the energy and stories thatlight up our community.
Let the good times roll.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Pens and Friends isn't just a local favorite.
It's becoming a hotspot forregional tourism, drawing in
visitors from all over.
But how exactly does thisunique entertainment venue
contribute to the local economyand tourism scene?
Let's take a closer look.
Welcome back everyone.
Skip Monty, co-host, slashproducer, here back in the
studio with Chip Zimmerman.
Chip, how's it going?
(00:51):
Doing just fine, doing justfine.
And a question at the top of mymind is you know, you guys
probably draw a lot of folksinto Bristol because what you do
is pretty unique.
Tell me more about that.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
How does Pens and Friends contribute to regional
tourism?
Yeah, we get a lot of visitorsfrom Southwest Virginia so I
think Bristol continues to be abig draw for those folks living
and working in SouthwestVirginia.
I think we're just anotherattraction to bring those folks
in Marion Norton thosecommunities like that Happy to
have them there and have a goodtime in Bristol.
We're starting to see somepeople come in from even Johnson
City, which is an interestingdynamic.
(01:34):
You would think there's plentyfor folks to do in Johnson City
but they're saying that they'retaking a kind of a break from
those activities and coming toour unique downtown experience
in Bristol, finding that theykind of prefer that.
So we see that we're also forthe downtown hotels who are
competing for guests or withinwalking distance of two of the
more prominent boutique hotelsin Bristol the Sessions Hotel
(01:56):
and the Bristol Hotel.
So we try to partner with themto bring them customers, because
staying downtown is attractivebecause you have restaurants in
places like Penns and Friends.
We're also working with hotels,even at exit seven, a couple
miles north of Bristol.
So we're working with them tomake sure their guests are aware
that there's some uniqueactivities in downtown Bristol.
(02:18):
And to come on down.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Wow, I was going to ask if you collaborated with
nearby businesses, obviously thetwo boutique hotels.
Do you guys have like a programor a package that you offer?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
We just really exposure and just to make sure
their guests are aware, weprovide them with brochures and
certain campaigns.
We've worked with them, butgenerally it's just, you know,
we want to make sure that ifpossible, we're on their website
saying here's the things youcan do around downtown Bristol
while you're on your visit.
So yeah, I mean it's just, Iguess, more of an informal
(02:52):
partnership, not anything formalor any contracts or anything
but downtown.
Bristol is a community, and soeverybody's trying to help each
other out.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Very good, very good.
Well, I'm sure there'd bepeople interested if you had a
package, you know, like room anda couple games, or dinner and a
game.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
So, speaking of that and tourism, do you guys
participate or support localfestivals and events in Bristol?
I know there's a lot.
Yeah, I mean being downtownanything, that's any activities
downtown.
Of course we try to stay openfor those activities, even if
we're not participating.
We try to participate as muchas possible with the parades you
know.
Most notably, we've been in thefirst two Halloween parades in
downtown Bristol, which is aunique activity for the area
really, you know, and we try tosupport the Christmas parades,
(03:40):
the small business, fridays orSaturdays, I should say after
Thanksgiving, things like that.
So all those type of things wetry to support.
You know there's a lot ofthings that happen sort of like
satellite parks, like atAnderson Street Park and places
like that.
We try to advertise with thoseguys and become partners with
them.
There's a beer fest coming the4th of July, family activities
(04:03):
that believe in Bristol and theChamber of Commerce put on for
the, for the community.
So we try to be as involvedwith the community as possible.
You know, to have an activityand a business like Pins and
Friends, I think it just makesit more attractive for people to
spend all day or most of theirday in downtown Bristol.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Oh yeah, well, speaking of that, you've got a
pretty unique atmosphere thereat Pins and Friends.
You know how does that enhancethe overall?
Speaker 3 (04:29):
tourist experience.
Yeah, I think so.
I mean we get a lot of people.
You know, we're still waitingfor those big bus loads of
people to come into the casinoor something like that.
Maybe just drop them off rightat our door, just putting that
out there.
Whoever can put buses in Bristol, that would be great.
But you know we're set up.
We can take 150 people, youknow, feed them and allow them
to bowl and stuff like that.
(04:50):
So you know, we're kind of setup for that, those intense times
where it's crowded.
But yeah, I think that you seea lot of people come From out of
town.
You see a lot of people comingeven from like Mid-Atlantic and
the New England states and theyremember growing up with Doug
Penn bowling and so they aresurprised, happily surprised, to
(05:11):
see that type of bowling stillexists and is thriving in
downtown Bristol.
So you know, I think that asthe word of mouth gets around
and people know more about Pennsand Friends, I think it'll just
become more popular and becomea tourist destination of its own
, not just downtown Bristol butPenns and Friends Absolutely
Well as Penns and Friends.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Have you seen a rise in visitors during specific
seasons or events?
Like I said, I know there's alot of events in Bristol.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Definitely the Rhythm and Roots Music Festival is one
of our biggest weekends,there's no doubt.
We have literally a captiveaudience and the whole downtown
is closed off for pedestrians,which is an awesome thing for
the downtown businesses.
I would love to see more andmore weekends like that, not
just Rhythm and Roots, but justweekends where we're making it a
pedestrian zone this Saturdayfor just hanging out on a
(06:01):
Saturday, or a fall festival orNew Year's Eve or something like
that.
So I'd like to see more andmore of that downtown.
I think that would be a bigdraw and help out all the folks
that have got businesses andinvested in downtown.
So the Rhythm and Rage isprobably our number one.
And then, following thatChristmas time, everybody's
(06:21):
looking for Christmas parties,christmas events, and so it's
probably the most uniqueChristmas party, whether it's a
company or family that you couldever have.
So we really enjoy puttingthose together and getting the
feedback about the uniqueness ofit.
It's not just a banquet, londonbroil and dessert.
You might have a dance floorthat people just watch other
(06:43):
people dance, but here you cansocialize, you can bowl or you
can do the arcade and you knowit's just a more social event, I
think, than what I would call anormal corporate Christmas
party.
So we really look forward tothose types of parties.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Well, I know we're short on time today, but I'd
love to maybe in a futureepisode we could talk more about
your corporate events and howthat works and all the options
for that.
Yeah, okay, all right, man Welllove it.
Chip, appreciate your timetoday and we'll catch you in the
next episode.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
All right, thanks, skip.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Thanks for being part of the Pins and Friends family.
For more fun, check outpinsandfriendscom or visit us at
700 State Street, Bristol,Tennessee.
Let the good times roll.
See you next time.
Welcome to the Pins and Friends podcast.
We're all about the downtownBristol experience bowling
events, tasty food andunforgettable fun.
Join Chip Zimmerman, owner ofPins and Friends, as he brings
the energy and stories thatlight up our community.
Let the good times roll.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Pens and Friends isn't just a local favorite.
It's becoming a hotspot forregional tourism, drawing in
visitors from all over.
But how exactly does thisunique entertainment venue
contribute to the local economyand tourism scene?
Let's take a closer look.
Welcome back everyone.
Skip Monty, co-host, slashproducer, here back in the
studio with Chip Zimmerman.
Chip, how's it going?
(00:51):
Doing just fine, doing justfine.
And a question at the top of mymind is you know, you guys
probably draw a lot of folksinto Bristol because what you do
is pretty unique.
Tell me more about that.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
How does Pens and Friends contribute to regional
tourism?
Yeah, we get a lot of visitorsfrom Southwest Virginia so I
think Bristol continues to be abig draw for those folks living
and working in SouthwestVirginia.
I think we're just anotherattraction to bring those folks
in Marion Norton thosecommunities like that Happy to
have them there and have a goodtime in Bristol.
We're starting to see somepeople come in from even Johnson
City, which is an interestingdynamic.
(01:34):
You would think there's plentyfor folks to do in Johnson City
but they're saying that they'retaking a kind of a break from
those activities and coming toour unique downtown experience
in Bristol, finding that theykind of prefer that.
So we see that we're also forthe downtown hotels who are
competing for guests or withinwalking distance of two of the
more prominent boutique hotelsin Bristol the Sessions Hotel
(01:56):
and the Bristol Hotel.
So we try to partner with themto bring them customers, because
staying downtown is attractivebecause you have restaurants in
places like Penns and Friends.
We're also working with hotels,even at exit seven, a couple
miles north of Bristol.
So we're working with them tomake sure their guests are aware
that there's some uniqueactivities in downtown Bristol.
(02:18):
And to come on down.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Wow, I was going to ask if you collaborated with
nearby businesses, obviously thetwo boutique hotels.
Do you guys have like a programor a package that you offer?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
We just really exposure and just to make sure
their guests are aware, weprovide them with brochures and
certain campaigns.
We've worked with them, butgenerally it's just, you know,
we want to make sure that ifpossible, we're on their website
saying here's the things youcan do around downtown Bristol
while you're on your visit.
So yeah, I mean it's just, Iguess, more of an informal
(02:52):
partnership, not anything formalor any contracts or anything
but downtown.
Bristol is a community, and soeverybody's trying to help each
other out.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Very good, very good.
Well, I'm sure there'd bepeople interested if you had a
package, you know, like room anda couple games, or dinner and a
game.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
So, speaking of that and tourism, do you guys
participate or support localfestivals and events in Bristol?
I know there's a lot.
Yeah, I mean being downtownanything, that's any activities
downtown.
Of course we try to stay openfor those activities, even if
we're not participating.
We try to participate as muchas possible with the parades you
know.
Most notably, we've been in thefirst two Halloween parades in
downtown Bristol, which is aunique activity for the area
really, you know, and we try tosupport the Christmas parades,
(03:40):
the small business, fridays orSaturdays, I should say after
Thanksgiving, things like that.
So all those type of things wetry to support.
You know there's a lot ofthings that happen sort of like
satellite parks, like atAnderson Street Park and places
like that.
We try to advertise with thoseguys and become partners with
them.
There's a beer fest coming the4th of July, family activities
(04:03):
that believe in Bristol and theChamber of Commerce put on for
the, for the community.
So we try to be as involvedwith the community as possible.
You know, to have an activityand a business like Pins and
Friends, I think it just makesit more attractive for people to
spend all day or most of theirday in downtown Bristol.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Oh yeah, well, speaking of that, you've got a
pretty unique atmosphere thereat Pins and Friends.
You know how does that enhancethe overall?
Speaker 3 (04:29):
tourist experience.
Yeah, I think so.
I mean we get a lot of people.
You know, we're still waitingfor those big bus loads of
people to come into the casinoor something like that.
Maybe just drop them off rightat our door, just putting that
out there.
Whoever can put buses in Bristol, that would be great.
But you know we're set up.
We can take 150 people, youknow, feed them and allow them
to bowl and stuff like that.
(04:50):
So you know, we're kind of setup for that, those intense times
where it's crowded.
But yeah, I think that you seea lot of people come From out of
town.
You see a lot of people comingeven from like Mid-Atlantic and
the New England states and theyremember growing up with Doug
Penn bowling and so they aresurprised, happily surprised, to
(05:11):
see that type of bowling stillexists and is thriving in
downtown Bristol.
So you know, I think that asthe word of mouth gets around
and people know more about Pennsand Friends, I think it'll just
become more popular and becomea tourist destination of its own
, not just downtown Bristol butPenns and Friends Absolutely
Well as Penns and Friends.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Have you seen a rise in visitors during specific
seasons or events?
Like I said, I know there's alot of events in Bristol.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Definitely the Rhythm and Roots Music Festival is one
of our biggest weekends,there's no doubt.
We have literally a captiveaudience and the whole downtown
is closed off for pedestrians,which is an awesome thing for
the downtown businesses.
I would love to see more andmore weekends like that, not
just Rhythm and Roots, but justweekends where we're making it a
pedestrian zone this Saturdayfor just hanging out on a
(06:01):
Saturday, or a fall festival orNew Year's Eve or something like
that.
So I'd like to see more andmore of that downtown.
I think that would be a bigdraw and help out all the folks
that have got businesses andinvested in downtown.
So the Rhythm and Rage isprobably our number one.
And then, following thatChristmas time, everybody's
(06:21):
looking for Christmas parties,christmas events, and so it's
probably the most uniqueChristmas party, whether it's a
company or family that you couldever have.
So we really enjoy puttingthose together and getting the
feedback about the uniqueness ofit.
It's not just a banquet, londonbroil and dessert.
You might have a dance floorthat people just watch other
(06:43):
people dance, but here you cansocialize, you can bowl or you
can do the arcade and you knowit's just a more social event, I
think, than what I would call anormal corporate Christmas
party.
So we really look forward tothose types of parties.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Well, I know we're short on time today, but I'd
love to maybe in a futureepisode we could talk more about
your corporate events and howthat works and all the options
for that.
Yeah, okay, all right, man Welllove it.
Chip, appreciate your timetoday and we'll catch you in the
next episode.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
All right, thanks, skip.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Thanks for being part of the Pins and Friends family.
For more fun, check outpinsandfriendscom or visit us at
700 State Street, Bristol,Tennessee.
Let the good times roll.
See you next time.
Popular Podcasts
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.