Evergreen Lanes is a new entertainment venue in Caribou, ME, that resurrects a popular restaurant, bar and bowling alley previously located at nearby Loring Air Force Base, which closed in 1994.
Evergreen Lanes was the dream of Shawn Pelletier, who used to hang out at the original establishments when he was a teen. Pelletier bought a building with the idea of converting it to a bowling alley, then acquired recipes from the most recent owner of the Rendezvous Restaurant and included the restaurant in his plans.
The 35,000 sq. ft. venue is the largest in Caribou, the northernmost city in the United States. In addition to the bowling alley, bar, and restaurant, the business also has a bowling pro shop, arcade, private meeting and event space, and a 40-by-50-foot outdoor patio. The dining and sports bar area seats 250 patrons.
Evergreen Lanes also boasts some unique signage, including the state’s largest digital screen, which is an 8’ x 15’ high-resolution LED display manufactured by Watchfire, and refurbished outdoor signs from the previous locations.
When it came time for signage, Pelletier tapped Condon Sign & Electrical Service. The owner at the time, Jeff Clark, specified Watchfire for both the indoor and outdoor signage. “Shawn was familiar with Watchfire because he has a Watchfire sign at one of his other businesses, and he was happy with them,” said Clark.
The indoor display is used as a giant TV to show various sports games and to advertise special events at the establishment. The restaurant and sports bar also include dozens of traditional TVs, but because of the scale of the Watchfire display and its high resolution, patrons can view programs on it from practically anywhere in the building, even up close.
Outside, Condon Sign recreated the original Evergreen Lanes sign and secured the 1970s-era Rendezvous Restaurant sign to anchor the new outdoor signage. A Watchfire LED sign was included and advertises upcoming events, current specials, and other messages.
Tony Perreault, owner of Perreault Technology Services, guided the signage decisions and configured the indoor display so it could broadcast games and other content. He uses Watchfire Ignite OPx to easily create content and found the software easy to learn.
“I’m amazed at how well made and durable the Watchfire signs are,” said Perreault. “Watchfire’s team has been great, from sales to tech support to help in configuring the signs.”
“We want this to be a destination, something unique for the area that will draw in people, the same way that we might go to Bangor or Portland to visit certain places,” added Pelletier.
