The projected new owners of the Rock ’N Bowl establishment got a huge boost from the Leighton Township Board Thursday night.

Tim Elzinga and Dean Rosendaal of Pin3LLC are forging a contract agreement with former owners Ron and Linda Lannon. The two newcomers indicated they understand bowling establishments are in decline nationwide, so they are making a bid to make Rock ’N Bowl a success by adding sales of beer, wine and spirits.

That’s where the Leighton Township Board comes in. Members voted 3-2 on a resolution to rescind any prohibition that may have existed against the sale on premises of beer, wine and spirits. Clerk Rachel Fennema, who voted with Trustees Brian Bonnema and John Hooker to move forward, said she could not find any evidence of a prohibition by ordinance, and she went as far back as 1964.

A second resolution was to give its blessing to Elzinga and Rosendaal to apply for a Class C Liquor License from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Supervisor Steve Wolbrink this time joined Fennema, Bonnema and Hooker in the affirmative.

There is little evidence of any establishment being granted a license to sell alcohol on its premises until only recently when Maria’s Pizza won the township’s blessing.

Fennema also told her colleagues she was impressed with the new owners emphasizing the business as a bowling alley first and a seller of alcohol secondary.

Wolbrink balked at first, saying, “I think we should get ahold of our lawyer first.”

The clerk responded by saying there is no evidence alcohol sales were forbidden by ordinance, and if if necessary, the board could rescind its action.

Elzinga and Rosendaal are co-owners of Sherman Lanes in Muskegon and another bowling establishment in Grand Rapids.

The Lannons bought Rock ’N Bowl six years ago from Jack Templin, replacing the old Airport Lanes that had been in business for more than 75 years. They remodeled the lanes and provided the host site for the Wayland and Martin High School bowling teams.

Templin had  purchased the business from Doug Flick several years ago. The establishment was owned long ago by Haven Tarnutzer. Wayland High School bowling coach Sherry Miklusicak, who grew up not far away, used to work and bowl at Airport Lanes more than three decades ago.