Big Al's provides huge facility for parties, families, any event
Photos by Lisa Fontana
Story by Alex Fontana
First off, Big Al's, in Vancouver, Wash., is big, really big. Other words that come to mind are huge, humongous, prominent, large, bountiful and great. How big? Well, think like Tim Allen's character from the Home Improvement show, then put his idea on steroids and you might end up with an inkling of what is considered "big" here.
After walking into the cavernous timbered cave of entertainment, you immediately take in two things. The building is built very open and it's clean. There is no smoking inside. You can have your beer; shoot pool, bowl, have private company events or even party with the Portland Trail Blazers. You can keep an eye on the kids if they wander over to the north 40 to play arcade games; there are no walls in between. Do you like bowling? Then Fred Astair across the front dance floor and set yourself up for any of the 30 main lanes in the public section. Or, if you prefer, there are another 16 private lanes to the right. Go past this point and you can stop for a drink at the center stage bar.
Bartender Eugene Moyer starts the ball rolling at the center stage with prompt and polite service, a quality that truly proliferates with each hand-picked employee here. After providing you with some quick beverages of an adult nature, Moyer tips you off to what is going on. When asked how big is Big Al's Moyer proudly replies, "We have a small army of around 200 employees that can handle anything from mechanical servicing to event coordination; in short, we can pretty much take on Lexington." Examples of this can-do attitude and great service has brought interest from leading companies like Intel in Hillsboro, who buses their employees across state lines just to come here for company parties. In one event, as many as 1500 season ticket holders got to shake hands, shoot pool, bowl or just pal around with the Portland Trail Blazers.
As for sports views, there are somewhere between 57' to 62' wide plasma screens throughout the building from every conceivable crevice. There are so many screens in fact that no one seems to know exactly how many there are. For those who are near-sighted, there is no squinting, as an 8x32' main screen in the lower restaurant/bar is also there for your viewing pleasure.
Yep, be it for a day or just a drop-in moment when you are feeling the cabin fever blues and need to get the loved ones out of the house, this is the place.
If you prefer pool, then head on down to that lower restaurant where six pristine competition tables await you as well. On the other hand, if you want quieter times, you can sit back with the big boys in the skybox and overlook the whole show.
In any case, whether you come for corporate cool or family frolic, the fun is as big as the place is wide. To personally see how big, Big Al's actually is, go to 16615 S.E. 18th St., Vancouver, Wash., call (360) 944-6118 or view via www.ilovebigals.com . Just remember though if you're going to take pictures, better bring a panoramic view lens because Big Al's is big!