What's to come at the Barn Bowl & Bistro

New Oak Bluffs bowling center set for soft opening this month.

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The Barn Bowl & Bistro will have a soft opening sometime in May. — Michael Cummo

We’re all eagerly anticipating the opening of the Barn Bowl & Bistro, a bowling alley, restaurant, and bar in Oak Bluffs that will no doubt become a year-round haven for locals and a popular rainy-day destination for visitors too. While the owners are still insistent on keeping the opening date under wraps for fear of mass chaos, they have announced that a soft opening is expected sometime in May. They have also recently announced the management team, full of native Islanders and restaurateurs.

Mike Sawyer, a native Islander and son of owner Robert Sawyer, has been appointed general manager of the facility, and will oversee all operations for the bowling alley, restaurant, bar, and special events. According to a press release, Mr. Sawyer left a robust career in technology sales in Boston to embrace the leadership opportunity to manage the new venue.

Stacey Trevino, no stranger to the Vineyard’s restaurant scene, has been named Bistro restaurant manager. Ms. Trevino has extensive experience in the hospitality industry, has owned and operated her own restaurant, and more recently managed Saltwater in Vineyard Haven until it was sold last year.

At the helm in the kitchen will be executive chef Peter Douglas Martin. According to a press release, Chef Martin, a Long Island native, was heavily recruited for his exceptional knowledge of the restaurant industry, culinary achievements, and love for cooking.

Another recruit includes current host of MVTV’s Tank Talk, Bob Tankard, who has been appointed as the first commissioner of bowling on Martha’s Vineyard. Mr. Tankard has long served the Island community as mentor, educator, school principal, and school committee member. As commissioner of bowling, Mr. Tankard’s responsibilities will include working with all league bowlers and management of the bowling leagues. Opportunities to form or join leagues will be announced in the coming months; leagues will begin in early October. (We’ll keep you posted on the leagues, but start thinking about your teams now.)

Also on board is Fred Murphy, another Vineyarder, who will be responsible for critical maintenance of the bowling center equipment. Mr. Murphy is a retired Merchant Marine captain with more than 40 years of understanding, working with, and repairing engines on tankers.

The Barn Bowl & Bistro will open as a regulation 10-pin, 10-lane bowling center offering bowling for the public, league play for all ages and abilities, and special events. The lanes are equipped with an optional automatic bumper system to keep the ball in play, and lightweight balls designed for the hands of pint-size players will be available. The Bistro will offer affordable year-round family dining for lunch and dinner, as well as boasting a full-bar special event space.

In a conversation with The Times, owner Robert Sawyer stressed the restaurant’s significance to the year-round population. “Unlike many businesses here, we won’t be hyping things up in the summer. Our business plan is just the opposite; the summer will take care of itself. The Barn Bowl & Bistro will cater to year-round Vineyarders. We’ll offer year-round dining, lunch and dinner, at very reasonable prices. The menu has just been created, and is being refined, but it will offer some pretty neat things. … There will be enough variety for people to come in and dine for a month while trying new things.”


The Barn Bowl & Bistro, 13 Uncas Avenue, Oak Bluffs. For news and updates, follow the center on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/Bowling-Center-on-Marthas-Vineyard.