Story 11 of 23  

Business Advisor Clifford Bell and Daniel Adams

Daniel Adams
Kerns Avenue Bowling Center
Buffalo SBDC

After returning from his tour of duty in the Army in Vietnam, Daniel Adams worked for American Axiel, an auto parts manufacturing company for 25 years. Recently, the company offered him a buy-out settlement. Since he was not ready to retire, Mr. Adams took his settlement and began working for a local real estate company and joined the Buffalo SBDC’s Veteran’s Advisory Board. He met the owner of Ideal Bowling Lanes, who retained Mr. Adams to sell his business and property. While working with the owner, he became very interested in the buying the business for himself. He knew about the SBDC from his work on the Advisory Board, and set up a meeting with Senior Business Advisor, Clifford Bell. Mr. Bell assisted Mr. Adams in preparing an offer to purchase the 16 alley bowling center, preparing cash flow projections, and obtaining financing to purchase the business. Mr. Adams also wanted financing to repair and update the facility. His plans included adding a kitchen, improving the parking lot, and developing new signs. The SBDC helped Mr. Adams secure loans from BERC and First Niagara. Mr. Adams, who may be the first minority owner of a bowling alley in the Buffalo area, renamed the bowling alley the Kerns Avenue Bowling Center.