Month: April 2017

Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill

| Zeb Wright

Kingswood Leasing Is Proud To Support Louisiana Business’ Return After Great Flood of 2016

In August of 2016 torrential rains dumped three times as much water as Hurricane Katrina in certain areas of Louisiana. Thousands of homes and businesses were literally underwater with significant damage. One of those hardest hit businesses was Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill. The flooding forced the closure of the business during a year where they were expecting to break there previous year’s record breaking sales. Mike O’Neil, owner of Big Mike’s, immediately started rebuilding with the hope of reopening within 6 months, but cash flow dried up within 3 months, which put the future of Big Mike’s in jeopardy. An employee of Big Mike’s who was anxious about the return of the business, Emily Ashford, reached out to Jon Taffer via Bar Rescue’s website, and asked for help. Bar Rescue and Jon Taffer responded, flew to Denham Springs, and set a goal of reopening the restaurant within two months.

The Make-Over

Taffer himself had concerns about the ambitious renovation and whether it could be finished on a two month schedule. Bar Rescue invested approximately $750,000 into Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill in October of 2016 to make it happen. Unlike most Bar Rescue businesses, this show wasn’t about rescuing a failing business, but a once thriving business that was devastated by the Great Flood of 2016. Kingswood Leasing was asked to secure approximately $85,000 in financing for the client in a very short time frame in order to fit into the production team’s schedule. The entire process from application to funding was accomplished within one week so that the new equipment Big Mike’s needed would be delivered and installed in time for the tv production crew’s filming schedule.

The Show

In the episode, titled “Bar over Troubled Water”, Taffer expresses his concern about the amount of work needed to do a complete renovation in less than 5 days. Taffer brought 50 crew members and hired 20 local laborers for the project, who worked around the clock for 5 straight days.

“In the end, I want Mike and Jocelyn to tell the people of Denham Springs that ‘if we were able to get back in business, so can you'” – Jon Taffer, Bar Rescue, Bar over Troubled Water

The one-hour episode premiered on Sunday, March 26th, and was watched by hundreds at the bar the same evening. At the end of the program acknowledgements were given to those that contributed to the cause, of which included Kingswood Leasing.

Here is a preview of the episode:

Proud Supporter

Kingswood Leasing is proud to support Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill. We couldn’t be more pleased that everyone trusted us to do our small part to make this a great story for the O’Neils. We congratulate everyone who helped make this possible and look forward to seeing this local community happy and thriving again.

If you would like to learn more about Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill visit their website at www.bigmikessportsbarandgrill.com.

9th Annual Bowl-A-Thon

| Zeb Wright

“It Takes A Community To Raise A Child”

The Kingswood Kingpins Strike Back Once Again To Support Local Charity

Kingswood Leasing was proud to take part in the 9th Annual Dover Children’s Home Bowl-A-Thon, doing our part to raise funds for our favorite local charity. This year we were witness to another successful event where 90 teams and approximately 380 bowlers raised just under $27,000! All funds go back into providing the best quality treatment services for at risk youth at Dover Children’s Home.

“Kingswood Leasing was a huge contributor to our event, and we are absolutely thrilled with how the day turned out. Dover Children’s Home is so thankful for all of the support we have received and for everyone who helped make the day such a success!!” ~ Renee Touhey-Childress, Executive Director, Dover Children’s Home

The Kingpins Strike Again!

The entire team had a great time bowling with family and friends, but everyone at Kingswood was especially proud to earn recognition as this year’s top fundraising team. An honor we have now earned in back-to-back events. We would like to recognize some of our top contributors, who we share and owe much of this honor with:

  • Pawnee Leasing
  • Financial Pacific
  • Global Financial

Many more donors pledged and the support was overwhelming. We cannot thank you all enough for your generosity… Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!

And The Theme-Wear Winner Is?!?!

Not us. Though we had a great time dressing up as Game of Thrones characters in our attempt to win best theme-wear for the event. Kingswood tips our bowling hats to the winner, Keller-Williams Reality, who won with a great ‘Where’s Waldo’ theme. Maybe it was the guy wearing the dress and blonde wig that threw off the judges?

However, not to be outdone, the Kingpins did take home one more illustrious honor… top score for our session! Looks like Daenerys will have to add one more title to her list of names… Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of Meereen, The Unburnt, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Protector of the Realm, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms, Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains… and now the Strike Queen??