By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Not that long ago in Hays, a bingo game could be found somewhere every day of the week.
But as the places dedicated to the game closed over the last few years, players knew who to talk to — Janel Molleker, a longtime bingo parlor owner in Hays.
Molleker owned and operated Lucky Bucks bingo for 19 years, but closed the location about nine years ago as traffic began to dwindle as competition in town spread players across locations and days.
“When we had Lucky Bucks, there was bingo (somewhere in Hays) every night,” Molleker said. “There was a lot of completion out there.”
But people still wanted to play, and over the years, requests to open another location continued to come in.
“I kept getting calls as everyone quit the bingo halls,” Molleker said.
Initially, she pushed back against the requests, but she said she eventually relented.
“I don’t know what made me give in. I just felt sorry for people because they had nothing to do, especially the older crowd,” Molleker said.
She also noticed area youth were beginning to take an interest in the game.
So for a year, she sourced a location to open a the new parlor, until she came upon the former restaurant and bar space in downtown Hays.
“I found this spot and thought that it is just perfect,” she said.
Funding was secured, the space was remodeled to fit their needs and in February of this year The Heritage Eatery & Bingo, 114 E. 12th, opened to the public.
But with COVID-19 business restrictions put in place in March, Molleker was forced close.
It would be June before they could reopen and give players the opportunity to once again participate in a beloved pastime.
Even now, Molleker said attendance on most nights is still about half of what it was before the pandemic.
On a recent Wednesday game, about 80 people were there for the start of the game, but as people are becoming more comfortable going out and everyone is becoming familiar with the schedule, she said crowds are steadily increasing.
No matter how many come out to play on a regular game night, she said they will run the game.
“Every night we play, because they want to play,” Molleker said.
But even as the players enjoy the game, they may enjoy each other more.
“Everybody is just happy there. It’s different than it used to be,” Molleker said, noting the highly competitive players itching for a win have been replaced with people there to socialize and enjoy the collective activity.
“I think people are laid back and just want something to do. … It’s not about the money they are winning. They just enjoy getting out,” she said.
And those who have found that human connection across the bingo card make it a point to attend the games regularly.
Judy Hagan said she comes almost every week.
“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “It gets you out of the house. It's something to do. Everybody should come out and play.
“It’s a place to go to bring your friends and your family,” Hagans added. “And you know everybody. Everybody gets along great, and it’s relaxing.”
For Cathy Rigby, it’s a way to socialize and stay connected to her youth.
She grew up in Hays going to bingo with her mother and grandmother and attends bingo at least once a week.
“It’s pretty nostalgic for me to be able to come,” Rigby said.
And she said the core players like her who attend regularly are like a family — and Molleker is always out in the crowd and having fun.
“It’s a good environment,” Rigby said. “It’s good fun to have in Hays.”
The games also help raise money for area nonprofits as they run the games, a requirement of state law.
Currently LINK Inc., a nonprofit center for independent living serving people with disabilities in western Kansa,s runs games on the first and third Thursdays of the month.
The Hays International Travel Club runs a game every Wednesday.
While open, the parlor has concession stand fare — sloppy joes, hot dogs, hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. Molleker said sometimes they have German dishes as well.
Initially, she hoped to open a full restaurant open for lunch, but COVID-19 put that idea on hold.
Eventually, she said she still might and is open to the idea of a partnership with a local restaurateur if the opportunity arises.