Peerless-AV® SmartMount® Solutions Chosen for TV Takeover at Lakewood Tavern Sports Bar
Lakewood Tavern, an American food and sports bar, has completed an all over TV installation at its new Lake Elmo, Minnesota location. The Tavern opened in March 2023 and is attracting customers as a place to gather and watch live sports of all kinds. Working with Innovative Sales Solutions (iSell Solutions), a global sales agency and consulting brand, and Key Digital Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of control solutions for residential and commercial businesses, Peerless-AV® was able to provide a custom support solution for this truly unique installation.
The goal of this installation was to maximize the viewing experience for all customers by installing multiple TVs around the venue. The solution not only needed to be easy to install with a high level of adjustability, but it had to provide easy access for servicing and maintenance. The large number of TVs presented a few challenges along the way and the restaurant had to address several building inspection considerations.
LG 65", 75", and 86" displays were chosen for the project and used throughout the dining areas and corner cubby holes, supported by a combination of 15 Peerless-AV SmartMount® Universal Tilt Wall Mounts (ST650 and ST680) and Articulating Wall Mounts (SA771PU). Key to this installation was the large mounting plate and easy-glide display adaptors included with the tilt wall mount, which simplified the installation of the large flat panel displays. Another important feature was the mount’s horizontal display adjustment, which provided enough left to right movement to achieve the ideal viewing position – a must to avoid neck strain from long periods of watching live sports!
For the displays located above the central bar, Peerless-AV’s SmartMount® Digital Menu Board Mounts (DS-MBZ647L) with Ceiling Menu Board Connectors (ACC-MBCR1) and Menu Board Wall Plate Accessory (ACC-MB0800) were used to create the perfect back-to-back digital menu board. This section consists of 10" x 65" displays (in two 4x1 configurations with two at each end). The install team chose this combination of mounts and accessories because they allow for a wider, seamless, and more impactful digital menu board surface and the displays can be tilted at the same angle with ease. This is exactly what the project called for, enabling customers to see sporting action from anywhere in the venue.
“It was a complex project simply because of the number of TVs to be installed,” commented John Peterson, VP Technology Sales at Innovative Sales Solutions. “To get as close to back-to-back as possible at the bar, we designed a customized solution that reduced the number of poles needed from the ceiling to make the digital menu board stable and give it a tighter looking finish. We also had to work with strict building inspection criteria. For example, the mount adaptor plate had to be raised all the way up to the building girder and be attached to Unistrut metal framing system for load bearing purposes.”
Innovative Sales Solutions and Peerless-AV have partnered for many years on multiple projects. “Every area of this project required high attention to detail, and we’re thrilled with how it looks. We couldn’t have completed such a flawless finish without the Peerless-AV mounting solutions,” added Peterson.
Live sports channels stream to all the TVs thanks to Key Digital Systems who provided an AV over IP solution via Cat6 cabling. Eight streaming sources (including ComCast, Amazon, Apple, and MLB Channels on Hulu) are controlled using the KD-App on an iPad. The end result is a highly impressive sports bar that customers will enjoy for years to come. Every TV has been installed with a stunning finish, and the feedback from the Lakewood Tavern owners has been overwhelmingly positive.
“As soon as you walk into the space, you get the feeling that you are in a unique sports bar,” says Lakewood Tavern owners Tom, Lou, and Chris. “Now that we’ve been open a few months, the response has been fantastic, and there is a definite sports vibe. Using the iPad, we’re in full control. Customers can let us know what sports they want to watch. And we can select an individual TV or all TVs to display by hitting a button, whether it’s local, on cable, or a streaming platform. We are offering the ultimate in sports bar entertainment!”
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A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
