“I began working for my dad in 2001,” Les Boyd said. “I attended Hendersonville High School, went to South Carolina, graduated, and then came back to be part of the family business. I’ve worked in every department and pretty much have been running it for the last 10 or 15 years.”

Les’ father, Cam, had a huge impact on Les and set a defining example for him. "He taught me what it means to be a community leader and to carry on the family business." Les’ wife Paige adds, "He was so proud of Les, all he accomplished, and how he took the dealership to the next level." 

The business has always been centered around the dealership’s commitment to Henderson County. “We’ve always felt a need to give back to the community and find ways to go about doing it,” Les Boyd said. “From sponsoring Little League baseball teams to working with the education system, there’s a lot that goes on at the dealership that helps the community. It’s not just selling people cars—it’s building a relationship that’s long-term.”

That spirit of community is also what led Les and Paige into their latest venture: the purchase of Tarheel Lanes in 2024. The 32-lane bowling alley, a longtime Hendersonville institution, came up for sale after the passing of its previous owner. Rather than see it shuttered or converted into a warehouse or drugstore, the Boyds stepped in.

“We didn’t want it to go away,” Paige said. “There are not a lot of places in Hendersonville—or in Western North Carolina, really—where families, young kids, and teenagers can all go together. Bowling is something that brings people together, whether you’re two or 92. We wanted to preserve that.”

The couple purchased Tarheel Lanes on July 31, 2024, and immediately began reinvesting in the facility. Longtime employee Ellis DeSimon, who had kept the operation running through difficult years, remained on board. “It would not have been there without him,” said Paige. “When we bought it, there were four employees that kept it running seven days a week. Ellis was able to keep the doors open with a very skeleton crew operation. We brought the resources and assistance to take that foundation and improve on it.” 

The Boyds have renovated the interior, updated the scoring system, balls, and pins, and reopened the kitchen after several years of closure, with a menu of burgers, fries, wings and other hot food. They’ve also reinvigorated the business as a crucial part of the community. “We’re working with the public school system, offering field trip rates, and hosting nonprofit fundraisers,” Paige said. “We had over 2,200 kids sign up for the Kids Bowl Free program this summer. Camps, schools, and leagues all use the space—it really has become a home away from home for many people.”

At the heart of both businesses is a simple value: customer experience. “It comes back to wanting the customer, or whoever is going to be the patron, to have a good experience and to leave feeling positive about how they spent their time,” Les said about both businesses.

Paige added that their shared roots in Western North Carolina also keep them grounded. “With both of us being from here and raising our children here, it’s important to keep this area thriving and give back,” she said. “We love this community and we want people to have a place where they feel safe and they can have fun.”

For the Boyds, running a dealership and a bowling alley may seem worlds apart, but the common thread is family—both their own and the wider Hendersonville community.

Learn more at BoydChevrolet.com and TarheelLanesNC.com.