Yellowknife (July 25/03) - On the east coast, lots of businesses take Canadian Tire money -- you can even pay your power bill with it.

Luke and Quintin Wood, the new operators of the Polar Bowl, have brought this tradition to Yellowknife.

Now you can spend the Canadian Tire money you've been hoarding at the bowling alley and sports lounge on Tuesdays.

"It's our second currency," says Luke.

"Whatever they have, we'll take it."

They began accepting tire dollars on Canada Day and racked up more than $100.

"It doesn't sound like much, but it was a stack," says Luke.

The next day, the brothers went shopping at Canadian Tire.

The bought stuff they needed for the kitchen in the alley's pub-style lounge -- cutlery, knives and cutting boards.

They're hoping people come in, spend their Canadian tire cash, and then keep on spending. But even if they just drop a few tire dollars, that's fine.

They can always buy things at Canadian Tire because they're planning renovations.

The two brothers began renting the Polar Bowl about three weeks ago, and plan to buy it.

They've kept long-time staffer Charlie Walsh. He's the only one who knows how to fix the bowling equipment, they explain.

"He's our main man," says Luke.

"He's teaching us slowly," adds Quintin. "It's a pretty archaic system back there."