Well, the Buffalo, NY area now has a casualty from the Bowlmor/AMF merger.  On The Edge Bowling Center's facebook page, this was announced today:

AMF Thruway lanes manager Mary Chase is holding a meeting this weekend to announce the centers closure. We will do whatever we can to help your league relocate and finish out the season if it happens in January like many of us are hearing. The Edge Bowling Center is owned and operated by bowlers Sue Jeziorski and Jon Kroll and we take pride in offering exceptional service, The best running machines in Buffalo (thanks to Mike Schlager and Rob Janusz), great drink prices and most importantly the owner is in house for EVERY league, party, and event to make sure you have the best experience possible! We look forward to serving you!

The ironic thing is that AMF Lancaster is in much worse shape and Thruway/Airport Lanes are the 2 best AMF centers around here.  Plus, Thruway has held numerous tournaments and PBA stops over the years.  Unfortunately, the 60 lane house will be no more in 2015. 

Sue Jeziorski is the former operator of the pro shop at Thruway, after refusing an $18k/month rent increase.  Instead, she now owns The Edge Bowling Center in Buffalo and also owns Cutting Edge Pro Shop in Cheektowaga, NY.

Sue Jeziorski is the former operator of the pro shop at Thruway, after refusing an $18k/month rent increase.  Instead, she now owns The Edge Bowling Center in Buffalo and also owns Cutting Edge Pro Shop in Cheektowaga, NY.

An $18,000 per month increase in rent?  Is that a typo?  Sorry to hear about the center closing.

Tommyboy,

I read the thread you linked.  I apologize for doubting what you wrote.  That just seemed like such a ridiculous number, it seemed like an error.  That is insane!  Again, my apologies.

I heard about the closing this past Sunday, and was shocked since the closure was origionally slated for spring after leagues were completed. Some discontent between parties led to this happening at the start of the new year.

Where will all these leagues find lane time? Suzie is fantastic, but the Edge can't accomadate very much of the ousted leagues. Most area houses would only be able to take on additional leagues if they went to the "old style" 2nd shift, and I doubt many bowlers would choose to do this.

I have watched many PBA events at Thruway, and always well run events there. My sons bowled High School sectionals there as well. Thruway Lanes will be sorely missed.

thruway is a nice center, sad to see it closing. went to see my first PBA tour event there and i shot my first 300 at thruway. high school state championships in 2007 in my junior year. ended up winning high series with 1411 since you werent allowed to receive 2 awards.

AMF closed their 46 lane center in Springfield, IL last year with 3 weeks left in our season. Our league turned down AMF's offer to move us to their other center to finish out the year. I worked for the proshop there an the owner had his first job at that alley. Fortunately he had another location open and saw the writing on the wall, so we closed the AMF location about 3 months before AMF called the employees in on Monday and told them they had 2 weeks.


I would have been the last person to throw a league shot there, but my proshop boss stood and waited over half a game to finish his 10th frame to be the last person (he struck). If they had put as much money and time into the 46 lane center as they did their 36 lane center here, it would still be open and going strong.

Great video. This is what I love about bowling.

Here is the official announcement:
http://wivb.com/2014/12/14/cheektowaga-bowling-alley-closing/

The Basil Family of Dealerships.  I've never dealt with them but it still sucks that they're buying the place out.