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Author Topic: Sad....another bowling alley closing  (Read 4568 times)

ksucat

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Sad....another bowling alley closing
« on: November 07, 2011, 06:54:22 AM »
My hometown used to have over 11,000 sanctioned bowlers at its peak.  This season had under 500.  Used to have a 40 lane plus 24 lane houses that were full.  24 lane closed several years ago and now the 40 lane house is closing the end of this year.  The surrounding community has over 40,000, so 500 sanctioned bowlers is pretty pathetic.  This 40 lane house had been so poorly run that some family and friends of mine refused to set foot in there so it wouldn't taint the memory of when things were great.  I grew up here.  I have fond memories of doing all kinds of chores just to trade for some games of bowling. 

 

How many of you have watched your childhood bowling alley close recently?  I know I've seen more close than new places open. 

 

How far would you drive to bowl league.  From this town, there are some nice bowling centers, but the drive would be between 30-60 miles one way.  It doesn't look promising that anyone will open anything in this town in the near future.

 

I feel lucky to now live where there are a handful of great facilities within easy driving distance.  


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milorafferty

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2011, 03:00:33 PM »
Just depends on what you want I guess. We have two alleys in my town, but I drive 45 miles on friday night to bowl a PBA league. I you truly want to bowl, you will find a way.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2011, 03:14:15 PM »
Sorry to hear of the closing. I bowled state in those houses several times over the years.

 

Besides yourself I know of several good bowlers from that area. I would assume they will travel somewhere to bowl but I'm sure most will simply quit.

 

I watched my home town houses both close over the years. One in 1973 the other about 5 years ago.

 

Of course the closing of RoseBowl East was a sad day as well even though we have other choices. And I have seen the closing of at least another 6 houses in town with probably 150 lane beds.

 

With sanctioned numbers dwindling it is hard for the houses remaining to stay in business.

 

At this stage in my bowling life I would probably just give it up. I already travel about 15 miles each way today. I don't believe I would go to 30.


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Metal_rules

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2011, 03:24:03 PM »
being in the Detroit metro area we still have quite a few to choose from, but with that being said, i know of 3 bowling alleys that have just closed in the past 2 years and quite a few in the past 20 years. it is very unfortunate, but a sign of the times, people just don't have the extra money for bowling. OR  just don't want to bowl anymore? unfortunately they would rather do something else.


 
Edited by Metalrulez on 11/9/2011 at 10:39 AM
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2011, 04:10:47 PM »

I agree with all that was said .. funny how bowling ball manufacturers think bowlers have plenty of money!

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flybub

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2011, 10:16:46 AM »
We have had 2 out of the 4 in my area close up in the last 3 years.  My family still runs the 2 that are in business but it definately is not what it used to be.  I can remember lines out the door waiting to get on a lane for open bowling, now we have trouble getting them in the door.  I hear alot about how people don't have the money to do it, but on the other hand, the same people that say this are the same ones I see on the golf course every weekend in the summer.   The cost of golf has skyrocketed in the last 2 years but I don't hear too many complain about it. 

 

Sorry to hear about your centers closing.  It's very unfortunate.


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ImBackInTheGame

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2011, 10:23:05 AM »
My little 8 lane house is most likely closing at the end of the year.

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9andaWiggle

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2011, 10:20:51 AM »
I know of 4 that I grew up around, or bowled in that are gone.  One 8 lane, two 12 lanes, and one 16 lane.  Two are parking lots, one is a now closed restaurant, and the other is a church - which I find hilarious considering all the swearing, drinking, and any other sinful things that happened there.


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storm making it rain

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2011, 10:35:12 AM »
JOE FALCO.....

 

How is it that it's the manufacturers fault....Do you pay the same amount of money for a gallon of gas, milk, oil, etc that you did years ago??? Bottom line is everything is more expensive these days.  That in turn pushes people to cut spending on disposable/recreational things.  Not to mention that some of the older guys get frustrated because they cant compete with the Great Wall of China out there these days...but thats a whole drifferent conversation...


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JOE FALCO

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2011, 11:08:31 AM »
You are right .. end of discussion!
 



storm making it rain wrote on 11/9/2011 11:35 AM:
JOE FALCO.....


 


How is it that it's the manufacturers fault....Do you pay the same amount of money for a gallon of gas, milk, oil, etc that you did years ago??? Bottom line is everything is more expensive these days.  That in turn pushes people to cut spending on disposable/recreational things.  Not to mention that some of the older guys get frustrated because they cant compete with the Great Wall of China out there these days...but thats a whole drifferent conversation...


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sheppy335

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Re: Sad....another bowling alley closing
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2011, 11:29:41 AM »
Sorry to hear that, lucky for me we still have houses to bowl in that are not the far away. I had my child hood bowling alleys both close and it was very sad. One became a store and then other nothing it just sit there empty. 

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