Tower Lanes For Sale
Have you ever bowled a perfect 300? Yeah, neither have we.
But we still find it worth noting that one of the few bowling alleys left in Tacoma is on the market. It’s priced at $3,000,000 … which we’re pretty sure means it’s a tear down so someone can build more strip malls.
Guess we’ll have to get our cosmic bowling at Chalet Bowl.
(Thanks, Morgan!)
Filed under: General
11 comments
S sjducky November 29, 2007
Even if I wasn’t going to build a strip mall there, I’d consider tearing it down, too. A wood building that big with no sprinklers? I smell a bonfire!
E Erik Hanberg November 29, 2007
Morgan,
I don’t think that a bowling alley is necessarily a cultural indicator.
As Putnam says in his book, bowling has been growing in popularity for years in many different classes. His point is that people are bowling alone (hence the title) and not in leagues. Not that bowling itself is a cultural indicator.
As to the specific blue collar/gentrification issue, I would guess that the closing of old bowling alleys are not necessarily indicators of a cultural shift. In the case of Tacoma, the biggest and best bowling alley is Narrows and the smaller alleys probably just can’t keep competing. Or maybe Tower is doing fine, but if their land is worth 3 million, why would you keep operating the alley?
C Crenshaw Sepulveda November 29, 2007
Before it is gone, please check out the miniature golf at the Tower Lanes, it is a blast from the past and also a bit strange.
S snoopy November 29, 2007
I went mini-golfing there once! what a trip!
C Crenshaw Sepulveda November 29, 2007
The people that owned the old race track, Longacres, did the same thing. Horse racing has been on the wane and the land became too valuable. The family that owned the track sold it to Boeing. There is still horse racing in western Washington at Emerald Downs but they are suffering along with the rest of the industry. Horse racing is not what it once was, I guess neither is bowling. On the other hand, pool halls were in decline for a long time and many pool halls closed down. Seems to me there is a resurgence in pool playing these days if Tacoma is any indicator. The more things change the more they end up staying the same.
M morgan November 29, 2007
Most of the older bowling lanes are quite large. With fewer people taking part in organized bowling leagues, the lanes become too expensive to operate… unless you change your business model. Bowling still has a certain kitch appeal and with it a minor trend of bars opening in conjunction with bowling. Witness Seattle’s Garage Billiards & Bowl:
http://garagebilliards.com/
(I still think the entire Highland Hills area needs to be bulldozed and started over with a clean slate.)
C Christy November 29, 2007
Cultural indicator? Maybe, but not in this town. Narrows is sandwiched between Fircrest and UP! And what was the one that used to be right next to the dump? Long gone, though next to Fircrest, also bordered by Oakland. Doesn’t get much more blue collar.
K Karin November 29, 2007
I’ll really be sad to see tower lanes go. I don’t know anywhere else where I can go for jello shots and minigolf under one roof.
M Mofo from the Hood November 29, 2007
Oh great. Now where I am gonna go to rent shoes for date night?
M Mouse November 29, 2007
Once you play bowling on a Wii game system, you’ll never leave your house again. What we need are more food delivery services that come to our homes. That way we can close down old restaurants and corner markets too!
W wheels November 30, 2007
Tower Lanes has the best indoor mini golf in the area (although the blue water is somewhat disconcerting). I’m going to miss you, Putt-Putt.