Detroit Bowling Alleys

**zitro** · September-24-09, 07:58 AM

BowlDetroit: Nice spread in the current U.S. Youth Bowling Magazine showing your collection. Congratulations!!

**Meddle** · August-25-09, 01:36 AM

I remember a few of these places. Nobody's mentioned Redford Lanes at Grand River & Lahser.

**Designerguy24** · August-25-09, 07:08 AM

There use to be Liberty Bowl at Frazho and Gratiot where Super Kmart is now. When that closed I use to go to Rose Bowl at Martin and Grosebeck all the time!!

**KENSINGTONY** · August-25-09, 03:28 PM

East Warren's site is the Dallas Market and Maple Lanes is a storage garage for a landscaping company.

**Fury13** · August-25-09, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by KENSINGTONY

East Warren's site is the Dallas Market and Maple Lanes is a storage garage for a landscaping company.

Maple Lanes was a pleasant alley on East Warren near Balduck Park. It featured two-tone, cream and brown natural brick on the outside with aluminum lettering and trim for a great '50s vibe.

The building was gutted for use as a storage facility, as noted. It was also completely globbed over with white and green paint. It now looks completely, appropriately, ghetto.

**Detroit Signal** · August-25-09, 08:17 PM

I've been trying to find out something for a friend of mine that used to set pins long ago. He said he worked at a small alley at Mack and St. Jean. But he dosen't remember the name. Probably around the early 50s or so?? He said you had to walk down an alley/driveway to get to the building itself. It didn't have any frontage on Mack. Maybe 12 lanes or so.

**EastsideAl** · August-25-09, 05:30 PM

Oh, and I used to go to Harper Lanes [[later home of Club UBQ!) just west of Van Dyke with my best friend's mother's family who lived up that way. The place was still there a few years ago.

**BowlDetroit** · August-25-09, 07:06 PM

Redford LANES was at Grand River and Beech Daly. Redford Recreation [[later Redford Bowl) was at Grand River and Lahser next to Chatham's grocery store. Frank Butler, his son Paul and Jim Moirrisey bought Redford Rec in 1973 and renamed it Redford Bowl. I worked there when I was 16 [[1973) until the early 80's. I just went by there last Friday....total mess...but then again that whole neighborhood seems to be. My old neighborhood around Murphy Jr. High [[Fenkell & Telegraph) looks like Bagdad. More burned and abandoned houses that livable ones.

**shovelhead** · August-25-09, 07:20 PM

Anybody remember Varsity Lanes on Livernois? Never bowled there, but spent a few hours there partaking of liquid lunches while working at Packer Pontiac in the early 70's

**vetalalumni** · August-25-09, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Oh, and I used to go to Harper Lanes [[later home of Club UBQ!) just west of Van Dyke with my best friend's mother's family who lived up that way. The place was still there a few years ago.

Wow, UBQ is a real throwback. Partied there juuuusssssttttt a little bit back in the day

Originally Posted by BowlDetroit

Redford LANES was at Grand River and Beech Daly. Redford Recreation [[later Redford Bowl) was at Grand River and Lahser next to Chatham's grocery store. Frank Butler, his son Paul and Jim Moirrisey bought Redford Rec in 1973 and renamed it Redford Bowl. I worked there when I was 16 [[1973) until the early 80's.

Thanks for the info.

**reddog289** · August-26-09, 12:42 AM

I remember BowlARama lanes from the outside. If I only had a nickel for each time I went by there.My Uncle who bowled alot till about 10 years ago lived in that area. He said he didn't like the lanes and didn't bowl there alot.Had to do a double take when it became a Post Office.Same deal when Redford Lanes became an Aldi.

**SMRJim** · August-26-09, 04:44 PM

This was supposed to be a reply to BowlDetroits's 'Redford LANES was at Grand River and Beech Daly. Redford Recreation [[later Redford Bowl) ...' but I forgot to use the Quote button...

I bowled in a Rosedale Park league at Redford Lanes [[the one by Beech) back in 87. First time I bowled in a league. Got addicted, one of my teammates talked me into learning how to throw with a fingertip ball at the end of the year [[I used alley balls and threw a backup ball up to that point). My average went from 160 to the 180s once I got the hang of it. Unfortunately elbow problems put an end to my bowling career years ago, but I sure did enjoy bowling in leagues.

**professorscott** · August-26-09, 02:23 AM

Shovelhead, your humble Professor spent some time at Varsity Lanes back in the day. The University of Detroit [[as it was then known) had an informal bowling league which students, faculty, maintenance staff and others were welcome to join.

Sadly, like almost everything else in our neighborhood, that bowling alley closed down. The University, as it turns out, does not have enough students or staff to provide customers in quantities necessary to support neighborhood businesses. Most of our students [[and faculty, and so on) drive in from the suburbs in the a.m. and drive right the hell back to the suburbs in the p.m. and don't spend any money while they're here.

So Varsity Lanes is gone, and the health club, and the alternative bookstore, and most of the other businesses which the University community might have supported but didn't. The University's informal bowling league went to State Fair Lanes on Woodward for a while, then to Hartfield on 12 Mile in Berkley, then finally collapsed.

I wish we supported the neighborhood businesses, but we don't, and I'm not sure if we can or how to get there. The students and faculty are so afraid of crime that I don't think anyone can convince them to spend time shopping in their own neighborhood.

**Jimaz** · August-26-09, 02:26 PM

Does anyone remember the name of a bowling alley on the west side of Van Dyke about half a mile north of Hall Rd.? At some point it was taken over by Weingartz, the outdoor power equipment retailer next door.

**zitro** · August-26-09, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by Jimaz

Does anyone remember the name of a bowling alley on the west side of Van Dyke about half a mile north of Hall Rd.? At some point it was taken over by Weingartz, the outdoor power equipment retailer next door.

Was it Pioneer?

On second thought I think that was on Utica just south of Hall Road, the only place north on Van Dyle was Van Dyke Bowl but I thought it was a little further nother than 1/2 mile and there was Bill Spargo's place up the road on Van Dyke a few more miles, tha name escapes me now.

**Jimaz** · August-26-09, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by zitro

Was it Pioneer?

On second thought I think that was on Utica just south of Hall Road, the only place north on Van Dyle was Van Dyke Bowl but I thought it was a little further nother than 1/2 mile....

The name Pioneer doesn't ring a bell with me. I'm certain there was a bowling alley 1/2 mile north of Hall Rd back in the late 60s/early 70s. I just can't remember the name of it. Next time I hit the library I'll look it up in an old phone book. They probably sponsored some high school yearbooks too.

According to their web site, Van Dyke Bowl is located about 1/2 mile south of Hall Rd.

**zitro** · August-26-09, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Jimaz

The name Pioneer doesn't ring a bell with me. I'm certain there was a bowling alley 1/2 mile north of Hall Rd back in the late 60s/early 70s. I just can't remember the name of it. Next time I hit the library I'll look it up in an old phone book. They probably sponsored some high school yearbooks too.

According to their web site, Van Dyke Bowl is located about 1/2 mile south of Hall Rd.

Was it All-Star Lanes?

Glad I could help Tsom

**zitro** · August-27-09, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by zitro

Was it Pioneer?

On second thought I think that was on Utica just south of Hall Road, the only place north on Van Dyle was Van Dyke Bowl but I thought it was a little further nother than 1/2 mile and there was Bill Spargo's place up the road on Van Dyke a few more miles, tha name escapes me now.

Spargo's place was Shelby Bowl

**1_of_None** · August-27-09, 02:45 PM

Colonial lanes was on Van Dyke just north of Hall rd. next to the Sveden House restaurant.
It's been a warehouse for Weingartz equipment for quite awhile now.

**IrishSpartan** · August-29-09, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by zitro

Spargo's place was Shelby Bowl

Pioneer opened in 1968 or 1969 and most of the equipment installed there originated from the old Palace Lanes in Detroit that was located on Gratiot near Forest. Palace in the 1930's-1940's was home to the Stroh's bowling team with Joe Norris and Fred Wolf. Of course later when Wolf owned Eastland it seemed his ambition was to have the highest bowling rates in the area.

Paul Cito was based out of Ritter's around 1966-67 and perhaps before that.

**jerrytimes** · August-29-09, 11:18 AM

Anyone remember Timber Lanes in East Detroit [[Eastpointe)?

**zitro** · August-29-09, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by jerrytimes

Anyone remember Timber Lanes in East Detroit [[Eastpointe)?

Sure, on the east side of Gratiot. Bowled there quite a few times. It changed names at some point

**Mkap** · August-30-09, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by jerrytimes

Anyone remember Timber Lanes in East Detroit [[Eastpointe)?

Originally Posted by zitro

Sure, on the east side of Gratiot. Bowled there quite a few times. It changed names at some point

Apollo now.

**Detroit Signal** · August-31-09, 12:26 AM

Apollo is on Gratiot north of 12 Mile across from the former site of the old Topper/Leisure Lanes. Timber was at 9 Mile-ish.

**slick** · August-31-09, 08:57 AM

Anyone remember Timber Lanes in East Detroit [[Eastpointe)?

Yes, Gratiot just north of Nine mile.

Used to holda tournament, cannot recall the name, proceeds went to Deceased Police officers families. The last night of the tournament the lanes were open all night. One time bowled all night got home 7 AM on Sunday.
This was back in the 70's.

Help me out here with the name.