Detroit Bowling Alleys

**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

**Jimaz** · August-26-09, 07:44 PM

Was it All-Star Lanes?

That doesn't ring a bell either. Maybe I'll just Google the addresses around there. Thanks for the response.

**slick** · August-27-09, 09:59 AM

I believe that was Nottingham Bar Tsom

and the old gentleman was probably Paul Cito.
Great teacher, never had a lesson from him, but knew a lot of folks that did.

**Wingnatic** · January-25-11, 08:05 AM

Luxury Lanes on 9 Mile Rd. in Ferndale has been there forever
http://www.luxurylanes16.com/Outer

Outer Drive and Van Dyke was the Falcon bowling alley and nightclub, was it not?

Was in Gino's or Gino's Surf ....... something like that

**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.

**Jimaz** · August-31-09, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by 1_of_None

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.

Thanks, 1_of_None. That sounds correct.

**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.