![]() Kroljic isn’t especially optimistic about the futures of the two empty buildings bowling alleys are built to specifications. “Getting an open lane was unheard of, but the business of bowling has changed over the years,” he said. ![]() Kroljic said bowling alleys used to generate 90 percent of their business from leagues, but they now rely heavily on parties, fund-raisers and family outings. Dave & Buster’s, at Franklin Mills mall, features 20 lanes of bowling. Thunderbird Lanes offers 36 lanes on Holme Avenue and 16 on Castor Avenue. Now that Adams Lanes is closed, Erie is the only one of the so-called “Big Three” - which included Cottman Lanes, near Cottman Avenue and Large Street - remaining open.Īdams Lanes and Boulevard Lanes both had 48 lanes. Kroljic managed Erie Lanes in 1994 and ’95 before Brunswick took over. The public is invited to join a league, enter a tournament, take advantage of daily specials or hold a birthday party on site. It’s home to a bar, pool tables, air hockey and pop-a-shot games and video arcade games. It has 48 lanes and plenty of free off-street parking, and Kroljic has an affable relationship with patrons. The owner is optimistic about the future of Erie Lanes, which has a loyal base of league and neighborhood bowlers. The facility is already doing well and should benefit from the closing of nearby Adams Lanes. ![]() Kroljic has owned Erie Lanes, at M Street and Erie Avenue in Juniata Park, since August 2009. Visit us at Erie Lanes,” and gives the address, telephone number and Web site for Erie Lanes. It reopened on June 1 for a previously scheduled school outing and on June 5 for the final time for a Battle of the Sexes Tournament.Ī sign on the exterior wall reads, “Adams Lanes now closed. in Oxford Circle.Īdams Lanes, which opened in 1960, closed to the public on May 28. Rumors had another bowling alley or a local hospital interested in the property, but no agreements were reached.įor the most part, league members have relocated to Bristol Pike Lanes, the Brunswick Zone in Feasterville and Thunderbird Lanes locations at 3081 Holme Ave. That’s a big fall for a place that opened in 1958 and once hosted a Professional Bowlers Association tournament.Īccording to Kroljic, Boulevard Lanes was doing well, and AMF wanted to renew its lease. The windows have boards on them, and a sign directs bowlers and those who need to redeem gift cards and coupons to AMF Bristol Pike Lanes in Croydon. He met with commissioners representing 1,500 bowlers, but only two leagues agreed to make the move.īoulevard Lanes closed, as scheduled, on May 15. Once Boulevard Lanes - which also housed the Arena Sports Bar - announced a May 15 closing date, Kroljic paid a visit to his competitor, meeting with league commissioners to entice them to relocate to Adams Lanes. AMF left upon the expiration of its lease. Virginia-based AMF did not return a call for comment, but the local bowling community is a tight-knit one, and the word in bowling circles was that the building owner wanted to increase the rent. “A bowling center is supposed to be all about bowling,” he said.Īt the same time, he learned that AMF Boulevard Lanes, at 8011 Roosevelt Blvd., was about to close. ![]() Kroljic, 48, knows that a metal detector would probably discourage families from scheduling a fun outing, and he sought to rebuild the business based on organized leagues and casual bowlers, not private bowling parties where young people would do more partying than bowling. The city wanted to revoke the facility’s business privilege license but agreed to allow it to stay open, provided there be a midnight curfew and a metal detector at the front door. One of his first meetings was with Mark Mroz, community relations officer in the 2nd Police District, who produced a thick file of crime reports from the bowling alley, at 649 Foulkrod St., in Crescentville. Jon Kroljic has been in the bowling business for 30 years and knew Adams Lanes had a bad reputation when he assumed ownership 10 months ago.
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