It appears that the management of King Bowl have thrown in the towel and closed the doors. The bowling alley has been in this community for over 50 years and was once one of four. The four being Park Manor (75th Michigan), Stevenson (79Th Cottage Grove), King(80Th King Drive) and Starlite (87Th CottageGrove). The bowling alley became African American owed in the late 1970's when the owners of Abernathy Cab Co.(now Jiffy) purchased it from George Cave. The bowling alley thrived during those times but fell off in the late 1990's when the popularity of the sport diminished and new modern bowling centers opened.
The bowling alley losed their liquor license and with that the major source of revenue "league bowling left to go to places that served alcohol. With no league bowling , no alcohol and no junior bowling program put the nail in the coffin for the bowling alley. They attempted to go after the group parties but that was not enough.
Hopefully, a well financed operator can come in and do the things necessary (modernization, friendly management, create safe environment) so it can reopen and if not it can be converted to something other than a church.
Heh! I remember that there was a bowling alley in that shopping center on 87th and Cottage Grove. That was before it was redeveloped and Target came in as an anchor. It was out of commission for many years due to a fire. Never been to that place but I know it was there once upon a time.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I wonder if any of those alleys have any connection to Jacoby Dickens.