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Strike out Winter
Many spend season in alleys avoiding gutters
YOUNGSTOWN
There’s nothing like knocking down bowling pins for the West Side Gals.
The senior women’s bowling league meets at West Side Lanes, 3320 Mahoning Ave., Wednesday mornings.
“They don’t miss,” said Betty Kana, league president. “They’re die-hard bowlers.”
Like other traditional leagues, the West Side Gals’ league runs for 30 weeks from September to the end of March.
“It’s just a good time to bowl,” Kana said.
Bill Tiberio, owner of the nearly 70-year-old bowling alley, said more people come out during the winter. West Side Lanes has six leagues, which make up the majority of its business.
“It just replaces outdoor activities,” he said.
It’s a challenging time for some bowling alleys in the Mahoning Valley, however, because of the declining population.
“There’s definitely too many bowling alleys for the number of people” in the Valley, Tiberio said.
The decline in league business for bowling alleys is not just here.
“It’s a national decline,” said Bob Smith, co-owner of Camelot Lanes, 628 Boardman-Canfield Road, in Boardman.
Smith said traditional bowling alleys are becoming few and far between, and the industry will shift in two directions in the future.
In one direction, bowling will be part of the larger entertainment venues for families. On the other hand, there’s also the emergence of boutique bowling alleys that have a greater emphasis on dining and bars but offer fewer lanes.
Smith and his wife, Peppy, have run the bowling alley for 25 years, which will mark its 50th anniversary in March.
The owners have made adjustments in response to the changes in the industry, but haven’t slowed down, Smith said.
During weekend nights, Smith said, there is usually a two-hour wait list during winter.
“The winter is our busiest period,” he said.
The bowling alley offers the community more than just bowling; it also features a full bar, pool tables and arcade games. It’s also a place to host parties for birthdays, fundraisers, holidays and corporate events.
“It’s a cruise ship on the ground,” he said.