Mustang Alleys in Baltimore to Reopen

Great news for the Baltimore duckpin crowd: Mustang Lanes is being refurbished and will reopen under new ownership later this summer. The 12-year-old business, located on the second floor of the historic Tack Factory building at 1300 Bank St., has a new owner and is currently undergoing light refurbishment.

The bowling center near Little Italy in Baltimore City had closed this past April after the owners were unable to negotiate a new lease to stay open. In late May, a new ownership purchased the business and started the process of readying the 12-lane center for reopening.

Mustang Lanes offers duckpin bowling as well as a full-service bar, private event room and food service. Smith plans to upscale the food offerings by bringing in Chef Malcolm Mitchell, a former “Food Network Star” contestant and the Baltimore Sun’s “Best New Chef” of 2017. They will also add more local craft beers to their drink lineup.

Smith has said that the bowling alley’s facelift won’t include too many dramatic changes. He considers it “retro cool” and doesn’t want it to lose its appeal.

Baltimore Business Journal

June 18, 2019 0

Pins Mechanical to Open 4 New Locations

Troy Allen’s Rise Brands is on a roll, with three locations already open throughout Ohio. The concept of Pins Mechanical Co. combines pinball, duckpin bowling, and great drinks. Interestingly, none of the current venues serve food, but have food trucks and neighborhood food providers for hungry patrons. Its a complement to the company’s 16-Bit, an arcade-based venue.

Last week, Allen announced that four new locations have been procured and are in various stages of development. The new locations are Nashville, Charlotte, Indianapolis, and Cleveland. As they gain experience, they are making each location bigger to accommodate the crowds and to host large parties and corporate events. The Cleveland location is expected to start construction at the end of 2019 while the others are already being developed with expected opening dates in late 2019 or early 2020.

Allen added that additional locations in those areas are likely as their plan is to use a “hub-and-spoke model,” where one urban location is followed by additional suburban units. He also let slip that they are already researching markets in other states too.

It seems duckpin bowling is pretty popular these days and entertainment centers such as Pins Mechanical Co. seem to have the right formula to bring people in to bowl. They are currently installing 26-foot lanes with 8-foot approaches. As has become the norm, Qubica/AMF machines are used for the pinsetters.

An interesting aspect about this news is the location in Indianapolis. When completed, along with other recent announcements, Indianapolis will have 8 duckpin venues. This elevates the area and again raises the question as to whether regulation/sanctioned duckpin could grow in this midwest city.

News from Clevescene.com – Ohio City to Get a Combined 16-Bit and Pins Mechanical Co.

June 18, 2019 0

The Wolf in Oklahoma Enjoys Ducks

Near Tenkiller State Park and Lake in Oklahoma is a well-liked golf course whose clubhouse is referred to as The Wolf at Tenkiller. Besides golf, they happen to also host 4 regulation duckpin lanes in an area called The Duck Club. The lanes have been there since 2011 and use Mendes string pinsetters.

The lanes are somewhat popular with the surrounding community and especially the seniors. The center staff do their best to put Fall and Winter leagues together and hold an occasional tournament.

The Wolf at Tenkiller – The Duck Club

June 5, 2019 0

Duckpins Receive a Warm Welcome in Birmingham

In a reborn area of Birmingham, Alabama, that is called Five Points South, is an old Woolworth five and dime store. It has been refurbished and opened in August 2018. Now known as The Woolworth, it brings a new spin on the idea of drinking, dining and entertainment. It contains a world-class restaurant that is accompanied by a large bar area and eight lanes of duckpin bowling.

The lanes are shorter than regulation in order to fit into the building, and they do not use formal approaches, which eliminates the need for bowling shoes. As with other newly opened duckpin venues, they use Qubica/AMF string machines. Lanes are usually fully occupied during evenings and weekends with prices running $5-$8 per game.

The Woolworth is located at 1006 20th St S, Birmingham, Alabama 35205. Find them online at their website.

May 31, 2019 0

Duckpin Bowling is a Hit in Provo

In an area just southwest of Provo, Utah, called Spanish Forks is an entertainment establishment that opened in October, 2018. Doc Brundy’s hosts a top-tier restaurant, a video and pinball arcade, and a duckpin bowling center.

They have 6 regulation lanes using Qubica/AMF string machines. Most evenings, the lanes are full with a long waiting list. On weekends reservations are usually needed. Prices start at $3.50 per game.

Owners Derrick and Karen Brundage wanted to bring something unique to the Main Street area of Spanish Forks. They felt duckpin bowling would be a good fit.

Watch the YouTube video online at or checkout their website.

May 30, 2019 1

Its Official – Tacoma Loves Duckpin Bowling

Just over one year after its official opening, Ocean5 is proof that west coasters will take to duckpin bowling. The environmentally friendly, award winning facility opened in Gig Harbor, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington. Highly successful, it can even be difficult to get into the venue on many weekends.

There are 16 bowling lanes in the public space, 8 of them are duckpin. They also have two private party areas; one with 4 duckpin lanes and the other with 2 tenpin lanes. As with the tenpin lanes, the duckpin lanes are regulation and use the Qubica/AMF string machines. The approaches are just a bit shorter than standard and do require bowling shoes. According to an interview the owner Troy Alstead, former chief operating officer at Starbucks, the duckpin lanes are very popular at all hours and evenings will usually require a reservation.

Ocean5 is 57,000 square feet and offers a large arcade, laser tag, and has a bar and a restaurant that has won numerous awards already for its food. The owners have applied for LEEDS certification for the building since it was designed and built to be environmentally friendly. It is estimated that the facility is so energy efficient that it saves enough energy to power 35 homes.

Alstead’s also behind an affiliated restaurant called Table 47, a 300-seat restaurant features upscale food in a casual environment and is in the same complex.

Get more information at https://www.o5social.com.

May 30, 2019 0

Free summer bowling for kids

Want something fun to do with your kids this summer? There is a program that gives every child 2-free games each day in the summertime and all you have to do is register for it.

Not all bowling centers participate, but you can see a list of your local participating centers at the web site. Sign up! Why not, even if you only go a few times. Great rainy summer day activity!

If they really like it (and who wouldn’t?) look into signing them up for a kids fall league. They’ll make new friends, learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and develop better coordination in an atmosphere of fun and competition.

https://www.kidsbowlfree.com

April 22, 2019 0