Silver Bar Bowl (Gone)
Garden City, MI
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Silver Bar Bowl was a familiar neighborhood stop along Middlebelt Road in Garden City. Its roadside sign and adjoining restaurant welcomed generations of league bowlers. 04-01

The Silver Bar began in the 1940s, with bowling added later. The property carried several names over the years, including Silver Lanes and Albert’s on the Alley, before the lanes were removed.

UPDATE: The bowling alley and vintage marquee are gone, but the building survives as The Garden Banquet event venue. 06-26

Pin-up Bowl
St Louis, MO
Photo courtesy Dennis Dixson

The Pin-Up Bowl rooftop sign looks older than the business beneath it. Retro lettering, neon and a pin-up graphic give this modern St. Louis bowling alley a convincing mid-century introduction. 10-05

Joe Edwards opened the eight-lane bowling alley and martini lounge in 2003. Vintage bowling memorabilia and pin-up artwork continue the theme inside its Delmar Loop location.

UPDATE: Pin-Up Bowl remains open, with its colorful rooftop marquee still lighting the Loop. 06-26

Bel Air Bowl (Closed)
Belleville, IL
Photo courtesy Dennis Dixson

The original Bel Air Bowl proudly advertised its 24 lanes and lounge right on the marquee, a familiar sight for generations of bowlers in Belleville. While the sign is gone today, the business itself found a way to keep rolling. 10-05

Bel Air Bowl opened in 1960 as a 24-lane neighborhood bowling alley complete with the Arbor Room restaurant and lounge. In 2007, rather than close for good, the owners purchased the former Panorama Lanes across town and moved the entire operation into the larger facility. Today, Bel Air Bowl continues as a 32-lane bowling center at its new location.

UPDATE: The Bel Air Bowl is now closed. See below for more info. Many thanks to Dennis Dixson for update. 10-07

UPDATE: The original bowling alley has closed, and its vintage marquee has been removed. Bel Air Bowl remains open at its relocated Belleville location. 06-26

Panorama Lanes (Closed/ Now the Bel-Air)
Belleville, IL
Photo courtesy Dennis Dixson

The colorful marquee at Panorama Lanes was one of Belleville's best roadside bowling signs. Even after the business changed hands, the sign remained for a few more years before finally disappearing from the skyline. 10-05

The owners of Bel-Air Bowl and St. Clair Bowl purchased Panorama in 2007, moving the Bel-Air name into the building. Some recessed lounge neon survived the transition.

UPDATE: The Panorama Lanes bowling alley in Belleville, IL is now Bel-Air Bowl. There was another Bel-Air Bowling Lanes on the other side of town which closed and moved in place of the Panorama Bowl. They remodeled the neon sign which brought it back to life but in my opinion it is not quite as nice. More info can be found at http://www.belairbowl.com/. Many thanks to Dennis Dixson for update. 10-07

UPDATE: The former Panorama Lanes building remains open as Bel-Air Bowl. The original Panorama marquee has been removed. 06-26

Lakeshore Lanes (Gone)
Ashtabula, OH
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

When this photo was taken, Lakeshore Lanes was still welcoming bowlers along Lake Avenue in Ashtabula. Like so many neighborhood bowling alleys, it spent decades serving league bowlers, families, and anyone looking to roll a few games. 03-06

Built in 1952, Lakeshore Lanes remained a local favorite for nearly 70 years. Sadly, its long run came to an abrupt end on October 1, 2022, when a devastating overnight fire completely destroyed the building. Despite the efforts of multiple fire departments, the blaze quickly consumed the aging structure, leaving nothing to save.

UPDATE: Lakeshore Lanes was destroyed by fire in 2022. The building, sign, and bowling alley are gone, and the property is now a vacant lot. 06-26

Mr. Bill's Bowling Center (Gone)
Columbus, OH
Photo courtesy Sol Bermann

Long before its familiar cartoon bowling ball welcomed bowlers along Cleveland Avenue, this neighborhood favorite began life as Northern Lights Bowl, named after the nearby Northern Lights Shopping Center. Later renamed Mr. Bill's Bowling Center, it remained a popular gathering place for league bowlers and families on Columbus' northeast side. 04-06

The bowling center eventually closed after its owner purchased nearby Amos Lanes on Innis Road. Rather than operating two facilities, the business consolidated its leagues, equipment, and operations into the newer location, which was renamed HP Lanes. While the original Cleveland Avenue building and its classic roadside sign are gone, the bowling lineage continued under its new home.

UPDATE: The original Mr. Bill's Bowling Center has been closed for years, and its sign has been removed. Its business operations ultimately merged into what is now HP Lanes in Columbus. 06-26