Kona Lanes (Demolished)
Costa Mesa, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Drivers passing through the Costa Mesa area of Orange County are familiar with the tiki lettering of the Kona Lanes bowling alley. Kona Lanes has been providing a family bowling experience since opening in 1958.
Kona Lanes shut its doors down in May 2003 and was demolished soon afterwards.
Java Lanes (Demolished)
Long Beach, CA Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
Check out the swirling neon at Java Lanes in Long Beach. The oversized “BOWL” lettering and dramatic A-frame entrance gave Pacific Coast Highway a little South Seas scenery. Apparently an island getaway could begin with rental shoes.
Opened in 1958 and designed by Powers, Daly & DeRosa, the 32-lane center combined bowling with a dining room, cocktail lounge, and other amenities. Rock walls and a Polynesian theme made the building worth noticing before anyone rolled a ball. In the 1990s, its Lava Lounge became a popular live music stop. Lit filmed the video for “My Own Worst Enemy” here, giving the old bowling alley another moment in the spotlight.
UPDATE: Java Lanes closed on May 31, 2004, and was demolished that summer for the Cienega townhome development. The neon marquee was removed during the site’s clearance. 10-26
Premiere Lanes (Demolished)
Santa Fe Springs, CA Photo and info courtesy Adriene Biondo
This glowing shot of Premiere Lanes is hopefully not
one of the last. Premiere is one of the very last authentic 50's bowling
alleys still left in Southern California. It has a cool coffee shop and
"Encore Room" cocktail lounge. Really original inside. Soon
to be threatened by the Telegraph Road Corridor Beautification Program. 05-04
Opened in 1961, the bowling center included a coffee shop, pro shop, and the Encore Room cocktail lounge. There were plenty of reasons to make an evening of it, even if the scorecard wasn’t worth taking home.
After losing its land lease, Premiere closed on May 18, 2008. The building disappeared two years later, leaving the marquee standing above an empty lot. Fortunately, portions of the sign were rescued before redevelopment changed the corner.
UPDATE: Premiere Lanes was demolished in June 2010, and an Aldi shopping plaza later occupied the site. Portions of its starburst marquee were preserved by the Valley Relics Museum, now at Van Nuys Airport. 10-26
Pom Lanes later Celebrity Lanes (Demolished)
Pomona, CA Photo courtesy Dan MacPherson
Off Garey Avenue in Pomona stood Pom Lanes, a bowling alley with a multicolored neon marquee worth noticing. The bowling center and coffee shop gave the roadside a little extra character, making this a stop worth a look even without a game on the schedule. Unfortunately, the place had already met its demise by the time of this original entry. 10-05
The 32-lane center celebrated its grand opening in February 1961, with Dodgers star Duke Snider and champion bowlers joining the festivities. Automatic pinspotters, a coffee shop, cocktail lounge, and banquet room helped turn a few games into an evening out.
The business later took the Celebrity Lanes name before returning to Pom Lanes. Whatever appeared on the sign, the colorful marquee was part of the attraction, announcing the lanes with considerably more flair than a simple driveway marker.
Pom Lanes later Celebrity Lanes (Demolished)
Pomona, CA Photo courtesy Dan MacPherson
UPDATE: I believe the mystery bowling alley in Pomona was Pomona lanes, which was later renamed Celebrity Lanes until it was closed in the ‘90’s. Many thanks to Dave Piazza for update. 04-08
UPDATE: The bowling alley actually never was called Pomona Lanes. It was called Pom Lanes until became Celebrity Lanes. The picture of the marquee to the far left may actually be a picture of Landmark Bowl, which was also in Pomona on Holt or Valley Blvd. Many thanks to Dave Piazza for update. 08-09
UPDATE: Pom Lanes at 2255 South Garey Avenue closed in the 1990s and was subsequently demolished. The original marquee is gone, and the property was later put to use as an indoor soccer center. 10-26
La Habra Bowl
La Habra, CA Photo courtesy Steve Snyder
Check out the glowing “300” at La Habra Bowl. The neon marquee gives motorists a perfect score to aim for, even if the evening’s results fall a little short. At least there’s one dependable 300 waiting outside for a photograph. 07-06
Opened in 1960, the center combines dramatic mid-century arches with a familiar roadside sign. It also made bowling history in July 1982, when Glenn Allison rolled three consecutive perfect games. Although the American Bowling Congress denied official recognition because of lane-conditioning requirements, his 900 series became legendary.
The coffee shop and 13th Frame Lounge give visitors reasons to stay after the last game, carrying on the tradition of making an evening of bowling.
UPDATE: La Habra 300 Bowl remains open, with its vintage marquee, coffee shop, and lounge. 10-26
Palos Verdes Bowl (Demolished)
Torrance, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Rising above Crenshaw Boulevard, the tall blade sign at Palos Verdes Bowl in Torrance gave motorists a neon invitation to stop for a few games. The stacked lettering and distinctive crest made quite a landmark, regardless of anyone’s bowling average. 02-99
Dedicated in January 1959, the 24-lane center featured local Palos Verdes stonework and mid-century styling. It also appeared on Channel 9’s TV Bowling Derby, giving the lanes an audience beyond the neighborhood.
The marquee was part of the attraction, especially after dark when the neon lettering stood out above the street. Even without time for a game, there was a good reason to take another look at the corner.
After more than six decades of league nights and family outings, the bowling center closed in 2020. The familiar building disappeared, and the property traded rental shoes for shopping and drive-through meals.
UPDATE: Palos Verdes Bowl closed on January 31, 2020, and was demolished later that year. Its former site at 24600 Crenshaw Boulevard was redeveloped with Aldi, Chick-fil-A, and Kinecta Federal Credit Union. 10-26
Pom Lanes later Celebrity Lanes (Demolished) 
Pom Lanes later Celebrity Lanes (Demolished) 
