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I saw a post on facebook about it. I am trying to follow up to get more details.

I'm working on an article for Saturday's paper! Buy it to find out the details

I'm working on an article for Saturday's paper! Buy it to find out the details

Welcome to the board Dave!

Former bowling alley gets new owners

Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY - The former Suburban Lanes bowling alley is under new ownership and will reopen soon following extensive renovations, its owners said.

"We had to overcome a lot of hurdles when we came in, and we didn't expect that," co-owner Dave Backstrom said. "We're hoping to open within a few weeks, though."

The bowling alley will be named Lakeshore Lanes to distinguish the new business from the old, Backstrom said. They contend the former owners of Suburban Lanes, out of Rootstown, Ohio, owed thousands of dollars to local businesses, including more than $20,000 to NIPSCO, he said.

"They brought this place a really bad reputation, but we want it to be something different," said co-owner Jeff Warren, 35, Beecher, Ill. "We're very family-oriented - we're not trying to run this place like idiots."

Warren bought the bowling alley for $125,000 in October with Backstrom, 36, Crestwood, Ill., and Munster residents Bill Slusarczyk and Jeannie Ring. Warren and Slusarczyk already own Castaways Bowl in Calumet City, Ill., and Backstrom used to own a pro bowling shop. All of the investors are lifetime bowling aficionados, they said.

"We want to help save the sport. It's been on a downtrend for some time," Backstrom said. "If we can get kids involved through tournaments and other things, they'll be bowling for life."

Warren said he found out about the vacant bowling alley at 2820 E. Michigan Blvd. through members of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America.

"We felt it had potential, especially, to better serve pro bowlers in the community," he said. "There are hardly any places to eat on this stretch of road, either, and we think the bar will do good business."

The sale price was less than half of the business' assessed value, according to La Porte County assessor records, but the new owners have had to sink about $50,000 into renovations, Warren said. The biggest obstacle to reopening the bowling alley was the electrical wiring, which had to be completely redone according to city code, Backstrom said.

"The lack of maintenance here was surprising," he said. "Apparently, it used to always be freezing in here, and we found the heat and air conditioning were wired to come on at the same time. That's fixed now."

They also had to rebuild an interior wall the former owners ripped out, which made the ceiling start caving in.

"This place was in pretty poor shape, but it's starting to look really good," Backstrom said. "Now, we've just got to get it cleaned up."

Resurfaced bowling lanes, new tile flooring in the bar, and even new stall doors in the women's bathroom were included in the renovations. Work on the kitchen and banquet room will continue after the bowling alley and bar open, Warren said. They will be available soon, as well as a pro bowling shop.

Suburban Lanes originally closed in April after the former owners told police their managers stole $11,677 in food, beer and liquor, as well as $4,400 in cash and a $15,000 lane machine. A few other pieces of bowling alley property have gone missing since then, Backstrom said, including a $2,000 bowling ball drilling machine. But now the locks have been changed on the bowling alley's doors, and the new owners of Lakeshore Lanes are ready to lock in on making their investment a success.

"We want our customers to leave with a smile," Warren said. "We want them to have fun here and create memories that will last a lifetime."

Thanks for posting the article southside! We have gotten a ton of good feedback. We are planning to open this coming Monday the 14th. It will be a "soft" opening to get things going. We are planning to have a grand opening party at some point in the near future. I'll keep you guys posted!
Dave

Neat--there's a website! I'll take a look tonight. My husband and I are bowlers, and we're always looking to see what's available.

Welcome to the area!

Give this a try:

www.bowllakeshorelanes.com

Neat--there's a website! I'll take a look tonight. My husband and I are bowlers, and we're always looking to see what's available.

Welcome to the area!

Give this a try:

www.bowllakeshorelanes.com