To celebrate 80 years of ownership in Detroit, one of the oldest continuously operating bowling alleys in the U.S., Garden Bowl, plans to help a local charity for each year they've operated the historic business.
“Helping others is our way of saying thank you, Detroit,” Garden Bowl owner David Zainea said. “This city has been a part of our family for three generations, and we look forward to a bright future ahead.
Garden Bowl'sstatus as one of the country's leading bowling towns in the mid-20th century has continued through three generations of family ownership.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bowling alley, 4140 Woodward Ave., first opened in 1913 and has been in operation since.
The Zainea family purchased the business
in 1946 and undertook major renovations in 1966, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The center expanded into the adjacent building, increasing capacity to 28 lanes, installing new automated systems.
The charities Zainea plans to help, according to a Sunday news release, include WDET Public Radio, The Capuchin Soup Kitchen, First Tee Greater Detroit, The Ruth Ellis Center, The Coleman A. Young Foundation, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, The Tuskegee Airmen Historical Museum and Flight Academy.
Garden Bowl plans to raise the money for the charities by allowing approved nonprofits to host a fundraiser using two lanes of the bowling alley through next year, said spokesman Greg Bowens.
Charities will also be listed on the bowling alley's website, which folks can support through donations. Staff at the Garden Bowl will also participate in various volunteer efforts for local partners.
A slew of events are planned this week through Sunday, Aug. 30. Among them: a canned food drive, Go-Go 80s theme party and beer specials, among other things.
The bowling center features 90 lanes and is a two-time host of the PBA World Championship.
Garden Bowlis popular for its Rock 'n Bowl nights where participants bowl in glow-in-the-dark lanes and DJs spin records.
According to the National Park Service, bowling started as an upscale sport for men who often wore formal wear. As the demographics of the sport and Detroit changed, the lanes were updated to attract new, younger audiences in 1966.
Need a bowling ball? Find one on Amazon
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Historic Garden Bowl celebrates 80 years of glowing pins, rock n roll
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
