i'd always meant to try that diner in there

oh wells

10/11/2008 11:01:37 AM

Oh no! Don't update an old shitty bowling alley! Leave it all dirty and broken and empty!

10/11/2008 11:31:29 AM

It's not like this is the end of bowling altogether people, although the nostalgia will certainly be gone. A buddy of mine bid on the construction for the new lanes and I saw the plans. The majority of the place will stay much the same, only with a facelift. I think the cafeteria is definitely going to be gone. They are trying to turn it a little more upscale. I think there's going to be a nice lounge area too.

10/11/2008 11:33:37 AM

maybe it's me, but i just don't think upscale and bowling really go together.

10/11/2008 11:34:30 AM

I've been to an upscale bowling alley in Miami and it was good times.

10/11/2008 11:35:52 AM

especially on hillsborough

[Edited on October 11, 2008 at 11:36 AM. Reason : ^^]

10/11/2008 11:36:26 AM

I can't picture an upscale bowling alley on Hillsborough either, but from what I can gather the new owners are banking on the anticipated Hillsborough Street Renovation to supply the area with bowlers with bigger wallets.

10/11/2008 11:49:16 AM

Quote :

"I think the cafeteria is definitely going to be gone. "

the cafeteria is the best part of the bowling alley.

10/11/2008 11:50:02 AM

Quote :

"banking on the anticipated Hillsborough Street Renovation"

christ they might as well have invested in the stock market

10/11/2008 11:54:25 AM

Quote :

"the cafeteria is the best part of the bowling alley"

This is the worst thing I have ever heard of since I left State.

The "bowling alley" is where I had lunch almost every day of my senior year.
The staff was so nice, always amazing to me and my friend Adam.
Grill Cheese and good FF for $4.50 and the tea was great too.

I really feel like I'm loosing a part of my college experience if they change that part of the bowling alley.

There is no reason that EVERY thing in life should go upscale. Sometimes its nice to have something a college kid can AFFORD and ENJOY.

10/11/2008 12:19:42 PM

SOMEONE START A PETITION

10/11/2008 12:20:49 PM

THAT WILL SURELY WORK

10/11/2008 12:22:12 PM

I would be happy to start one.

10/11/2008 12:23:38 PM

My last two years of college I ate their every wednesday, Meatloaf Day.



hgtran and I even got stranded there together during the ice storm.....



Man.....this sucks.....

10/11/2008 12:38:22 PM

you ate their what?

oh, their meatloaf

I see

10/11/2008 12:39:01 PM

Quote :

"hgtran and I even got stranded there together during the ice storm....."

good times.

10/11/2008 3:00:37 PM

Quote :

"It's not like this is the end of bowling altogether people, although the nostalgia will certainly be gone."

Maybe people ought to learn to leave well enough alone. They're taking a good thing, and fucking with it, and for what?
To 'update' it, yes?

Nostalgia is a good thing sometimes, and especially here, an essential part.
I'm curious as to whether or not there will be any attempt to retain character. I suspect not.

10/11/2008 3:09:37 PM

MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!


MEATLOAF!!!!!

10/11/2008 3:16:40 PM

If the new owners were smart they would just update the bowling portion, and maintain some kind of retro college feel to it, along with keeping the cafeteria.

They wont though. Its probably the same mindset that thought a store selling breakfast cereal would be a good idea.

10/11/2008 3:22:23 PM

^

Back when that place was in business I was destroying their cookie crisp.

10/11/2008 3:38:28 PM

Quote :

"The whole staff is being let go"

not true- I talked to the new owners and they are definitely keeping most of the people- their goal is not to restaff, but rather to update the facilities (ie: plasma tv's, black lights for night bowling, better kitchen/dining area, etc...)

^^it wasn't a bad idea when they first came up with it in Florida- it is still in business down there. It just wasn't right for NC State (I guess we are more of a bagel crowd)

[Edited on October 11, 2008 at 3:44 PM. Reason : f]

10/11/2008 3:43:32 PM

Mark said you're a fucking idiot

10/11/2008 3:46:15 PM

Bummer.

We used to ride the Wolfline up there when we were drunk and bored.

Fuck the new bowling alleys, going to this one was like stepping straight into a scene of The Big Lebowski. It was awesome.

"Fuck it dude. Let's go bowling."

[Edited on October 11, 2008 at 3:48 PM. Reason : btw black light bowling is gay]

10/11/2008 3:48:04 PM

^^what's his reasoning?

10/11/2008 3:50:41 PM

all they need to do is get new lanes, shoes, and balls...everything else can stay the same

i could use electronic scoring, i guess, since i always fuck up the scoring when i do it by hand

but that's not a huge deal

10/11/2008 3:55:17 PM

they do need ball polishing cloths

10/11/2008 3:55:59 PM

have they considered renovating it into something profitable?

i.e. not bowling?

10/11/2008 4:02:49 PM

I'm sure the university pays them pretty well for all of the bowling classes there

10/11/2008 4:47:07 PM

O rly?

Then why do we have to pay a $65 (IIRC) fee, as well?

10/11/2008 4:51:04 PM

because the university is cheap.

10/11/2008 4:53:23 PM

My point exactly, in light of

Quote :

"I'm sure the university pays them pretty well for all of the bowling classes there"

10/11/2008 4:55:59 PM

Quote :

"i love to bowl and yes, their lanes suck but with that said, its like stepping into a time machine when you walk into that place and it fucking rules"

this

10/11/2008 4:58:39 PM

Quote :

"not true- I talked to the new owners and they are definitely keeping most of the people- their goal is not to restaff, but rather to update the facilities (ie: plasma tv's, black lights for night bowling, better kitchen/dining area, etc...)"

well before we both had the pleasure of meeting the new owners* the night i made this thread...the bartender told tim and I that everyone was being let go.

*yep...after i made this thread me and a bunch of other people (who were also griping about the buyout news) met the new owners. i felt so dirty hanging out with them...unfortunately, the new owners were very cool. it was like "damn, you're nice...i'm gonna retract all the shit i've been talking for the past hour knowing this place has been sold. so tell me, what do you plan on doing to keep this place great?"

10/12/2008 6:43:52 PM

like others have said...I heard from a reliable source...

Quote :

"The lanes are staying open. They will be remodeling the restaurant in December and there are some new owners that have been brought in. But as far as anyone can tell me, there are no plans to close."

10/15/2008 9:02:23 PM

Sooo; we've got different people, with different reliable sources, saying completely different things.

So wtf is the real deal. Are they going to close down for a little while and renovate the whole place? or stay open and renovate the restaurant & lanes at different times?

10/15/2008 9:58:41 PM

FUCKING HELL

I love the vintage-ness of Western Lanes. I love that they don't have automatic scoring. I love the 1960's crown grilles over the lanes. I love the restaurant, and the two old ladies that work there at lunchtime. I don't go there as often as I should, but...damn. Makes me wish I had gone more now, and I'll definitely be hitting it up a couple of times between now and 12/20. A "modernized" Western Lanes just won't be the same.

10/16/2008 8:47:03 AM

how much has it been purchased for? maybe TWW could pool together and buy it back.

10/16/2008 8:49:23 AM

This place was a shithole. The lanes were crap and so were the balls. The restaurant sucked too. I hope they gut the place.

10/16/2008 10:20:22 AM

10/16/2008 10:21:23 AM

^^ You're such a fucking moron.

10/16/2008 10:22:28 AM

^^^ I hope they gut YOUR FACE


Oohh snap

10/16/2008 10:23:55 AM

Quote :

"^^ You're such a fucking moron."

You can't argue the lanes and balls were subpar at best.

10/16/2008 10:25:22 AM

Right, but unless you're a professional bowler, who cares?

The place looks awesome, and the food is great.

10/16/2008 10:26:06 AM

^^Who gives a shit I doubt too many people on here are professional bowlers.

You go to Western Lanes to have a good time.

Eat, get drunk, and throw some heavy balls down a wooden board at some pins.


We need to have a TWW meet there now

[Edited on October 16, 2008 at 10:27 AM. Reason : .]

10/16/2008 10:27:12 AM

I league bowl so I do care.

10/16/2008 10:27:55 AM

Then go to one of the million generic new bowling alleys that are all over the country.

10/16/2008 10:28:45 AM

I'm down for a TWW bowling meet

10/16/2008 10:33:18 AM

^^ Obviously I do.

10/16/2008 10:36:34 AM

^ Good for you, but stop berating our beautiful little piece of bowling heaven.

10/16/2008 10:40:14 AM

Haha. You kids crack me up.

10/16/2008 11:01:30 AM