By Norma Higgs
I love being the photographer and storywriter on the Niagara Beautification Commission Spotlight Award Committee each month. It is always fun and a great experience to visit the selection site when the committee picks a winner.
November’s selection was Bowl-O-Drome Bowling Lanes at 2712 Pine Ave. (www.bowlodrome.net) What a bright, cheerful place with lots of activity going on at 3 p.m. on a Friday. The outside of this building has always attracted me and many times, I have sat at the stoplight and thought about the “spotlight” award. I love symmetrical design and the façade is perfectly arranged. The minute you step inside the door at the right, a large hand-painted wall mural depicting a “strike” in startling colors greets you. Almost makes you think you can bowl a 300 game every time. I personally do not bowl much any longer as I cut a tendon in my right thumb area and can’t control the direction of the ball anymore but I have beat my grandsons a few times.
Joining me at the award presentation in early November was Spotlight Award committee member, Jane Schroeder and Niagara Beautification Commission Chair Marge Gillies. The best part of these visits is meeting the small business owners who take great pride and joy in their business and in receiving this award. Owners Frank Pati and Chris Lofstrand were very pleased to meet with us and I learned that Frank has been involved as an owner for 33 years. Chris recently retired from the Niagara Falls Police Department and joined Frank as a part owner about a year and one-half ago. They are not related but have been long-time friends and yes, they get along just fine. Chris is married with a son in college and Frank is a single guy who is probably a workaholic. He was busy in the bar area most of the time we were there but joined us for the photo op and a few stories of his own.
Sam and Grace Martino were the previous owners and Frank was involved with them when they took advantage of a façade grant program for business owners on Pine Avenue. Part of their outdoor sign depicts a mural of the opening of the first bowling congress tournament in Chicago in 1901. It is one of those great antique brown illustrations showing the fashions of the day and if you can take the time to view it (no accidents, please) it is worth the effort.
Inside was a very modern, independently owned bowling facility and Chris said they have eight lanes on the second floor. They are one of only a few in the country that still have bowling upstairs. This place is full-service with a snack bar, a drinks bar, a smoking room and a pro shop selling all the equipment you need to enjoy this sport. Lessons are also available. They also do plenty of business in take-out pizza and wings.
Chris was proud to tell us they recently redid all the bowling lanes at a cost of over $100,000. No wonder this place sparkles.
Most of their business involves leagues and while we were there a children’s league was just getting under way. Kids of all sizes were darting around, choosing their bowling balls and heading to the snack bar. There are senior leagues during the day and mixed (ladies and men’s groups) every night, but Chris said there are always a few lanes available for open bowling. They do a big business in birthday parties and during the birthday celebration part, they turn the lights off, and the lanes glow. Sounds like fun. Keep it in mind.
Jane said bowling alleys have the best french fries so the three of us adjourned to the snack bar to try a tasting. We were not disappointed. Stop in some time for a different night out. Congratulations to two energetic small business owners who take pride in their property and add to the beauty of Niagara Falls.
