COVER STORY
s e m i T d Goo
d a Ahe
Bowlski’s owners Craig and Jennifer Spivey let ‘em roll
The landmark 1938 Lakewood Theater becomes Bowlski’s 22
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By Jim Goodwin
C
raig and Jennifer Spivey live in one of the oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods in Dallas. The Lakewood section of old east Dallas is blessed with big trees, winding streets, historic homes, and some of the best restaurants and entertainment destinations in the city. A perfect place for a bowling alley. Moviebowls are a new trend in the industry, with several high dollar centers opening in recent years with bowling and movies under the same roof. But this project, Bowlski’s Lakewood, is the first historic movie house, built in 1938, converted to a bowling alley that we have run across. There once was a small traditional bowling center in the neighborhood, Lakewood Lanes, from 1941 until it closed in the 1970s. Bowling legend
COVER STORY Bill Lillard learned the game there. He and a few others made a good living bowling in leagues there before Lillard moved to St. Louis to join the famous Budweiser Team and then later came home to Texas to build several bowling centers in Houston. 48-year old Spivey has had the bowling bug in his system for as long as he can remember, and with his new Bowlski’s Lakewood project, he is 100% all-in the bowling and entertainment business. During his years at Highland Park high school in Dallas, Spivey was a member of the bowling club. “We bowled all the time at places like Hart Bowl and Don Carter East, and I really loved it,” he recalled. This new and unique 10 lane establishment is one of the most interesting bowling destinations ever; not just because it is built in a beautiful and historic movie theater building, but also because the Spivey family has put their whole hearts into making it an amazing place in the neighborhood where they live. “We live just down the street, and we can see the glow of the Lakewood neon sign from our house,” said Spivey. “We loved it when it was a theater, and we are going to love it even more now. We can’t wait to see where this project will take us.” They are also anxious to get the doors open to start making a little history of their own. “I’m really ready to see some money start coming in instead of going out,” said Jennifer Spivey. Their son, Garrett, and daughter, Nicole, are also learning a lot and looking forward to being involved in the business. Bowlski’s Lakewood is not just another project for Craig and Jennifer — it is one where they have spent more than a year, working hands-on, sometimes seven days a week, to make it happen. “It took New Yorkers 13 months to build the Empire State Building, and we are right there with them,” Spivey joked. It has taken so long because Craig and Jennifer have been dedicated to refinish, repurpose, restore, and renovate every aspect and detail of the building to maintain its original charm, lustre, and character. “We have been here every
Owners of Bowlski’s Lakewood Jennifer and Craig Spivey
day, and every day I get some new idea of how to make it better,” he said. Spivey’s love of renovation started when his dad gave him a ‘66 Mustang to drive in high school. It was a very cool ongoing project. Throughout college he continued to focus on media arts and graphic design, and earned his degree in Fine Arts from IBI
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COVER STORY the University of Texas, Arlington. Jennifer graduated from University of Texas, Austin. But before they could even start the Bowlski’s Lakewood project, they had to wait for the Dallas Historical Society to persuade the city to give the building landmark status to make the project possible. That took a couple of years, during which Spivey concentrated on building business at his other two bowling properties — Bowlski’s in Colorado, and Bowlounge in Dallas. “In 2013, we built Bowlounge in the Dallas Design District, and I looked at the Lakewood property then, but decided it was too soon until we got Bowlounge going better.” The Lakewood Theater was also undergoing changes at that time; movies had stopped, and it was a venue for mostly live bands, burlesque shows, and bingo. Jennifer Spivey’s dad had a band that performed there a few times. When that business dried up, the doors were closed. Spivey’s idea to make it a bowling venue had obstacles too; the biggest being parking requirements, but when it became an official landmark, those restrictions were eased to make the bowling project feasible. “I had made an offer a few years before but we could not make it work,” said Spivey. “After the historical society got involved, it made more sense, and we were able to get a deal done.” In May of 2018, Spivey sold his part of Bowlounge, came home from Bowlski’s Colorado, and just decided to find a way to make it work. He bought some Brunswick
pinsetters from a center closing in Mineola, TX, and got to work. The original plan for eight lanes turned into ten. Steel beams had to be installed to level the lanes on the slanted movie theater floor. An all new HVAC system was another major improvement. A bigger door had to be cut in the rear of the building to get the pinsetters installed.
PRESERVING HISTORY “Everybody seems to have an attachment to this building,” said Spivey. “They saw movies here, or kissed their
first girlfriend, or brought their kids to the shows. We decided right away to preserve the history and compliment it with everything we add.“ The beautiful round Lakewood neon 26
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COVER STORY tower sign was restored to all its glory. It soars up 100 feet and is a beacon in the neighborhood. The hand-painted murals original to the 1938 building were cleaned and preserved. New carpet was custom made to match the original wool carpet that thousands walked on over the years. Exposed pinsetters, similar to those at the old Highland Park Bowl in Los Angeles, CA, add to the nostalgic feel of the interior. “This is an awesome building,” said Spivey. “We think it feels period correct, and it will be perfect for corporate parties, date nights, community get-togethers, or just a place to hang out with friends.”
FOUR FLOORS OF FUN The first floor of the new Bowlski’s Lakewood features the bowling lanes, a bar and restaurant, and a candy shop repurposed from the original snack bar in the lobby. The original staircase to the movie theater balcony was preserved, and it is wrapped in hand-painted murals done in 1938, showing characters like Mickey Mouse and Popeye with a few more recent characters, like Scooby Doo, added in the same style. The original balcony is now two levels: the first features tables made from old maple lanes, four billiard tables with a plexiglas wall overlooking the downstairs lanes. Up a few steps, and the game suite is on one side where families can play video games on big screens or enjoy soft lounges, and a golf simulator suite is on the other side where members of the nearby Lakewood Country Club might practice or relax on rainy days when they can’t get outdoors. Finally, the fourth level, which was the original projector room, has been made over into a members only Flamingo Lounge, a place to look down on the entire building and imagine its amazing history.
THE BOWLING PART IS SERIOUS STUFF When Craig Spivey says “I’m not just a bar and restaurant guy,” he means it. The
lanes installed now have synthetic overlays, all pinsetters were put in top condition, and maintenance will be performed as in any traditional bowling center. AMF Scoring was installed; a state-of-the-art Kegel lane machine will apply regular oil patterns for open play and special events. And bowling will be sold by the game. “I don’t think customers like it when they are on a time clock and don’t get to finish their games,” said Spivey. Walk-in business is welcome, but Peacock Club members can make reservations. “I love the community aspects of bowling... the social value and community connection, which is why we have open seating,” he said. “We want people to interact not just with their group, but with the
PLAZA LANES PLYMOUTH, MI (40 LANES) We congratulate Hayman Matti & Lance Sitto in acquiring this fine center. Sandy Hansell, Founder and Lead Broker at Hansell Group handled the sale. We wish Hayman, and Lance all the best in the future.
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people next to them, but we also appreciate and respect the sport. I would love to have some of the pros come in for exhibitions and special events.” Spivey is even thinking of creating an ongoing, megabuck-type event that
COVER STORY would bring in serious bowlers. “I’m thinking about a Dancing with the Stars type of event. Maybe we will call it Bowling with the Stars,” he said. “But for high stakes! I know a few people with deep pockets that might get behind something like that.”
MORE DETAILS The first things folks might notice when visiting Bowlski’s Lakewood is the beautiful neighborhood, with its shops, big trees, restaurants, beautiful homes, a golf club two blocks away. Inside the original ticket booth, right under the huge neon sign tower, is a cutout of The Big Lebowski; they walk through the original theater doors and see a life-sized statue of the Blues Brothers – a gift to the Spiveys from Bobby Lee, who had it at his famous Big Texan Steak House in Amarillo. There are special touches everywhere you look. A big disco mirror ball hangs over the lanes, and special lighting and music videos or sports events play on big screens atop the pinsetters. Food and beverage will be a priority for the Spiveys. Numerous draft beers and specialty drinks will be offered, along with some unique food and dessert items, like the Nikki Jane — a waffle cone filled with chicken bites tossed in maple syrup and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Following the Bowlski’s theme, customers can order Rollskis (pepperoni pizza rolls, philly cheese steak rolls) Totskis (homemade tater tots stuffed with bacon and cheese) or Slideskis (hamburger or chicken sliders with cheesy bacon fries). For dessert try the deep fried peanut butter cups or deep fried oreos.
Bowlski’s Lakewood will be primarily an entertainment destination, but as one of the newest BPAA members, it will become a unique
MAKING NEW HISTORY We can imagine how great it was to watch bowling legend great Bill Lillard learn the game in the building a couple of blocks away in the 1940s. But who would have thought the theater building would one day see and hear the pins crashing?
bowling establishment and maybe the only one that is an official historical landmark. “We are good to go,” said Spivey. “And we are looking for good times ahead.” ❖
Jim Goodwin is the founder and president of the Bowling News Network and a former president and life member of the International Bowling Media Association.
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