Bowlounge
Bowlounge
The pins are set, the pink neon sign's glowing hot, and while the patio and other construction are just at the cusp of completion, a grand opening date has been penciled in for the Near Southside's highly anticipated, old-school bowling alley.
Bowlounge will celebrate its grand opening Dec. 2. Located in the 94-year-old Proof building at 941 W. Vickery Blvd. (the former home of the Firestone & Robertson distillery), Bowlounge sports 16 lanes estimated to be about 50 – 60 years old — "so old they don't even have bumpers; that's before bumpers existed," says general manager Sam Ratliff.
"More of a bar with a bowling alley than a bowling alley with a bar," Ratliff says, Bowlounge will include a full bar and scratch kitchen serving eats like pizza, sliders, and wings. The space will also have dart boards, pool tables, and TVs.
Bowlounge is notably "adult friendly," Ratliff says, adding that the space will close to patrons under 21 starting at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The drink menu features an extensive selection of beer (including local brews) and cocktails; patrons will also get the chance to bowl for free beer or brewery tours whenever a colored pin appears on the deck and the player bowls a strike.
With COVID-19 in mind, Bowlounge will be requiring masks when patrons move about the space. Rather than having patrons pick up bowling balls from a shared rack, as is typical with most bowling alleys, each lane has its own set of designated bowling balls of various sizes; and balls are sanitized between each group's use.
The Fort Worth Bowlounge marks the company's second location; the first opened in the Dallas Design District in 2013. While Ratliff says he's enjoyed watching the Dallas location grow, there's just something about Fort Worth — and the Near Southside, specifically — that makes it the perfect spot for Bowlounge No. 2.
"I absolutely love this community. It's so tight-knit. Everyone's so friendly," he says. "It's a big neighborhood watch that has each other's backs, which is very unique. I envy that very much not having that in Dallas, and I'm so grateful to have it here."
Hours, pricing, and other information are available on Bowlounge's website.
