Throwin’ strikes and takin’ names: Vancouver’s ever changing bowling scene

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Is bowling a sport? Yeah kind of, but maybe more of an activity. This is especially true with how people treat it. Having a couple beers and hitting up the lanes is just a fun thing to do, or a popular date idea. But don’t tell that to the hundreds of city-wide league players that bowl weekly. The mental fortitude needed to be an elite bowler is a dragon that many players continue to chase.

The Vancouver area boasts several old school bowling alleys that have character and typically won’t break the bank. With the announcement of the eventual closing of REVS Bowling alley, it’s high time to talk about the current bowling vibe in the city.

What better place to start than the legendary Commodore Lanes. Established in 1930, this epic spot has its home on the busy Granville Street in downtown Vancouver. They have 12 5-pin lanes, as well as some arcade games and billiards tables. Without having the variety of having 10-pin lanes, Commodore Lanes is a bit more limited in what they offer. This place is totally worth checking out for the retro feels, and certain aesthetic aspect that you can tell hasn’t changed in years. They also have a pretty cool bar to check out, as well as being right next door to the legendary Commodore Ballroom concert venue.

Next up is the old-school and hip venue that is Grandview Lanes. With a prime location on Commercial Drive, this family-owned two-floor establishment has been around since 1947. Grandview offers both 10-pin and 5-pin bowling, with a reputation of affordable pricing. This alley gets major points for the variation in the league types offered: spring league, mixed adults, youth, special needs, and 55+. Due to the range of options and inclusive environment, Grandview Lanes may be the best alley in the city.

Let’s head south to Richmond’s Lucky 9 Lanes, which changed names from The Zone Bowling in 2016. This alley is a bit bigger than the previous two, with 28 10-pin lanes, and 12 5-pin. This is probably the best place for kids, as they offer arcade and glow-in-the-dark themed events. They also have Monkey 9 Brewing right next store, which serves up beers as well as a range of food options.

A discussion of the Vancouver bowling scene wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Burnaby’s REVS Bowling, established in 1962. Dubbed as Western Canada’s biggest 10-pin bowling alley, this 48-lane behemoth announced last week that they will be sold to a local developer within the year. Vice President Rob Taylor explained that due to high property tax, REVS has been losing money for years. The first time I walked into this place, I was shocked by how big it was, and how packed it was. It’s hard to imagine that they weren’t making oodles of money, but unfortunately it wasn’t the reality. So pour one out for REVS! They will be sorely missed in the community.

So what’s next for bowling in Vancouver? It seems like all the biggest places have been around for years. How bout a brand spanking new alley to invigorate the city? There has to be something to replace the colossal hole that the departure of REVS will leave. Time will tell if the landscape changes in the next few years, or if the longtime alleys will continue to reign supreme.

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