Local bowling center changing ownership; takeover planned over next few months
A bowling center familiar to Tacoma-Parkland area bowlers is changing ownership this year from a locally based group to a national chain.
Paradise Lanes Entertainment Center, 12505 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, announced in March that its local owners had agreed to sell the site to Virginia-based Bowlero Corp., who touts itself as a global media company and “the largest owner and operator of bowling centers in the world,” on its website.
Gary Glein and Bob Hanson, executives with Paradlse Lanes Entertainment Center, announced the news in a Facebook post.
According to the post, Bowlero plans “to take Paradise into the future using existing employees and their national structure of financial and management resources.”
Bowlero, in its own announcement, said the purchase would create Bowlero’s fourth location in the state, joining its other venues in Seattle, Tukwila and Lynnwood.
Bowlero Lanes in Lakewood is a separate entity and not listed as part of the national chain.
Bowlero’s president and Chief Executive Officer Brett Parker said in the release, “We are pleased to announce our continued expansion in the state of Washington. Our pipeline of acquisitions remains robust as we enter our first definitive agreement of the calendar year. We are pleased to continue our growth with this latest acquisition and look forward to welcoming this center to our portfolio.”
Paradise Lanes, in its announcement, said the transition to the new owners would happen during the next two to three months.
“In 2016 our ownership group rescued Paradise Lanes from near closure, as it had been repossessed by a bank,” according to the Paradise Lanes post. “In the past seven years we made many improvements to the center and are proud to have tripled the number of customers.”
The post added, “We wanted to preserve bowling for Tacoma, and we succeeded, however, as our group ages, it’s time to ‘pass the ball.’ ”
Paradise Lanes Properties LLC purchased the site in a foreclosure sale in 2016 for $2.18 million, according to county records. The site’s assessed value is more than $3.2 million.
The site offers bowling lanes, an arcade, billiards, a full service bar and restaurant and VIP party rooms, according to Bowlero’s announcement.
Bowlero operates more than 325 bowling centers across North America, and includes not only the Bowlero brand but also Bowlmor Lanes and AMF. In 2019, it acquired the Professional Bowlers Association.
Reaction to the news was mixed on social media, with some patrons critical of switching to a nonlocal ownership model, while others pointed out the loss of other venues in the area that didn’t continue operations.
At least two prominent venues have been replaced by housing in the past few years. Pacific Lanes closed in 2019, with the site redeveloped into the Grand Pacific Apartments, while Narrows Plaza Bowl was sold and later demolished in 2022, also for new apartments.
County records show the building dates back to 1976, with upgrades in the 1990s.
Hanson told The News Tribune in June 2020 that the business was running at record levels until it shut down for COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
“We were very surprised, very quickly. Everything was going well and then all of a sudden we watched it all crash on us in one day,” Hanson said at the time.
The Paradise Lanes post said its deal with Bowlero, “is a win-win for everyone. The Paradise Lane beds will be preserved for both league and recreational bowlers for many more years to come.”
The News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 4, 2023 at 12:09 PM.
