Borough Park, NY – Brooklyn’s Oldest Bowling Ally Could Become a Synagogue

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    Maple Lanes, in Borough Park, Brooklyn, may close in the next few years to house a synagogue and some apartment complexes. Josh Haner/The New York TimesBrooklyn, NY – Pins clattered to a soundtrack of the Drifters and the Temptations as if it were a half-century ago when Maple Lanes first opened, only without the clouds of smoke.

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    Maple Lanes, in Borough Park, Brooklyn, may close in the next few years to house a synagogue and some apartment complexes.

    Men wearing gold chains with bowling pin pendants hugged and kissed as if they had not seen one another in years, instead of the Wednesday before, while women unpacked their bowling ball bags and their bravado.

    “Attention Parking Lot, all captains report to the bar!” the announcement barked, calling the leaders of that night’s bowling teams. John Lambert, 56, the longtime president of the Wednesday Night Parking Lot league, rushed to collect weekly fees from his 34 teams, whose spirited members range in age from 22 to 78.

    Most came as refugees four years ago to Maple Lanes, a bowling center at 16th Avenue and 60th Street, on a triangle bordering Borough Park, Bensonhurst and Mapleton.

    “We used to be at Leemark in Bay Ridge,” said Chris Smith, 55, explaining the league’s name. “But they tore that down and turned it into a parking lot for Century 21.”

    Depending on the real-estate market and the conflicted feelings of its owner, Maple Lanes, too, might be knocked down, though such a heartbreaking end for its regulars would probably not come anytime soon.

    Continue to read at The NY Times


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    14 Comments
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    Shmoger
    Shmoger
    12 years ago

    I know who owns that building, I wounder which synagogue hes goin to build.

    Member
    12 years ago

    If you once bowled 300, do you go to heaven immediately when you daven there too?

    ConcernedJew
    ConcernedJew
    12 years ago

    I always thought a Supermarket would have been the ideal place…

    MegMen
    MegMen
    12 years ago

    I’d be surprised if this project ever gets done. The last one this guy tried to do did not work out too well.

    Sociologist
    Sociologist
    12 years ago

    What a loss.

    ProminantLawyer
    ProminantLawyer
    12 years ago

    #6 how do you know who he is?
    and who is he?

    ALLAN
    ALLAN
    12 years ago

    I have been in Maple Lanes many times and have seen many orthodox community members there and they appear to be having fun. I would say that the closing of this establishment would be a loss to the BP community since it provides a good venue for decent entertainment and exercise. As the article indicates most other bowling alleys have closed and that is not only a Brooklyn issue but many in other parts of the city are now also gone.

    ncsyncsy
    ncsyncsy
    12 years ago

    The suspense is killing us- so who owns it?

    Rebyid40
    Rebyid40
    12 years ago

    Just what we need in BP, another shteeble!

    happymamma
    happymamma
    12 years ago

    duh…Mr. katz owns it….

    Sherree
    Sherree
    12 years ago

    What is wrong with having a place that families and especially kids can just go and have some Kosher fun and exercise? Maple lanes has been a fixture in BP for decades and it should stay that way.

    FullaBullaRav
    FullaBullaRav
    12 years ago

    Bowling is exercise? How come so many bowlers are overweight?

    In all seriousness, BP needs a place to have legitimate family fun – until it gets banned by some rabbis. My wife and I enjoyed this place when we were dating. Didn’t BP once have a skating rink on Ft. Hamilton Parkway?

    yidishatuchter
    yidishatuchter
    12 years ago

    uch, thats not fair….. i guess my friends and i will miss maple lanes if it closes down….. and will need to look for another bowling alley. and why would it become a sheel??? huh? no better place?