Sept. 01--Lincoln Square Lanes has hosted birthday parties, church fundraisers, late-night sports debates at the bar. To neighborhood residents, regulars or couples on dates, the trip up the stairs to the second-floor bowling alley above the hardware store was the gateway to an evening of good times. And maybe even some bowling.
Now only memories remain. The popular nearly century-old venue, which underwent a complete renovation a few years ago, was ravaged by an early Monday morning fire, leaving the two-story building at 4874 N. Lincoln Ave. charred and roofless, its brick exterior crumbling.
"It just doesn't seem real," co-owner Mike Drehobl said as he watched firefighters hose down the remains hours later.
Drehobl, who owns the venue with his brother, David, said he was not sure whether the family would be able to rebuild or reopen. Owners of Matty K's Hardware, on the ground floor, said on social media that the entire building will have to be demolished.
Fans flocked to social media to post tributes and remembrances of their time at the bowling alley. The owners posted a message that seemed to signal the end of an era.
"It is with heavy hearts that we bid our customers a saddened farewell," read the posting on Twitter and Instagram. "We will cherish the memories you have left us with. It is our hope that this historic alley will remain in your thoughts. The LSL family would like to thank you for your continued love and support as we look forward to the future."
Zoran Milos, who owns a decorative painting company in the neighborhood, was on his way to work when he drove past the gray haze of smoke still rising from the bowling lanes. Milos, who moved to Chicago about three years ago, said he visited the establishment almost every day.
"I know every single employee," he said. "It's very unfortunate for the whole area."
Lincoln Square Lanes may have been the oldest bowling alley in Chicago, established in 1918 as saloon-style alleys began popping up across the city. A quirky, rare draw today, upstairs bowling alleys were common a century ago. Owners took advantage of cheaper rent for second-floor retail space as business owners and bowlers looked to capitalize on the activity's growing popularity, said John R. Schmidt, a local bowling historian who writes and blogs about the Chicago-area bowling scene.
More recently, Lincoln Square Lanes tapped into the move toward a more "boutique" bowling experience, where the lanes are part of a more casual entertainment experience and guests can watch sports, hear bands, play games and host events in addition to bowling.
Three years ago, the Drehobl family invested about $1 million to renovate the business, reducing the number of bowling lanes and using the wood to expand the bar. They built a stage for musical acts, preserved the building's original, ornate tile ceiling, and discovered and restored a historic mural showcasing Abraham Lincoln.
"I can't tell you how many times people say, 'I went there with my kids years ago,'" Mike Drehobl said. "When we renovated it, those people who were the little kids came back, and they were like, 'I can't believe this!' ... It's a shame."
Guests at Lincoln Square Lanes could rent lanes -- usually for $30 an hour -- host kids and adults birthday parties, listen to bands and watch sports on TV. Tuesday night bowling was $2 per game, with $2 shoe rental. Those not in the mood for bowling could play pool, darts, shuffleboard, foosball or arcade games.
George Clemen, the manager at another Chicago bowling alley, Timber Lanes at 1851 W. Irving Park Road, often took dates to Lincoln Square Lanes.
"They weren't our competition; they were our friends," Clemen said. "It's sad. ... To me, it had a lot of history, before and after the renovation. It was just a quaint location."
All of the wood in the bowling alley likely fueled the fire, the Fire Department said. The fire appears to have started about 1 a.m. in the kitchen, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. The bowling alley was open until midnight.
When firefighters pulled up to the building, flames already were shooting through the roof. Firefighters initially thought one firefighter was trapped inside the building, resulting in a "mayday" call. The firefighter was quickly located outside, suffering minor injuries from debris. Several other firefighters suffered minor burns battling the blaze, which took nearly two hours to bring under control.
During boom times, there were bowling alleys in nearly every neighborhood of Chicago, many of them situated above first-floor storefronts.
"It was actually a big deal when a stand-alone bowling alley was built on the first floor," Schmidt said.
But when bowling's popularity waned -- its customers distracted by other entertainment options or turned off by the drinking and smoking culture often attached to it -- many establishments closed. Chicago has only about a dozen bowling alleys certified by the United States Bowling Congress, although several smaller or boutique alleys like Lincoln Square Lanes are not included in the national governing body's tally.
The suburbs, home to some large, multi-lane facilities, have several dozen more. Many family-owned alleys have closed, including Mont Clare Lanes and Banquets, 2957 N. Harlem Ave., which shuttered in the spring, Schmidt said.
The "boutique"-style bowling alley, where the lanes are only part of the action, may be the wave of the future and a way to keep bowling alleys relevant, said Schmidt, who bowls in a weekly league in the suburbs and who visited Lincoln Square Lanes about a year ago.
Other owners have also sold recently, tempted by attractive offers for sought-after property, Schmidt and Clemen said. Many bowling alleys were converted into condominiums.
Lincoln Square Lanes' website did not hint at the future. It was still advertising the Monday night special: 50-cent wings.
Chicago Tribune's Rosemary Regina Sobol and Peter Nickeas contributed.
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