Many bowling centers try to use a flashy name to attract more customers. For one place in Raleigh, North Carolina, however, this is far from the strategy. They keep things much simpler at this place, which is referred to only as “The Alley.”
At the Alley in Raleigh, you can do three things: eat, drink and bowl. The Alley has been a fixture on Hillsborough Street for over 50 years, and you’ll be able to enjoy bowling as it was meant to be played, unlike the ritzy, nightclub-like locales found all around the country.
From the moment you walk in, you’ll notice that The Alley is retro bowling at its finest. You’ll find 24 original hardwood bowling lanes, which are kept in good condition. You’ll find a bar offering up cold beverages at great prices, and the bartender is well known around Raleigh as one of the best. For the time being, the restaurant is under renovation, but on February 1st, 2012, it will reopen with a new restaurant partner who will unveil a new menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There are some things you won’t find, however. For one, there is no fancy electronic scoring, as it must be done manually with pen and paper. (Although some younger bowlers opt to download a mobile app which will at least do the math for you.) You also won’t find any other shameless gimmicks which take away from the classic bowling atmosphere.
But this isn’t to say that The Alley is hopelessly stuck in the past, with little chance of succeeding in today’s digital age. They have an email newsletter on its official website, and you can even get a Free bowling coupon for liking The Alley on Facebook.
The Alley is also an award-winning spot, as it was named the #1 Best Place to Bowl in the Best of the Triangle 2011 Readers’ Choice Poll.
Have you ever been to The Alley in Raleigh, North Carolina? If so, let us know what you thought of it in the comments!
Bowl The Alley - Raleigh, NC,