CHICAGO — Early Monday Lincoln Square Lanes was destroyed in a massive fire.
We're still processing the unexpected loss of the historic bowling alley, which dated to 1918. It was one of the city's rare alleys where bowlers still kept score by hand.
For those who relied on the beloved Lincoln Square Lanes, 4874 N. Lincoln Ave., for bowling fun, we rounded up seven other bowling alleys across the city that are still standing:
1. Fireside Bowl, 2648 W. Fullerton Ave.: From the mid-1990s to 2004, this retro Logan Square bowling alley was a punk rock haven. Bands like Shellac, At The Drive-In and Sleater-Kinney that have gone on to epitomize punk music used to play the Fireside. While it's no longer the quintessential music venue it once was, the Fireside, which dates back to the 1940s, still offers relatively cheap 10-pin bowling in a rapidly changing neighborhood.
2. Timber Lanes Bowling Alley, 1851 W. Irving Park Road: The oft-Instagram'd "Timber Lanes" sign sums up the charm of this old-school bowling alley. During the prohibition era in the 1920s, the North Center bowling alley was considered one of the most popular speakeasies in the city. Today, you'll find eight lanes made with wood saved from the Chicago Fire of 1871, manual scoring and a full bar. Fun fact: It served as campaign headquarters for Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) during his first run for alderman.
[Mike Innocenzi]
3. Waveland Bowl, 3700 N. Western Ave.: Also in North Center, Waveland Bowl bills itself as Chicago's largest bowling alley, offering 40 lanes. It was built in 1959 — which is evident from its colorful retro sign — and offers cosmic bowling.
[Courtesy/Facebook]
4. Southport Lanes & Billiards, 3325 N. Southport Ave.: Built around 1900 by Schlitz Brewery, Southport Lanes, like Timber Lanes, was one of the city's bustling speakeasies in the 1920s. Over the years, it has undergone extensive remodeling but it still has an old-school feel, with hand-set pins in its bowling lanes, as well as billiards, pub food and a bar.
A ladies league at Southport Lanes in 1965. [Courtesy/Facebook]
Southport Lanes, 3225 N. Southport Ave., has four bowling lanes, pool tables and craft beers on draft. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
5. Diversey River Bowl, 2211 W. Diversey Parkway: This Bucktown alley has a full-service restaurant, hence the giant, neon sign against the cityscape backdrop that reads "Diversey Rock 'n' Bowl Restaurant." It, too, offers cosmic bowling complete with laser-light shows and music.
6. Edison Park Bowl, 6715 N. Olmsted Ave.: Located inside Edison Park Inn, which dates to 1957, Edison Park Bowl offers eight lanes and manual scoring. The bowling alley is easily identifiable by its signature white pin sign.
[DNAinfo/Justin Breen]
7. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Roller Skating and Bowling Center, 1219 W. 76th St.: Located within the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, this family-friendly South Side alley could be the most modern on the list. In addition to bowling, the center also offers roller skating.
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