Sports & Play
Inside Shamrock Bowl
Shamrock Bowl has been my favourite venue so far at the 2009 edition of Door's Open Toronto. Found up a flight of stairs from a new Goodlife Fitness near Gerrard and Coxwell, this five pin bowling alley dates back to the 1950s. Shuttered for half a decade it has just re-opened and for Doors Open the bowling (including shoe "rental") is free so we grabbed a lane and tried to avoid the gutters.
And what gutters! The bowling alley has been impeccably restored. In stark contrast to the suburban strip mall of a facade that houses it, the entire space features original and vintage floors, lighting and seats....it's almost like stepping into a time-warp (in a good way) to the century past save for the bottles of Mill St. that hint to its impending liquour license. Sadly though the bowling alley won't be open to the public for long. Today is the last day to throw some free strikes. Starting next month it will only be open for corporate and event bookings.
More photos:
Shamrock Bowl is at 280 Coxwell Avenue.
Discussion
10 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
Yeah... but it's 5 pin... I guess still worth a visit.
Great job. 5 pin is more accessible to more people, meaning introducing bowling to more people who can then take it to 10 pin if they want to. Nice to see a restoration rather than a renovation. And a great idea for a corporate team building atmosphere... something less common and a ton of fun. Just make sure that liquor license goes through ;-D
T
"Liquor license" and "strikes" don't go very well together these days.
I noticed yesterday that there was a sign advertising 5-pin bowling on Brimley south of Lawrence; don't know whether it's an active operation, but if it is, it's promising...
I think that's Comet Bowl. It's been there for a long time. There's also a 5-pin bowling ally at Brimley and Eglinton called Brimley Bowl.
I think that's Comet Bowl. It's been there for a long time. There's also a 5-pin bowling ally at Brimley and Eglinton called Brimley Bowl.
Don't forget the uber-funky Danforth Bowl, with six whole lanes of 5-pin goodness.
It's at 1554 Danforth, under the dance studio on the north side just a few doors west of Coxwell.
It's a bit out of the way, but North Park Bowl at Keele and Lawrence sounds very similar. It looks like it hasn't been renovated since the 50's either.
The Comet bowling alleys have been closed for at least 2 or 3 years now,all that remains is the sign,no lanes no pin machines.does anyone know about the now torn down alleys on dundas west near keele st. there were 12 lanes on first floor and 12 lanes on second floor.McBrides cycle owned building from the 60s ? untill even they went out of business 2 years ago and building was torn down.
Last time I bowled at Shemrock was back in the 1950's when I was in my early teens. Nothing but fond memories.