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HOLIDAY BOWL

Not Bowling Alone: How the Holiday Bowl in Crenshaw Became an Integrated Leisure Space

By Ryan Reft | August 22, 2013 | LINK

The Holiday Bowl sign today. Photo: Your Pal Dave/Flickr/Creative Commons
The Holiday Bowl sign today. Photo: Your Pal Dave/Flickr/Creative Commons

In May 2000, the New York Times reported the upcoming demolition of the Crenshaw District’s Holiday Bowl. Built by Japanese American investors in 1958, just as Crenshaw and neighboring Leimart Park were reemerging as one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods, the bowling alley served as an integrated leisure space where African, Mexican, and Asian Americans could interact. “It’s like a United Nations in there,” longtime employee Jacqueline Sowell told writer Don Terry. ”Our employees are Hispanic, white, black, Japanese, Thai, Filipino. I’ve served grits to as many Japanese customers as I do black. We’ve learned from each other and given to each other. It’s much more than just a bowling alley. It’s a community resource.” Continue reading HOLIDAY BOWL

READY TO ROLL AGAIN

Rafu Shimpo
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS, Rafu Sports Editor

The new X Lanes, a two-year, $6 million reboot of the former Little Tokyo Bowl, officially opened for business on June 6 in the Little Tokyo Galleria at Third Street and Alameda. (MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo)
The new X Lanes, a two-year, $6 million reboot of the former Little Tokyo Bowl, officially opened for business on June 6 in the Little Tokyo Galleria at Third Street and Alameda. (MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo)

More than 20 years after the pins fell for the last time, the sights and sounds of bowling have returned to Little Tokyo.

After a trial run that began May 17, X Lanes held a grand opening on June 6 to formally introduce their 24-lane, 50,000-square-foot bowling, arcade and entertainment center. It is located on the third floor of the Little Tokyo Galleria, occupying the same space as the former Little Tokyo Bowl, which began operating when the shopping mall opened as Yaohan Plaza in 1985.

This photo from the Albert Taira Memorial Website shows Little Tokyo Bowl at its opening in 1985.
This photo from the Albert Taira Memorial Website shows Little Tokyo Bowl at its opening in 1985.

With a reported development cost of around $6 million, the investors and operators of X Lanes hope it will provide a sorely-needed boost to the Little Tokyo Galleria, which has struggled to gain firm footing as far as attracting a steady flow of customers.

Continue reading READY TO ROLL AGAIN

Gerald Tanaka and Jim Shimizu Shoot Honor Scores

The Harbor City Nisei Bowling league congratulates Gerald Tanaka (left) and Jim Shimizu (right) on their recent USBC bowling accomplishment.  On May 11, 2012 at AMF Bowl-O-Drome, Gerald Tanaka bowled a perfect 300 game hitting the pocket on each shot.  This is Gerald’s first perfect game after coming close on many previous occasions.  The week prior on May 4th, Jim Shimizu bowled an 823 series, with games of 278, 266, and 279.  This was Jim’s third 800 series.  Congratulations to both Gerald and Jim.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA