Bowling Alley Brothers Carry on Family Business

When Rich Thole and his two older brothers, Tom and Ken, were growing up in South St. Louis city, they were just trying to live life the way their dad had taught them.

Just one generation away from the Depression-era recipients, the Thole boys learned early in life “you can’t get nothing for free,” Rich Thole, 53, said.

As kids, the brothers learned the value of a dollar.

“We were always working when we were little. Even at 12 years old, we were selling newspapers on the corner,” Ken Thoele, 57, said.

The notion that humble men come from humble beginnings holds true for the Thole brothers, owners of the South County bowling institution, .

Rich Thole is the youngest of the Thole clan and owns a third of the partnership that his father gave to the sons in 1988.

But the family heritage began some time before that.

“Dad and Uncle Ralph, (Hank’s brother) owned a vending company called Ideal Novelty and Du Bowl Lanes that used to be on Gravois,” Rich said. “(Du Bowl Lanes) burned down in 1976. After that, they had to make a decision about what to do.”

So in 1977, Rich’s dad and uncle reinvested into what was then known as South Twin Bowling on Lemay Ferry Road in Mehlville. They renamed the bowling alley in honor of the business that they had lost, and for the next 11 years commenced with the business of bowling.

In the meantime, the brothers had gone about creating lives of their own.

“Ken worked at Intertherm (now known as Nordyne). I actually worked for Barry Door for almost three years,” Rich said.

But before long, the retirement rebel came knocking, and Hank and Ralph were ready to pass their bowling empire down to the next generation.

Their brother Tom took over the operations with Ideal Novelty.

Rich and Ken eventually joined forces at Du Bowl Lanes.

“I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do,” Rich said. “I was still pretty young then. I didn’t know if bowling balls were square or round when they put me out here. When I first looked back at the pin setters, I said, ‘Oh my God. What am I getting into?’ It was pretty intense back there and trying to absorb all of this.”

But fear did not stop him. For the past 23 years, Rich and his brothers have worked to make their father proud.

“It was quite a shock. My dad had to take a big chance by lending us the money, so I had to make sure this didn’t fail,” Rich said. “I didn’t want my dad to lose the money he had worked all of his life to earn.”

There have been challenges along the way. Like most small businesses, the Tholes have seen the impact of a poor economy. The increase in dual-income families has effected on his business, Rich said. It leaves a lack of daytime league bowlers, most made up of women who now go to work during the day.

The hours have been long, but “What you put into it is what you get out of it,” Ken said.

Today, Du Bowl Lanes employs 27 people. Four of them are full time. They have managed to keep the business running for 23 years.

Hank Thole died a few years ago, but in the years following his retirement, he was able to see his boys carry on what he and his brother began.

“He saw what we did,” Rich said. “In the end, I think he was OK with it. We kept it afloat. We didn’t fail.”

“It’s pretty profitable,” Ken said. “I think we’ve done well.”

Now life has come full circle and for the brother, and the notion of retirement looms. Rich is uncertain about how he will get there. Perhaps full-time management will be the answer. Or maybe the family business will be carried on through his children.

The one thing he does know for sure is where he will be after it happens.

“I’ll be up on the Mississippi River, throwing in fishing lines and just watching the water go by,” he said.