Asbury Lanes Is Set To Reopen

Asbury Lanes, the iconic 1960s bowling alley-turned-music venue, is being brought to life this summer in Asbury Park.

Developer iStar took over to rebuild it to its former glory as a music-and-bowling venue - with programming by The Bowery Presents, according to a press release.

After a half-century of use, structural and mechanical issues plagued Asbury Lanes, which faced imminent danger of closing – or demolition.

After loving restoration aimed at keeping as many original features as possible, Asbury Lanes will reopen Memorial Day weekend as the same anything-goes local hangout it always was - and reborn as a music venue, according to the release.

“Everyone has an Asbury Lanes story,” said David Bowd of Salt Hotels, which will operate the Lanes. “Emotions ran higher with this project than with anything we’ve undertaken. What mattered to them matters to us: keeping the soul of this incredible venue while making changes necessary to guarantee its future.”

Brunswick, a leader in bowling machinery, will unveil a back-to-the-future pin-setting system custom-built for Asbury Lanes. The spirit of the venue’s snack bar will infuse a new, built-from-scratch diner inside the Lanes, complete with classic interior and huge neon sign, according to the release.

A “secret” passage will run between the Lanes and The Asbury, the hotel next door that was the first part of themulti-billion-dollar redevelopment of Asbury Park by real-estate investment company iStar, whose roots in town stretch back a decade, according to the release.

Asbury Lanes opened in the 1960s as an 18-lane bowling alley. As young people flocked to the seaside city in the early 2000s, they saw its potential as an alternative music and arts venue.

The first concert at Asbury Lanes with heavy rock band Lord Sterling took place on a makeshift stage as balls rolled and pins tumbled in the background.