After 50 years, Plainwell Lanes closes

PLAINWELL, Mich. (WOOD) - The final pin will fall at Plainwell Lanes Wednesday, closing their doors after being a family-owned and operated business for 50 years.

Owner Phil Areaux told 24 Hour News 8 there are three main reasons the bowling alley will close: high utilities, less interest in bowling and Michigan's non-smoking law which, he said, killed his bar business.

The 32-lane Plainwell Lanes began life in 1947 as an eight-lane bowling alley. As popularity increased in the '70s, lanes were added to accommodate more and more bowlers.

Phil Areaux and his family have owned Plainwell Lanes since 1961, but he said he just couldn't keep the business going any longer.

But as the years went by, fewer bowlers showed up, interest in leagues decreased and the costs continued to mount. 

"Since the ' 80s, it's just been a continued downturn to the point where we could be half the size," said Areaux, "But you gotta heat the whole thing and the taxes and everything are based on 32 lanes."

About ten full-time and another ten part-time employees will be out of a job as a result of the closure.

There are nearly 4,000 bowling alleys nationwide. Industry research indicates that business has dropped 3% every year for the last five years. That trend is expected to continue.

Areaux said that it is almost a relief to be closing because he has been fighting an uphill battle for the last five years.