Dallas’ Historic Lakewood Theater Coming Back to Life as a Bowling Alley and Entertainment Playland

Bowlski’s, a bowling alley, bar and restaurant founded by Craig and Jennifer Spivey, is bringing new life to the Lakewood Theater at 1825 Abrams Parkway this summer.

The 1938 art deco theater closed in 2015. The theater, known for showing films and live bands and performances, has been sitting empty since then. The husband and wife partners, formerly of Bowlounge and another location of Bowlski’s in Colorado, plan to bring “four levels of fun” to the theater as early as the end of June.

The Spiveys first took a look at Lakewood Theater in 2014. Four years later, in July 2018, the space was still completely abandoned and available. They leased the spot and got to work. Over the past year, the couple has been transforming Lakewood Theater, hoping to create the “coolest new bowling spot in town.”

“We’re bringing the building back to life,” Jennifer Spivey says. “But we’re also repurposing everything that we can.”

The Spiveys gave me an in-depth walk-through of the space and it’s amazing how much of the original theater is staying intact. The entrance, for example, still has the art deco artwork on the walls up above. The mirrors on the ceiling are original. The banisters leading up to the upper floors are still there, just revamped with some LED lighting.

The couple lives in Lakewood, so the theater has always been a special place for them.

“We can see the Lakewood tower from our front yard,” Jennifer Spivey says. Her father also used to play in a band called the Nightcaps at the theater. The mayor at the time even designated a “Nightcaps Day” for them and held a special event at Lakewood.

Once the bowling alley opens for business, the couple is going to raise the original stage and bring bands into play live music and even possibly host live karaoke nights, with the band playing in the background. As for genre, Craig Spivey says that they’ll have anything and everything.

The old front bar area has been transformed into the shoe counter. Here, you can pay for bowling and rent your shoes. There will also be a candy shop. Blues statues from Amarillo were also brought in to add some flair. A really cool thing, especially for film nerds like me, is that the original ticket machines at the box office window will be on display.

Jennifer Spivey tells PaperCity that they had found old wallets from the ’40s in a hidden room under the staircase and items from those will eventually be hung up for display.

The restaurant, which was originally an added on arcade bar, will be on the first floor as well. You can either go have a seat at one of the booths repurposed from old bowling lanes or tables painted with car paint and glitter. Or you can order at the walk-up window from inside the bowling alley. The menu will be similar to the Colorado location’s, but a few special items will be added such as pizza rolls and Philly cheesesteak egg rolls.

As for the 10-lane bowling alley, it will have a steam punk, ’20s era feel. The original walls had to be torn out and the floor was raised about six feet to put in the bowling lanes, but exposed brick and a painted projector wall make the space still feel very vintage. Even the pin machines are open so you can see how the machinery works.

Bowling lanes, machines, and seating were found at an old bowling alley in Mineola, Texas. As for tables and seating, Craig Spivey built and painted over a lot of it himself. He even used old bowling TV monitor cubes, that hang over the lanes to show scores and such, and is turning them into chairs and couches.

The second “level of fun” is the mezzanine, just at the top of the first flight of stairs. The wall that was added onto Lakewood later on was painted with cartoons of Scooby Doo, Bugs Bunny and Betty Boop to show that these weren’t completely original like the rest of the murals. The couple plans to use this space as a pop-up bar or private event spot.

The third level is the balcony, but there are actually two levels within this level, so maybe there are five overall. It’s up to the viewer to decide. Pool tables and lounge seating will cover this area, so that you can just chill and watch the show, play some games, eat, or dance.

Options for entertainment are endless at Bowlski’s. Then, on the fourth floor there are private areas divided off for a golf simulator, video games and more. So you can reserve a private party if you like.

Bowlski’s will also have a VIP membership called the Peacock Club. This includes lane reservations, a locker on the first floor, and access to the VIP lounge and bar. The Flamingo Lounge will be on the fourth floor. The Projector Bar is on the very top. I would call this the fifth floor, or sixth? I don’t know, this place is just huge.

I’d say the VIP membership is worth it just to get access to this bar. Situated in the old projection room, you can take a look out of the squares in the wall that the projector used to play movies from. This new spot is going to be a historical wonderland for film and art buffs alike.

On top of all that, you get to bowl.