Why no bowling alley in city center?

petethebrick

Why is there no ten pin bowling alley in Dublin city center?

It would make a fortune I reckon and save me and many others from having to trek out to suburbs. It would have been a better idea than the new Odeon cinema for example.

Mr Simpson

I was thinking about this not so long ago, would be a great asset. Wonder does the point village SC have a decent sized space that something like this could go into. Would be a good amenity and I reckon would increase footfall.

I wouldn't replace the Odeon, it seems to be doing steady business. I quite like it as a cinema as weel, very handy and cheap parking

petethebrick

I haven't been down to the Odeon myself yet but I had heard it wasn't doing too great so far, must have been wrong.

But yeah a bowling alley really would increase footfall in the area. It would be full seven nights a week I reckon especially if it had pool tables, an arcade and a bar

If I had the money myself I'd honestly look at opening one!

Mr Simpson

Same as, would be class.

On the Odeon, its very quiet during the day, but can be quite busy on weekends and evenings

seamus

Could be totally talking out my ass, but I suspect the income from a bowling alley isn't all that great. When you figure in the cost of renting the kind of large space an alley would need in the city center, as well things like security and repairs, the cost of a game would probably be huge.

The pool hall and arcade machines which invariably come with an Irish bowling alley are also typically magnets for anti-social behaviour == more costs.

It would be nice to see a US-style bowling alley as part of a sports bar, but sports bars have continually failed to take off in Ireland, I think they just don't suit the way we socialise.

Mr Simpson

seamus wrote: »

Could be totally talking out my ass, but I suspect the income from a bowling alley isn't all that great. When you figure in the cost of renting the kind of large space an alley would need in the city center, as well things like security and repairs, the cost of a game would probably be huge.

The pool hall and arcade machines which invariably come with an Irish bowling alley are also typically magnets for anti-social behaviour == more costs.

It would be nice to see a US-style bowling alley as part of a sports bar, but sports bars have continually failed to take off in Ireland, I think they just don't suit the way we socialise.

I'd tend to agree with you on that, you'd need to find a relatively low rent premises. A sports bar would be a class idea. I can see it now, something like ESPN zone in the states. I would also not have the arcade machines for the exact reason you've stated.

Piliger

It's not a big earner per square foot. City Centre rents are too high to make money.

petethebrick

Piliger wrote: »

It's not a big earner per square foot. City Centre rents are too high to make money.

Even in the docklands nowadays? I would have thought the point village would have been feasible seeing as it's sitting half empty.

Or what about Smithfield, Phibsborough or Rathmines?

It could surely be a big earner if combined with a bar although I know that raises other issues

How many bowling alleys are there in Dublin anyway? Tallaght, Coolock, Blachardstown, Stillorgan, Bray -any others?

Mr Simpson

petethebrick wrote: »

Even in the docklands nowadays? I would have thought the point village would have been feasible seeing as it's sitting half empty.

Or what about Smithfield, Phibsborough or Rathmines?

It could surely be a big earner if combined with a bar although I know that raises other issues

How many bowling alleys are there in Dublin anyway? Tallaght, Coolock, Blachardstown, Stillorgan, Bray -any others?

I'd imagine getting a liquor licence for a bowling alley would be difficult in this lovely (backwards) country of ours

starviewadams

petethebrick wrote: »

Even in the docklands nowadays? I would have thought the point village would have been feasible seeing as it's sitting half empty.

Or what about Smithfield, Phibsborough or Rathmines?

It could surely be a big earner if combined with a bar although I know that raises other issues

How many bowling alleys are there in Dublin anyway? Tallaght, Coolock, Blachardstown, Stillorgan, Bray -any others?

Superdome in Palmerstown too.

MarkMc

MarkMc wrote: »

I'd imagine getting a liquor licence for a bowling alley would be difficult in this lovely (backwards) country of ours

Do what Bray does, and have it BYOB!*

(It's only Thursdays AFAIK) but it's great deal and I have no idea how they make money of it. It's €10 in, all bowling/pool free

starviewadams

Tallaght does BYOB too,on Tuesday and Friday nights.

€10 in,free bowling,free pool.

goz83

There was a bowling alley in North Strand, Dublin 3, but it did crap business and closed down 12 years ago in boom time. I was there with a friend of mine one time of a Friday night and we were the only 2 people there. We weren't even paying to play, because a family friend was the manager and invited us over after work for a game.

Mr Simpson

Pappa Dolla wrote: »

Do what Bray does, and have it BYOB!*

(It's only Thursdays AFAIK) but it's great deal and I have no idea how they make money of it. It's €10 in, all bowling/pool free

But the suggestion was with a sports bar to generate income. BYOB doesn't generate income itself, it may increase customers though.