In Harlem, Pair Becomes First Black Women to Own Bowling Alley


Date: Monday, February 13, 2006
By: Monica Lewis, BlackAmericaWeb.com


Thanks to two enterprising sisters, residents of Harlem will now have a chance to bowl down their very own alley.

When the Harlem Bowling Center opens its doors next month, it will mark the first time in three decades that the famed northern Manhattan community, still in the midst of a residential and economic revitalization, will have its very own bowling alley.

Sharon Joseph and Gail Richards realized it was time to bring the bowling experience back to Harlem, and in doing so, they are making history as the first black women to own a bowling alley in the United States. Their feat has generated a lot of buzz and even captured them a spot as cover girls on an issue of Bowlers Journal magazine. But despite the fact that many in their community are excited about their new endeavor and anxious to support the business, Richards said she still finds it hard to believe that she and her niece are now considered trailblazers.

“The response from the community has been overwhelming. There’s a huge sense of pride that there are two African-American women doing a project like this,� Richards told BlackAmericaWeb.com. With bowling being a sport that appeals to many people regardless of age, gender or race, it seemed like such a natural fit to start such a business, Richards added.

“Bowling has been a sport that has been around since Egyptian times, and how it was that this niche market has not been broken, I really don’t know,� she said

The two visionary women said the idea to open a bowling alley came to them as they walked down 125th Street one day four years ago. Wondering how they could enhance a neighborhood already rich with culture and history, they figured they could capitalize on the fact that far too many Harlemites had to travel to lower Manhattan or to New York’s other boroughs just to bowl. With the activity a sure-fire way to mix fun and family, Joseph was determined to see their vision become a reality.

A mother of a four-year-old girl, Joseph said the Harlem Bowling Center will provide parents with an opportunity to host birthday parties for young children, something that isn’t in great supply in Harlem. Such outlets are crucial, with more and more black professionals choosing to buy homes and raise families in Harlem.

“We were thinking about something that would be beneficial to the community, and with so many families coming into the community, we knew that this would be something everybody could participate in,� Joseph told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

With so many attention and anticipation being heaped upon the project, both Joseph and Richards say they’re ready to take their show on the road -- to other sites in New York and beyond.

“We definitely want this to be a part of the community, and we want the community to feel as if this is something that can represent them and help them see it as a way to create ownership,� Joseph said, pointing to another black entrepreneur who reinvigorated countless black inner-city communities.

“We want to take the Magic Johnson approach and do similar models, but only with bowling alleys,� Joseph told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “We really believe that we can take this concept and expand it to other communities as well.�

As part of the special opening activities, Richards said there will a variety of events, including an X-Box competition and a party sponsored by Vibe magazine, which is sure to bring in a number of A-list celebrities to the bowling alley, which is located in the heart of Harlem at 126th Street and Seventh Avenue, right across the street from the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Building. But don’t expect the business to cater only to the rich and famous. Richards said the Harlem Bowling Center will be as affordable as it is fun and fabulous.

Before 7 p.m., patrons will pay $5.50 per game. After 7 p.m., guests can expect to pay $7.50 per game. There will be special family packages and prices for senior citizens, but Richards said you can’t beat the prices, especially with the costs associated with many leisure activities in New York and across the country rising to exorbitant numbers,

“We’re very affordable, and our prices will be cheaper than any other bowling alley in the city,� she said. “And if you think about it, right now just to see a movie it costs $10, so we think people will be pleased with what we have to offer.�

That was a concern that banks brought up when Richards and Joseph were seeking to secure loans to finance their dream. But the two are confident that the Harlem Bowling Center will not be a passing fad. While the sport saw a decline in the 80’s and 90’s, many believe a resurgence is taking place. Cable televised bowling competitions saw increased ratings in the past two years and it has become one of the fastest growing high school sports in the country, thanks to a renaissance amongst teen bowlers. In an interview with ABC News last year, professional bowler Chris Barnes said the new fan base sees the fun the sport can provide.

“Having a personality now is a good thing, and (bowling) has grabbed a different audience than we’ve had for a lot of years,� Barnes said.

Joseph agreed.

“We believe that young people will be our bread and butter, so we want to create avid youth bowlers who will grow up to be avid adult bowlers,� Joseph said, acknowledging that the there are less bowling alleys around today than there were a generation ago. However, that’s not due to a lack of interest, but rather a sign of the economic times.

“Bowling has historically been a mom-and-pop business and as the owners grow older, a lot of them have failed to have a successor in place or they see that there’s value in selling the land in which the bowling alley is on,� Joseph said. “Our site might be trendy for some at first, but there are people who think of bowling as a serious sport and they’re finding it harder to find places to play.

“Bowling alleys don’t close because they’re not successful,� she added. “The reason why we will have longevity is that there are people out there who take this sport very seriously.�

In addition to providing Harlem residents with a social outlet, Joseph and Richards also want other black women to see that anything is possible. A 2005 study by Essence magazine found that the number of black women interested in starting their own business far outweighed the number of white women -- 50 percent to 29 percent. So Joseph and Richards know that there are women out there capable of taking the initiative to build upon a dream, just as they have.

“As women, we’re generally faced with the challenges of living, including having a family, a career and pressing issues that sometimes keeps us from moving forward and achieving our dreams,� Richards said, adding that Joseph’s daughter was just a newborn when the two set out to get the project off of the ground.

“It’s just a matter of what kind of tenacity you have. I think we all have it, but we become anxious about going out on faith,� she said. “We want to become a beacon for many women out there who want to make things happen. It is doable and we’re proof of it.�

Thats cool!!! going to NY again in about 3 weeks will have to check it out.

I shudder though when I recall my first bowling experience,I fell flat on my ass and the ball ended up nowhere near the pins,oh the shame.........I did style it out though..as you do.

nice one