Bowlero, the biggest bowling company in the world, has grown rapidly in recent years. Fueled by private equity groups, the firm’s expansion has ruined the beloved pastime for many while its executives pull in massive profits.

For the most part, Bowlero doesn’t build its own centers. Instead, it purchases existing ones and makes them over in the Bowlero style: dim lights, loud music, expensive cocktails. At Bowleros, bowling isn’t bowling. It’s “upscale entertainment.”

But for serious bowlers, the lived experience of Bowlero’s rise has come with a marked deterioration in conditions. Someone in Big Mike’s crew warns that lane 26 tonight is sticky right where you step up to bowl: “The approach! The actual approach!” Someone else says it’s no surprise: “They spend a couple million dollars putting in screens but can’t clean the place.”

In its initial acquisition wave, Bowlero bought up prominent centers in large population areas from New York to Los Angeles. As it continues to expand, it has promised to hoover up centers everywhere else in the country. There are roughly 3,500 independent bowling centers left in America. For Bowlero, that’s 3,500 potential acquisition targets. “This industry,” Bowlero executive Brett Parker has said, “is fragmented and ripe for roll-ups.”

“A lot of guys are worried that in five years, seven years, you’re only gonna have a Bowlero,” Big Mike says. “And when that happens, what happens?”

i love how everything is getting shittier in the same awful belittling way

  • @[email protected]
    27•7 months ago

    Reminds me of a story about the New York Mafia.

    Back in the day, there was a third rate gang. They couldn’t break into gambling, prostitution, hijacking, drugs, or any of the big money rackets. Then they realized that every business in the city needed a garbage pickup. In a few months they’d managed to scare off all the competition, because who is going to go to the wall fighting over trash collection.

    Same thing applies. No small owner has the resources to compete, and the bowlers will have to go the whatever lanes are open.

    • zout
      21•7 months ago

      This reminds me of a story I read a long time ago about Dutchmen who moved to America and ended up collecting waste in Chicago. At some time, the Mafia decided the trash business was too lucrative, so they decided to take over. It didn’t work out because the Dutch owned the land fills, and they closed ranks against the Mafia. Found somewhat of a source online: https://www.swierenga.com/ChicagoDutchGarbios.html

    • Snot FlickermanEnglish
      9•7 months ago

      Good to know so much of our economy is propped up by Mafia tactics. It doesn’t speak ill of our entire system or anything.

      • @[email protected]
        12•7 months ago

        As with so many things, you can trace this back to Reagan.

        When they made the New Deal laws they wanted to make sure that innovation was rewarded. When Ronnie “deregulated” things it became easier to gobble up the competition instead of out thinking them.