EDMONDS — The days of Robin Hood Lanes, one of only a handful of bowling alleys left in Snohomish County and an institution in Edmonds for more than 40 years, may be numbered.
A San Francisco developer wants to raze the bowling alley at 9801 Edmonds Way and construct a 14,490-square-foot Walgreens pharmacy and another commercial building. The news of the possible closure of Edmonds’ only bowling alley has fueled a wildfire of comments on blogs and on social media.
“I grew up there,” said Jan Vance, executive director of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce. “I hate to see it go. It’s a good spot for kids and families, and there are not many bowling allies left.”
Other area bowling alleys have closed in recent years, including Leilani Lanes in North Seattle, in 2005, and Sunset Bowl in Ballard, in 2008.
“Business-wise, this is hard,” Vance said. “It is economic growth, but it is hard to lose a part of Edmonds’ history.”
John Gunther, who owns the building, and Mike Gubsch, who owns the business, want to continue running Robin Hood Lanes at its current site. But their lease could be broken if the local family that owns the property, the Wuschers, decides to sell.
“Now we are just trying to figure out what is going on,” Gubsch said. “We have been negotiating, and now what was nobody’s business has become everybody’s business.”
Robin Hood Lanes went through a facelift last summer with lanes refurbished and new score boards installed.
California-based Seven Hills Properties submitted plans to the city last week for a 14,490-square-foot Walgreens pharmacy with one drive-through lane plus a second 3,373-square-foot building with three drive-through lanes as a possible bank. The city’s approval process of the plan could take up to six months.
If approved, construction could start as early as fall 2012 with Walgreens opening February 2013, according to Tom Rocca of Seven Hills Properties.
Edmonds has been courting Walgreens for several years, said Stephan Clifton, economic development director for the city.
The original recruitment was for a smaller location downtown. Walgreens has had its eye on Edmonds for a number of years, Rocca said. The demographics of the city and the nearby 100th Avenue West intersection with two grocery stores made the Edmonds Way location ideal.
For Edmonds resident Wayne Purser, the news of Robin Hood Lanes’ possible closure is disappointing.
Purser coaches bowling at Robin Hood Lanes for 80 to 100 kids who range in age from 3 to 18. As someone who works in real estate, he said he understands the reasons for the sale. Yet he fears that some of the kids he coaches just won’t make the trip to Lynnwood, Shoreline, Kenmore or Everett where the last of the alleys are.
“Walgreens is not the bad boy here,” Purser said. “It’s about dollars and cents. But where does everybody go? Any time these kids, their families or league bowlers leave town for another venue they will spend money elsewhere.”
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