A bowling alley and entertainment center is coming to The Grove at Newark.
Lefty’s Alley & Eats will occupy approximately half of the former Kmart in the shopping center formerly known as College Square.
The opening of Lefty’s, slated for March 2025, will represent the return of bowling to Newark for the first time since Brunswick Blue Hen Lanes closed in 2014 to make way for the renovation of Newark Shopping Center.
Owner DJ Hill is hoping to replicate the success of the original Lefty’s, which he opened in Lewes in 2016.
“We think Newark is the ideal location to grow our brand, and we also think Lefty’s is the perfect partner to help grow the City of Newark,” Hill said.
The 41,000-square-foot facility will include 16 lanes of 10-pin bowling, plus four lanes of duckpin bowling, which uses smaller balls and pins. It will also include axe throwing, Top Golf simulators, Krazy Darts, a 6,000-square-foot arcade and a small stage for live entertainment.
Hill sought to distinguish Lefty’s from traditional bowling alleys that sometimes have a bad reputation.
“We get our feathers ruffled a little bit when we’re called a bowling alley,” he said. “Because now that the industry has transitioned so much, we really are a family entertainment center. We are an elevated family entertainment center, which is lightyears away from what a traditional bowling alley is.”
The “eats” portion of Lefty’s Alley & Eats will include a restaurant, indoor and outdoor patio and four event spaces that can be rented for birthday parties and other functions. The restaurant will serve a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, burgers, pizzas and entrees. It will also serve beer, wine and cocktails.
Hill, who projects Lefty’s will serve 160,000 customers each year, said the business’ core demographic is families. He chose Newark due to the city’s large population and median income, not its proximity to the University of Delaware.
“That said, I understand that with a special-use permit to serve alcohol in the City of Newark comes great responsibility,” he said. “We’ve taken several steps to mitigate or discourage underage drinking in our facility.”
Hill added that he plans to spend $120,000 a year on community outreach programs, sponsorships and support for nonprofits, particular those focused on at-risk youth.
“We don’t just want to be involved in the community, we want to be a leader,” he said.
On Monday, city council granted Lefty’s a special-use permit to serve alcohol and operate an indoor commercial recreation facility.
“This is the kind of family-oriented entertainment center that I want to see in our city,” Councilwoman Corinth Ford said. “It will make Newark a destination, and The Grove will be a destination.”
Councilman Jason Lawhorn said he and his kids often patronize the Lefty’s in Lewes and concurred that it will be a welcomed addition to Newark.
“I was disappointed when we lost the bowling alley in Newark, so I’m really excited about it,” Lawhorn said. “And I would agree, it’s not a traditional bowling alley. It’s very far away from that.”
Renovations on the Kmart building will begin this fall. Once it opens, Lefty’s will employ 45 full-time equivalent positions, with an annual payroll of $1.7 million.
The business plans to be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with extended hours until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Lefty’s will be the largest-yet commercial addition to The Grove, which is in the midst of a major redevelopment project. Also slated to open in the coming months are Del Pez Mexican Gastropub, Starbucks and Crunch Fitness.
Other new businesses that have already opened include First Watch, Raising Cain’s, NovaCare Rehabilitation, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken, Leslie’s Pool Supplies and Compass at The Grove, a 306-unit luxury apartment complex.
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