Former Rossi Lanes bowling alley up for auction again

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – The former Rossi Lanes bowling alley on Washington Avenue is up for auction again. A new listing says bidding is open through October 25th. As of this publication, the highest bid is $14,700.

The listing includes photos of what the alley looks like inside after closing during the pandemic in 2020. Rossi Lanes first opened in 1936. The listing says the property still has most of its bowling equipment, but is in “various states of disrepair.”

In June, the owner told 18 News she recently sold the property in a private auction. She did not say for how much. Chemung County property records show the bowling alley last changed hands nearly two years ago. Records show it sold for $37,500 at a Chemung County Tax Foreclosure Auction on August 17, 2022.

In a Facebook post on June 13th, the owner of Elmira’s “420 Novelties” said he is the one who bought it . Christopher Mickinkle said because of zoning laws, the property is not allowed to reopen as a bowling alley. Mickinkle then asked for the community’s input on what the space should reopen as.

In June, 18 News stopped by two “420 Novelties” locations in Elmira to ask Mickinkle for comment. He was not at the West Water or Pennsylvania Avenue location when we stopped by. We left a message for him with employees, but never heard back. Friday, 18 News also called a the “420 Novelties” location on West Water Street to seek comment. We left another message for Mickinkle with an employee. As of this publication, our call has not been returned.

An article in the Star-Gazette says Tony Rossi opened the bowling alley in 1936 behind his bakery on West Washington Avenue. The Chemung County Historical Society says the opening of Rossi Lanes created a bit of controversy at the time, as residents complained about noise.

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