“Like a second home…” Community says goodbye to beloved downriver bowling alley after nearly 80 years

WYANDOTTE (WWJ) The days of strikes, gutter balls, and everything in between, come to an end as a beloved downriver bowling alley closes its doors after nearly 80 years.

Friday (8/23) was the final day for Biddle Bowl, at Biddle Avenue and Labadie Street, in Wyandotte. It opened in 1948.

WWJ’s Mike Campbell reported the family has sold the bowling alley, and it will be turned it into a storage facility.

The original owner, Fred Woelkers, kept it all in the family across three generations. In 1972, he turned it over to his son, Robert Woelkers Sr. In 2002, he passed it down to his children, Robert Junior and Judy Sadler, the Detroit Free Press reported.

As the community prepares to say goodbye; Campbell reported they have written sentiments in chalk on the sidewalk outside of the bowling alley.
Some of their messages: “We will miss you…”, “like a second home”, “bowling brings friends and bowling brings smiles”.