Downtown Little Rock’s newest attraction is a bar and bowling alley, soon to be joined by a German beer hall.
Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge opened last week. General Manager Rich Bielefeld says the business is “a bar with a bowling alley” and that it’s kid- and adult-friendly – at least until 8 p.m. With hours from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, everyone is welcome during the day, but IDs are required for the evening’s over-21 crowd.
At the moment, the bowling alley opens at 4 p.m. every day, but when Bielefeld adds more staff, weekend hours are planned for Saturday from 12 p.m. – 2 a.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Bielefeld says the alley has a focus on service. The bowling lanes are treated like tables at a restaurant. In addition to a full bar, the restaurant has a food menu that features hot chicken poppers, chicken sandwiches, house-made hot dogs and more.
Bowling lanes are priced by the hour. From Sunday to Thursday, each lane costs $20 per hour for up to six people. Friday and Saturday after 4 p.m., that price rises to $30 per hour. Shoe rentals are $3.50 a pair. Dust Bowl’s private room, which holds 16-20 people, can be rented for $100 an hour, and shoe rentals are included in that price.
This is the third location for Dust Bowl Lanes, with the first and second being in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Right next door to the Little Rock bowling alley, Dust Bowl owners McNellie’s Group plan to open Fassler Hall, a German-inspired beer hall complete with a beer garden, in late January or February. Bielefeld says the food at Fassler Hall will be “German-centric” but accessible to American tastes.
Dust Bowl Lanes is located at 315 East Capitol Avenue in Little Rock. Visit the bowling alley’s website or follow them on Facebook for more information.
Photo courtesy of Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge