Owner Luke Blahnik has revived a shuttered eight-lane bowling alley in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. More than a time capsule, Avondale Bowl evokes a colorful, midcentury modern ambiance that echoes the history of the site and positions it for a retro-cool future. Locally based firms Range Architecture & Design and Studio 6F partnered on the project, which maximizes comfort and functionality.
“From the outset, we worked through the design vocabulary of communal, social, and oddly familiar when we were designing the bowling alley,” Blahnik explains. “Once we tore through decades of plaster and wallpapers, we discovered some of the original green paint on the walls and the vintage ball returns. Our job was to take those elements and offer them a nod to their history with a fresh punch—adding bold compliments of slightly familiar retro vibes.”
In addition to the 80-year-old lanes, original seating was salvaged for use in the lobby, while the original bar was refurbished with a raw backdrop of exposed brick that contrasts the alley’s electric lime tones. Custom neon signage and hand-fabricated LED lettering is installed above the lanes, while handprinted gold leaf signage and custom artwork from local street artist Mosher also punctuate the space.
