In recent years, bowling alleys have faced significant challenges. The impact of Covid-19 has led to closures for many centers, while rising land prices have made them attractive targets for alternative developments.
One such example is Austin’s Highland Lanes, which is set to close at the end of the year. According to reports from the Austin Business Journal, a 300-unit multifamily project will replace the bowling alley on leased land when their lease expires.
The proposed development includes a vertical mixed-use design and allocates 12% (36 units) for affordable housing along with 4,000 square feet of commercial space. The county appraiser valued the nearly three-acre tract at approximately $7.3 million in 2023.
Notably, this closure comes after owners also had to shut down their other center Dart Bowl during the pandemic and were unable to reopen it afterwards.
This news highlights how even popular establishments like Highland Lanes are not immune from market forces driving changes in real estate development within cities like Austin.
