As we see on other threads on this board there is an increased concern with the new establishments on 2nd Street. No matter how you slice and dice it this is a community which is primarily made up of single family/owner occupied dwellings. Lately, there has been an increase in rental units which has both great and, possibly, bad consequences. Great b/c it provides an incentive for services to move into our neighborhood - such as grocery stores. Yet, renters also have far less motivation to invest in the neighborhood or care about long term effects. To date, the new dynamic of the community’s renters has been very positive. This of course may change as the hundreds of units come on line. Again, I enjoy seeing the new faces and the diversity they bring.

Certainly there are many industrial sites which were abandoned and/or taken down and are now in the process of being converted. To date many of the businesses have been low impact. Bars, restaurants and shops, given their shear size, do not create large influxes of people which have a negative impact. Thus far, few new bars have opened in the midst of the neighborhood and we have been lucky to enjoy responsible owners. Silk City, North 3rd, 700 and Standard have all been here for years and we really owe a debt of gratitude to their planning and concern. It doesn’t hurt that the owners of these bars were, or are, residents of the neighborhood. Moreover, these establishments invested when the area really needed the likes of them. Azure, the newest of the group, seems to get some negative postings but none of that seems to have anything to do with the negative effect of their patrons on the area. This is not to say we have not had our problems. Specifically, the bars near Tiki Bob’s and Finnigan’s Wake have really hurt the area. Finnigan’s made life pretty much unbearable for the residents on Green Street and the north/south corridors near their Spring Garden location. Some home owners finally gave up and moved since they could no longer stand the flow of visitors, many of them drunk, from Thursday to Sunday. One can not understate the problem created by people coming to and fro. Some people may think this is quaint or a mere inconvenience. It is neither. It creates noise, garbage, lack of parking, safety issues and public urination. Yes, it is the city and all of these things do happen. Yet, when a new business opens up and the relatively quiet area becomes South Street you have another concern. Lastly, it takes the property values of the immediate homes and significantly lowers them.

Soon to be coming we have the North Bowl. As Sue from Azure noted in her posts about the Valet parking problems, we have little to worry about since the patrons to the North Bowl will be either “on foot” or using “public transportation.” That notion is ludicrous. I’m very glad for businesses like Azure. If North Bowl brings in 150-200 patrons per night we will see in excess of 1,000 visitors per week. This has the potential of creating a huge boost in business for the bars and restaurants. I’m sure some of the businesses, like Azure, are willing to believe anything when it comes to the North Bowl. Yet, when one starts to assert this will be pedestrians and SEPTA passengers a new level of unrealistic optimism has been reached. Frankly, North Bowl, as stated in their Homepage, advertises their establishment as a “unique space [which] will include good food, drinks, music and pool tables. NorthBowl aims to promote social interactions in a casual ambience topped off with the fun and thrill of bowling.” Simply put, North Bowl is a bar/restaurant with music which is aimed at the young and trendy. The neighborhood, for all its growth, will not be able to support the needs of a business which has put out millions of dollars to construct a bar/restaurant/pool hall/bowling alley. North Bowl MUST bring people in from all over the area. They will immediately hope to draw from the large group of patrons which go to the late night clubs on Spring Garden, Finnigan’s Wake, Tiki Bob’s, etc. As you will notice, there is a constant stream of people flowing back and forth from the Tiki Bob’s and Finnigan’s Wake. It is like a walking booze cruise. This line of people will now be continued into the middle of NL’s as people go to the North Bowl. Even more alarming, business models like North Bowl aim to sell as much alcohol as possible. Any restaurant will tell you - you are almost giving the food away and it is the bar which makes money. Plus, less than 20 lanes will not be footing the bill for a multi-million dollar project. Hence, North Bowl will be a drinking establishment “topped with the fun and thrill of bowling.” Anyone can bet North Bowl will depend largely on selling alcohol. This is not a family activity.

It is too bad b/c while I salute the vision and creativity of North Bowl I’m alarmed by their location. More alarming is that they have little to no parking. Thus, we are about to enjoy in excess of a thousand new visitors, per week, who are being plied with alcohol. They will look for parking on all of the streets, both primary and secondary, in the middle of NL. North Bowl is located on a south running street and most of the visitors will come in from Spring Garden which is located to the South. This will necessitate the visitors use streets other than 2nd as they come on in. They will learn from experience there is no parking to be had from the North Bowl and will eat up spaces as they filter into the side streets. Thus, we will have drinking patrons walking to and fro the more residential areas and all while using the already dwindling parking spaces. If you want to see your new pedestrians I suggest you go sit out in front of Tiki Bob’s on a given weekend night.

In the end, I’m amazed and saddened that we allowed the North Bowl to locate in the middle of the neighborhood. It is a fantastic idea with no need to be located in such an area. The construction is almost all new and thus, they could have selected a number of sites. The neighborhood will provide only a fraction of the business and most of patrons will come from afar. Yes, many of the locations in NL where once industrial. Yet, like Old City, those industrial uses have subsided and have been replaced by residential. Merely because the sites were once industrial doesn’t mean they should be replaced with establishments which have dire negative effects on a community traffic patterns, parking, noise and quality of life.

Again, I salute the owners/designers of North Bowl. It is a real achievement and undertaking. Moreover, the risk, of millions of dollars, shows a spirit which makes this city and country unique. Yet, as stated above, it is a real problem for the neighborhood and I’m saddened to see the responsible parties allowed for it to locate, get a liquor license and be constructed with little to no parking. As repeatedly posted, Cescaphe’s valet service has been a real sore point. You can only imagine what the new impact will be.

If i'm not mistaken the bowling alley is also being built and run by a local resident.

You're correct, MM. Oron - who's opening the bowling alley and I hope I'm spelling his name right - has lived in the neighborhood for years and is a sweet, sweet man. And as far as I understand it, there will be some parking in the front of the Bowl (altho admittedly not much), but I do have to call bull**** on the original poster for basically ignoring the fact Northern Liberties exists in a CITY and not a planned community. So does that mean that any business that attracts groups is under pressure to build its own parking? Please. If that were the case, this neighborhood would have never gotten off the ground in the first place. Never mind the fact that the stretch of Second St. in question has historically been a busy business row (although yes, most of those businesses went out of business in the '80s). What is more troubling to me, though, is the naive tone of a lot of folks on this board who seem to want to bottle the gentrification/build-up of the neighborhood. I'm sorry, folks, but that's not how cities work. Burying heads in the sand is what the suburbs are for.

Oh for Christs Sake- Sounds like this guy could use a drink.

Here's my side- North Third attracts people from all over the city, so does silk city, so do the bars and restaurants all along second street. I live half a block from second and even with it torn to hell and 2/3rds of the parking temporarily displaced, I can still park right in front of my house 90% of the time. Northern Liberties is the new cool place to go on the weekends. North Bowl will add to the attraction, but if you think they are going to have a thousand patrons a week, then I am getting into the bowling business asap.
If you would prefer vacant lots and industrial wasteland, there's plenty of that left all over philly. I'd rather have something fun to do in the neighborhood even if the evil drinkers from spring garden find their way into the quaint virgin victorian village area that is second street.
Oh, but your post made me laugh.. Spring garden was quiet before finnegans wake. Right- I95, strip clubs, homeless mecca... bet it was gorgeous. Thanks for the giggles!

I'm going to say this, if some of the people who live in this area dont like it-TOUGH! These businesses moving into the area increase the value of the neighborhood. This area has been near ghetto level. Much improvement has been made here; it's a lot cleaner and a little safer. The area will only get better with the influx of new businesses. I truly believe this.

I commend the business owners for taking their money and bringing it here. Just my two cents....

wow, im sorry but i goota get into this one. i live and work in brewerytown and frequently watch the concernes of NL because at one time NL was like B-town. i gotta say waaaaaaaaaa. wine all you want but i for one would love to have a bowling alley in my neck of the woods. take a drive by my hood and you will see what NL was like 20 yrs ago. i would rather have a bowling alley in my hood rather than a crack house. get over it and realize that what has happened and what is happening is an amazing feat. parking back then wasnt a problem, but your car might not have been there in the morning. be gratefull, its a good thing. i'll be there when they open.

I can agree with a concern about a loss of parking throughout the neighborhood because of an increase in condo buildings and some businesses, but I also like the influx of new business and the growth of the neighborhood. What bothers me far more is the incredibly slow speed of development for some of these new businesses. We need delis, a supermarket, convenience store, record store (would be nice), etc. but it takes 5-10 years for these developers to get the jobs done. Same with North Bowl. Get the **** thing done first and then we'll see if it really causes problems.

I doubt that anyone frequenting Tiki Bob's or Finnegans will want to spend their time in a bowling alley/lounge. Those people are too busy watching MTV and fondling each other to bad music. Far worse for the neighborhood are all of the nazi homeowners that think that they own every aspect of N. Liberties, yet fail to report crimes because they don't want their property values to go down.

Wow. Whoever started this thread got SERVED!

Im so psyched for a bowling alley here. I live and work a block away and the closest we get to bowling now is squinting your eyes and imagining that Mark Bee is the Dude.
Bowling alleys don't attract the same people as Finnegan's, they attract people in silly shirts and shoes that like to drink a few and write down their scores with little pencils.
Good old fashioned fun. You'd think the old farts aroud here would be happy, it'll be like the old days! TV dinners and the wife with the apron baking a pie. Bring it on.

Yes, Tommy, A woman's place IS in the house -
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES!

I want to correct some of the facts from the original post.

1) N. Bowl's capacity is limited to 150 occupants.

2) N. Bowl will provide at least 35 parking spots for its patrons. It's currently under discussion whether and when there will be valet parking.

3) While alcohol will definitely be available, the liquor license requires that the primary activity of the location be bowling -- with at least 12 lanes -- or they will be shut down.

I hope this information helps people to think clearly about the benefits and possible problems of the bowling alley.

Janet

Um, I don't drink. But I do intend to bowl at North Bowl as often as possible. And to the poster who made fun of the "silly shirts"--those Rayon bowling shirts of the 50s and 60s are classics, and it'll be fun to see what teams from various NoLibs businesses come up with for their team shirts.

Picture it--Standard Tap vs. Delicious Corsets, both sporting their own colors? Hah!

Ahh yes but they should preserve one vacant, 1983 Beruit looking building for posterity. Let it remind all of what NL was like.

i cant wait to bowl!!!!!

always with the "1983 Beruit" stuff. i keep reading that on the posts. this hasn't been "beriuit" since some of you were crapping in your pants. for the last decade this neighborhood has been darn stable and nice. change is good but it isn't the second coming. we already had the second coming. for the people who have been here a long time, and are trying to accomidate and welcome the new(er) residents, it is an insult. plus, to come in to a new community and basically say "this place was a ****-hole and we have done nothing but raise your property values and save you" really creats a them/us mentality. it is a hard job to mix and match...try doing it w/o the insults and with a little more humility.

p.s.

Janet Finegar - thank you for the informative and helpful post. it was nice to hear from the business as we try and wade through all this.

For crying out loud, I could not agree more with the poster who pointed out that it is absolutely ridiculous to ask every new business to provide parking. I can understand requiring new-build residential units to provide parking, but it is unreasonable and unrealistic to demand that all new businesses provide parking. HEY, JACKASSES--I WOULD PREFER PEOPLE NOT DRIVE TO DRINK!!! This is the city, if you don't like it, go to the burbs. Can you imagine if a business in center city was required to provide parking---ludicrous. How about appealing to the city to get a municipal lot built in northern liberties!!!!

"if you don't like it move"? okay, i'll sell my house, abandon my neighborhood of 15 yrs, have to buy another house, etc. etc. i'm not saying i don't like it. i'm saying that comment really is impossible to get your arms around. moving as a home owner isn't like signing up a new lease. when ever i see that glib remark i always wonder "is it really that easy?" NO. it isn't a constructive or very smart comment. unless, you assume we all rent. plus, you are right about having to come up with parking. yet, according to the earlier post they are going to have room for 150 people. that adds up and surely will have a possible tax on the thinning parking. especially when the prior land use didn't bring in hundreds of patrons. in Center City new businesses usually are opening up in pre-existing business spaces. if they try it the respective planning boards clamp down far harder than ours.

I think we all can agree that NTBOB raises some valid points about what to watch out for from businesses moving into the neighborhood. Whether these points apply to North Bowl is another question entirely. There is certainly the possibility of North Bowl becoming the type of establishment that NTBOB writes about, but saying that right now is analogous to finding a defendant guilty without any evidence. In my opinion it is a BIG stretch to say that the people from Tiki Bobs and Finnegans are going to come to North Bowl. Knowing the owner of North Bowl I am reasonably sure that this is not the type of crowd he is trying to attract. My personal vision for North Bowl is (please bear in mind that I am in no way affiliated with this business) a somewhat sophisticated place, with good music, food, and awesome bowling. This is the opposite of the Finnegans lets get trashed and hit on chicks mantra. Which is not to say that there won't be plenty of boozing going on. I am sure there will be. But most of the boozing will be done by me! No really, living in the neighborhood and having plenty of friends here I can say with a great deal of certainty that outsiders are going to have to vie with residents to find lanes. There have been so many people in the neighborhood talking about bowling, and how much they love to bowl, that it will likely become a neighborhood hangout. This means you will have drunkards quietly walking home after bowling a sub 100 game for the third time that night!

I cannot think of a single bowling ally that does not sell alcohol. But some go about it in a better way then others. Originally coming from west philly I have seen a bowling ally that hopes to attract the Finnegans type, its called Strikes. Strikes is decorated like a cheesy club, there are crazy drink specials that allow for the cheap consumption of massive amounts of beer and the lanes are not even official length. And last but not least the music is terrible. The type of stuff you hear on a top 40 hits station. After talking with the owner of North bowl I know that this is the last thing he wants. He is more concerned that the lanes are regulation length, then getting his beer specials in order. And trust me, he has better taste then to put on top 40 music... Having the right atmosphere is crucial to not having the Finnegans type crowd.

Parking... Parking parking parking. It is fair to say that North Bowl will create some parking issues. But to put a doom and gloom spin on it is a bit premature. If there is a valet (which I personally hope there is) then that will ease some of the problems and create the more upscale atmosphere I am looking for from North Bowl. Also, the Valet could be run out of the front parking lot, leaving 2nd street free for traffic. However, there is no doubt that some outsiders will park on the street. This is unavoidable no matter what business moves in, including the Foodery and any businesses moving in to the Blatstein zone. And how about the expansion of Standard Tap. That created a lot more outsiders in the area. As we see more and more growth in the No. Lib. I believe we need to consider projects that will free up parking spaces. I am of the belief that it is not a businesses sole responsibility to bend to a neighborhoods needs. It needs to be businesses and neighbors working together to solve issues like parking. And no one single business is the cause of all parking problems (although a single business can have bad business practices that exacerbate an existing problem... ah hem.. Chesapeake). We as a community, business and neighbors, need to come together and talk about all of the wasted space that is the street of 2nd street. It is crazy how wide this street is and most of the space is just wasted so that 4 cars, all side-by-side, can travel down the street at one time. We do not need this much street space. Lets see a redesign that will add parking. Also, drawing parking lines on the street would help maximize the available parking (along with standardizing the angle that people park at, I have seen some ridiculous angle parking jobs on 2nd street). Lastly, the residential blocks need to consider some type of permit parking to keep outsiders from parking too long on residential streets. We are looking at an explosion in the number of people living and visiting the No. Lib. in the next few years. For us to be able to handle this we have to take the approach that It is no one business's or resident's responsibility to make sure we have enough parking. It has to be a group effort.

As a resident for over 7 years, I take exception to the folks who say that all of these new businesses and residents make the neighborhood great. This neighborhood was great even before they arrived. Just because there was no Bart Blatstein and not as many nice restaurants does not mean that this was not a close knit, caring, awesome community. What these new arrivals are doing is ADDING to an already great neighborhood. I do not blame any long term resident for turning a skeptical eye towards the new arrivals. As I mentioned before this was a great neighborhood even before any developers arrived and it is our responsibility to make sure it stays that way.

In summation I would like to see this board used as a place to inform future business owners of the neighborhoods concerns and conversely for business owners to respond to the community. Lets be careful not to condemn a business before they are open. After a business is open this board should play a role in informing the business owner of the neighborhoods ongoing feelings. And lastly, this board should be used to condemn businesses that have repeatedly ignored the communities feelings. These businesses should then feel the wrath of a well organized community. I am a strong believer that you are innocent until proven guilty. North Bowl is not only innocent, but in good standing... as far as I am concerned. It is our job to make sure they stay that way. Lets get bowling!

Micah,
I could not have said it better...you were able to articulate my feelings exactly. Thank you for your words of wisdom!

I agree -- nice reply, Micah.

Eric -- oof. I'm not an employee of North Bowl -- in fact, I'm one of the NLNA Board members working to establish an agreement with them to ensure that the issues I mentioned are true (i.e., 150 capacity, bowling alley-not-a-nightclub, some parking available). It's nice to know that for once I didn't sound like a commie-attempting-to-prevent-businesses! But I'm not only not on Oron's payroll, I'm one of the thorns in his side right now. Just trying to keep the discussion fair.

Finally, Micah -- wow, wouldn't we all like to see 2nd Street redesigned to be better laid out for parking and driving. Unfortunately, the long-held plans of the NLNA were ignored by the Streets department in their renovations. We lose some, we win some.

Janet

Let's Go Bowling!!!!!!!!!!!!

To the First Poster:

I wasn’t sure whether I should post a response or simply let the community continue to weigh in on what for me is a culmination of a dream come true. Let me first just say, thank you to all (the majority) who seem not only to support us, but greatly anticipate having North Bowl as another great local venue.

North Bowl is not a bar it’s a bowler’s bowling alley set in a design that we have considered long and hard that will offer folk a place to not only enjoy the game with laid-back style but relax in a space that we think is true to our neighborhood’s vibe.

I would like to give you somewhat of a historical perspective to explain how this concept was born. By doing so I think many questions and concerns raised may be answered.

I returned back home to Philadelphia a few years ago. Social life now meant hanging out in Center City. I went out pretty regularly drinking with friends. As time wore on, the routine got old. And there I found myself in the same situations - passively consuming alcohol in smoky environments, and getting somewhat bored. Although I was out with friends, there was a big social void. The music was always loud and the bar too crowded and again the air too smoky. So it made me think… Even the dance scene in Philly was kind of grim so pins and bowling balls came to mind. I wanted to create a space that also honored more real music. Roots music for sure –more soul, funk, blues and reggae. All of that stuff not to mention good hip hop and 80’s tunes as well. Not the crap that’s played over and over and over, and over again.

Bowling requires a spacious layout and creates privacy for individual groups (i.e. the lanes and seating area). It allows for some competitive fun, and unlike billiards, you can toss a gutter ball 9 out of 10 times and still have a blast
Bowling can also be ‘serious’ competition. Well, serious competition in the form of local league nights, with teams wearing their own kooky “team shirts”. The game becomes a natural ice-breaker and people are asked to interact with each other in a fun and active environment. New friendships are forged. Sure North Bowl hopes to pull customers from all over the city, but we also hope to be a local hang-out operated by a local welcoming, meeting and treating locals with that respect. (Hey, I love this neighborhood its home for me too). We even considered having a local night with special rates.

North Bowl is our effort to create something new that we thought was lacking in this city. A spacious space independent in how it looks and feels inside where bowling happens.

Originally we wanted to have a bar that happened to have bowling lanes - meaning 6-8 lanes. After crunching the numbers we realized that most of the revenue is based on the actual lineage, and we realized that to make this venture financially viable we do not need more bar space but more bowling lanes. Therefore, to answer NTBOB, yes we will sell booze and hopefully allot of it but if what we wanted to do is create a massive space simply for the consumption of alcohol such as Tikki Bob’s or Finnegan’s simply to continue the so called NL Booze Cruise Loop, if this would have been our intent, we would not have spent nearly half a million dollars on bowling equipment alone.

We found a location that could house more lanes than the minimum of 12 required to meet our desired financial projections and proceeded with the project.
So the development continued and the ambience that we wanted to create evolved. It meant taking the game we can all relate to and then putting a modern and funky twist on it. By using unique finishes and materials we would create an atmosphere for a more sophisticated crowd. Between architectural design, lighting, furniture, menus, my love of TOP 40 music (totally - not) and the actual building (that needed a whole lot of work but had many great qualities that we loved and maintained) we hope to provide for a great atmosphere. Not to mention, yes, the location, we decided on Northern Liberties since it is becoming at last a destination neighborhood.

To address the point that North Bowl will not be a family oriented establishment:
At our very first presentation to the community, we on our own initiative, committed to weekend days and perhaps weeknights to have the five lanes furthest from the bar be both smoke and alcohol free. Furthermore we are committed not to allow school age youth during school hours to enter North bowl without being accompanied by an adult.
Although I have never been to a bowling alley that does not allow alcoholic consumption, we felt it to be important for families to feel comfortable to bring their kids out to bowl. In fact we designed the entrance in a way that will allow minors to enter the smoke free and alcohol free lanes, without entering into an alcohol licensed area, a point that PLCB not only noticed but greatly respected.

Will North Bowl be a family style at 11:30 pm on a Friday? Probably not. But we do hope that Saturdays and Sundays will be filled with families spending quality time together, celebrating birthdays and simply providing a venue for locals to come with their kids to drink, eat and spend some fun time bowling, In fact, we specifically selected our scoring system because it also had some great features for the youngsters. Ideas like Muppet Sundays are being considered where old episodes of the Muppets will be projected on our Big Screens fun for the kids and nostalgic for the adults. Families have already emailed us requesting information for their children’s birthday parties,
We even had a woman request to rent the space for her husbands 60th Birthday ..she wants it to be a throw back prom party. Some of you may know that our first two events scheduled are Big Brothers Big Sister bowl for kid’s sake fundraisers. We realize and respect that families play a major role in creating this community and we hope to be welcomed into it.

With regards to parking: We are committed to parking…it was a no brainer for us. Its good for business. We have to have it until a time where parking lots or garages may or may not be developed. We are fortunate to have a lot up front that has two separate curb-cuts for an easy drop off pick up turn about. We will not block Second Street any more then it already is. All deliveries and trash removal have also been confined to Second Street as to not compromise the quality of life of our neighbors on Poplar, Hancock and Laurel Streets.

I can not predict the future. Perhaps all of the Tikki Bobs customers will find that they are ready to get on the pro-bowling circuit and will find their way to North Bowl. Maybe they’ll become organic beer lovers and find that they love Azure’s seitan tips and the Standard’s great beer selection…I don’t know. They will surely be listening to different music that’s for sure. If that does happen hopefully that also means they have matured ….. What I do know is that I have never been to Tikki Bobs or McFaddens (other than for the NLNA Holiday Party). That is not the demographic we trying to market to. We want the 7 to Seventy, artist to lawyers musicians to chefs, nurses to surgeons. We hope that the Northern Liberties crowd remains more unique and mature than the aforementioned bars goers.

In closing, I am a local and we have no desire to operate a nuisance bar in the community in which I have so many friends and neighbors. We are a family owned business guided by some ethical principles, not exactly reflected in your comments. On the contrary we want this to be a special place for everyone.

If ever there is a problem, stop me when you see me walking my dog tell me your concerns, recommendations and thoughts. I have a great love and respect for our community and have no desire to do anything but make it better and more unique than any other neighborhood in the city. Condos would have been so much easier and far more profitable…..

Finally, for those of you who so passionately criticize the decisions made by this community -why don’t you come out from behind your computer screens and begin to take part in the decision making process by attending Zoning and other neighborhood meetings….that is if you really do care. Again thanks for both the positive and negative feedback. Get ready! I promise you will be very surprised.

Oron,
Very nice response to the masses...well, it looks like we are coming together as a neighborhood and, perhaps, a win-win outcome is at hand for all of us! I am now getting very excited that not only will my left arm get exercise with a cocktail, but, my right arm, with a bowling ball!
Deck the halls with balls of bowling!

Really cool stuff, Oron. I'm really looking forward to the alternative music (bring on the FUNK!) and I really like the idea of a locals night, even if its only once or twice a month on a weeknight, its a great idea. The old-school Muppet Shows on the big screen - thats just brilliant!

Thanks Oron. If I dare say, your post is exactly the type of information sharing and community-building that the hosts of this site had hoped for when they put it up. Thanks for taking the time to write that.

My question is: What are you looking at for a grand opening date? (With the understanding that there are always inevitable delays, etc.). Can you give us a ballpark estimate?

Huh, if they have a problem with a little bowling alley, then wait til lthey see what else is coming, plus all that stuff Tower has...luckly Tower is building:

http://www.em-arc.com/projects/schmidts.html

Even with a 700-car garage...Parking won't ever be the same in Northern Liberties.

you need not worry about car parking, I love people in Nl complaing about parking.... seriously you live in nl you can walk you don't need to drive to second street. 6 years ago you couldn't park on 2nd street or fairmount and brown with out your car getting broken into be happy their are people around.

I have been in Nl 6 years, yeah i hate a lot of the establishments, but i don't think this will be one of them.

ORON Your biggest concern shouldn't be valet parking it should be bike parking. Thats what this neighborhood lacks.

Say no to Vallet
Yes to bike racks.

Thanks Larry!
We are pushing very hard to open our doors up early this Spring....hopefully by March.

With regards to the bicycle racks, being an avid cyclist and having worked in the cycling industry we are very sensitive to the needs of cyclists. In the works are some discussions with a local metal worker/artists(Leo) to design a cool but utilitarian bike rack

Oron - great post. Thanks for the info. Good luck with everything.

I love the fact that NL is one of the few areas in Philly where you can easily find a parking space. No parking meters, no permit parking, it's a great place to live if you want to be in Philly and have to commute via car to work (NJ in my case).

"I love the fact that NL is one of the few areas in Philly where you can easily find a parking space. No parking meters, no permit parking, ..."

enjoy it while it lasts!

the parking authority has the uncanny ability to pounce upon parking havens like the libs, that it would not surprise me one bit if 2 hour signs find their way to 4th street and meters are put up on girard in the next few years.

(unless the NLNA has a voice in the decision ... anyone?)

Oron bike racks will be great, I am excited for the bowling to open.

You might want to have boxes of tissues on hand for your customers when I take home the first ever N-bowl league trophy. That’s assuming you will be giving trophies out for best bowling team uniform.

That is a long diatribe with a lot of conjecture and assumptions. I highly doubt that people will frequently be driving from "afar" to go drinking and bowling in NL. As you stated there is already very little parking in the Neighborhood. That alone will force patrons to either not come or take public transportation. People initially may come to NL and park on the side streets, but as we all know thats a major pain in itself. So that will subside as patrons realize its more of a hassle to drive there then to take Septa. I personally can't wait till Northbowl opens so that there is something to do other then drink & eat in NL.

Yeah, I doubt people will go to North Bowl over Erie Lanes when they live closer, or that the kids in University City will come all the way over here when they jsut got a brand new Bowling Alley.

And with Lucky Strikes building a alley downtown at 13 st, I think most Center City people will stay around there.

So who's left? Old City and us. Pretty much what's here already....

So I am a renter, to many people in on this site what I have to say does not matter, but here it goes:

If you are upset about parking, or lack thereof, here is a tip....get rid of your car. I do not have one and I am just fine. I can guarentee you that all of the cars in this neighborhood cause more destruction than any bowling alley could ever do.
I have noticed that many "homeowners" in this neighborhood have an overwhelming sense of entitlement. Get over it. No matter what you own, you are not in control. Just be happy you live in this great place, a place where people from all over the city come to have fun (god forbid) take a sedative if need be.

The real question is when is the bowling alley finally going to open up!!!!! We have been hearing about this for almost 2 years now.

QUOTE: GSG-9
IP: 64.80.201.152

Dec 7th, 2005 - 9:08 PM Re: North Bowl
"Ahh yes but they should preserve one vacant, 1983 Beruit looking building for posterity. Let it remind all of what NL was like."

Don't worry, I think they have. It's over here, on either side of Hope St. off of Hancock by W. Wildey...a short drive down that alley and you almost expect to hear shells and see car bombs and molotov cocktails....

From the Inky:

"Two bowling alleys with lounges, announced in '04, should finally open. The 17-lane North Bowl is expecting a mid-month rollout at 915 N. Second St. in the Northern Liberties section. Lucky Strike Lanes, an offshoot of the Hollywood hangout, is due in the summer at 1330 Chestnut St., above the new West Elm furniture store."

Don't make liers out of the Inquirer now guys

i hope it opens soon, but it looks like it will never be finished

The first few sections of lanes have been delivered and set in place by AMF today....

alright!!!

Oron, do you have a projected completion date for the project from the contractor/contractors? OR a grand opening date? I have been following your story since I moved to NoLibs, and I am dying to be able to do something in the neighborhood other then stuff my face and drink every weekend.

ahhh i see blue tarps up!!!! must be in the secret stages of construction!! i like it!!!

To the first poster: you need to move to the suburbs, preferably a planned community with driveways and rules regarding shutter colors and what, if any, plantings may be allowed by your front door.And a Toll Brothers sign by the front gate. This is NOT a community made up primarily of residences and families- never has been- and you are also incorrect about the investment of renters in the area. Many renters are extremely invested in the NL "mix"- many may choose to purchase at some point, or open a business there. Many are raising families themselves and are very concerned about the neighborhood where they will be residing. As far as bars, restaurants, and stores having a low impact on a neighborhood, have you ever heard of Manayunk? The moratorium on new bars and restaurants in Manayunk which occured some years ago was probably single-handedly responsible for the explosion of these types of businesses in the Old City and then NL areas! Ok- with maybe a bit of Stephen Starr thrown in.

That bowling alley has sounded like a great addition to the neighborhood since Day 1. Why should it be hidden in some back area away from sight? This is not a tittie bar or one of those Tiki Bob-type places, nor is 2nd Street a residential zone! For longer than I am willing to admit that I can remember,2nd Street has always been a commercial strip with housing mixed in- many businesses had the owners' residences on the top floors! Cars were always all over the place, and the businesses were very mixed. The catering hall near the bowling alley was a movie theater! Without a parking lot- imagine that!

The NLNA is careful to be sure that certain limits are respected to ensure the viability of the neighborhood and whatever else is a concern- the owner is a neighborhood resident...and what is so awful about having a cocktail (or several), something to eat (or not), and bowling?

The "negaholic" comments that I've been reading on this site tonight- not just here but also the Honey's thread" are so sad-and so ANTI-Northern Liberties. This is a city- here people find ways to work together to accommodate all residents while ensuring (also together) that the fabric of the neighborhood is not compromised- it is a living. breathing thing, and it is not stagnant! That's what makes living in the city so special- get involved!! Or go to Mt. Laurel.

After some slow starts, things seem to be moving ahead. Anyone have any updates?

this is the slowest construction ever well pretty close

Then you haven't see 2nd St's street....

in response to the last statement im talking about a business getting open, major one, as its been 2 years already?

A great time had at Northbowl

I had the opportunity to check out Northbowl with a few friends on Saturday night. Overall the experience was a lot of fun. The space is beautifully renovated and the vibe was just right… low lights, cozy furniture, fun music spun by a live DJ and friendly wait staff serving reasonably priced food and drink.

They’ve got about a dozen lanes downstairs and another 4 tucked away in the back of the second floor beyond a sea of pool tables and video games. The space is really cool and worth checking out even if you don’t feel like bowling… It’s great for people watching.

If you do feel like bowling the lanes are really high-tech and the shoes and balls are all brand new… It’s been a while since I’ve been to a bowling alley, but I was impressed with Northbowl’s automated scorekeeping system. The system’s video screens give you pointers on how to pick up that spare and even track foot fouls if your toe crosses the line!

Northbowl, welcome to the neighborhood, and nice work!

- John

Whats the cost per game?