The Bowler in Fargo for sale for $4.5M

Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum By Angie Wieck Today at 6:14 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? FARGO — The Bowler, a fixture at 2630 University Drive in south Fargo since 1959, is for sale. The popular entertainment destination is listed for $4.3 million through Goldmark Commercial Real Estate. ADVERTISEMENT James Tandeski and his wife, Lorna, first invested in The Bowler in the early 90s and bought out their partners in 1999. Forum file photo Their son, Rob Tandeski, and his wife, Jolene, took over when James died in 2021. Jolene has been doing the books for The Bowler for 35 years and is ready to retire, according to her son James Tandeski, who has also been involved in the business since the '90s. "We've been through it all. We've been through the good times, the bad times, the sad times, the happy times," James Tandeski said. "It's a good business and it's just time for us to to move on and let somebody else take care of it like we have." More business headlines Jaeger Barn owner excited to offer furniture and appliance deals to his friends and neighbors Nov 2 Ramada Fargo sold for $4.1M, new owners plan hotel renovations 3d ago North Dakota’s first The North Face store to open Friday at West Acres 4d ago 'The finest of its kind' The Bowler opened its doors in December 1959 in an area largely undeveloped in south Fargo. The adjacent South University Drive was a gravel road, and The Bowler's address was listed in early advertisements as "one-half mile south of Fargo on U.S. Highway 81," according to Forum archives. Billed as "the finest of its kind in the Northwest" when it opened, The Bowler was funded by an unnamed group of local investors. ADVERTISEMENT They wanted the Bowler to open as quickly as possible in order to satisfy a growing demand in the area for new bowling and dining and recreational facilities. Forum archives detail some of the challenges contractor Great West Investments Co. encountered during construction of the 32,784-square-foot structure: “Steel was a major problem because of the steel strike. Great West contacted the Fargo Foundry, and through the company’s foresight, all of the steel was obtained except one item — the bar joints. Those were specially fabricated by Northern Manufacturing Co. of Staples, Minn. “There were other problems — cedar decking and bricklayers to name two. But they were solved. The bricklayers Great West imported from Canada after special approval of the U.S. government, and other men were here to complete the job from points throughout the Midwest." Once complete, The Bowler's lower concourse featured a 24-lane bowling alley, men's and women's locker rooms, and banquet and meeting rooms. The upper concourse was home to the Spare Time Steak House and Spare Time Lounge, which both overlooked the bowling lanes. The Bowler today Today, The Bowler is home to three bars and a coveted AB license, which allows the holder to sell alcoholic beverages for both on-site and off-site consumption. The Upper Deck bar and adjoining kitchen featuring Pizza Done Right are located on the upper level. Next door is Strikers, another bar featuring blackjack, pull tabs, E-tab machines and a pigwheel. ADVERTISEMENT The lower concourse remains home to the 24-lane bowling alley and locker rooms as well as Alleys bar. In addition to longtime customers, James Tandeski said the employees have been the best part of running The Bowler. "I've got bar staff that have been there for over 20 years," James Tandeski said. "The business kind of runs itself." The Goldmark listing suggests The Bowler could continue as is or be repurposed as an event center, food hall, fitness center, church or other retail and office establishment. James Tandeski is unsure what the future holds for The Bowler. "Hopefully the right person comes along, but we're in no hurry to sell it either," he said. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags FARGO REAL ESTATE By Angie Wieck Angie Wieck is the business editor for The Forum. 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