Parkside Lanes Celebrates 70 Years in Business

Parkside Lanes in Aurora celebrated a notable milestone as the bowling alley at Route 30 and Montgomery Road marked its 70th anniversary. The venue, now run by fourth-generation general manager and proprietor Kurt Frieders, had been planning this celebration for years. ‘We aimed for substantial remodeling and improvements for our 70th year, culminating in a grand weekend party for our customers,’ Frieders shared.

Among the attendees was Joey Becker from Aurora, sharing his two-decade-long connection with Parkside Lanes. ‘I’ve participated in summer leagues and appreciate the homey feel,’ Becker stated. ‘It doesn’t feel commercialized; the atmosphere is welcoming, and the staff is friendly.’

The 70th anniversary theme included offering hot dogs, soft drinks, and bowling games all priced at 70 cents. Dylan Melgosa, another long-time customer, reflected on being introduced to the venue by his parents. ‘The leagues are fun, and the atmosphere is great,’ he remarked.

Ramon Rodriguez, a loyal patron, recalled his father’s influence on his bowling journey, having frequented the lanes for 60 years. ‘The friendly employees keep me coming back. Bowling is a great activity and I’ve bowled a perfect 300 score 20 or 30 times,’ he noted.

According to Frieders, the bowling industry is thriving despite several centers closing. ‘Bowling is still quite popular, and our business is busier now than ever, thanks to our loyal customers,’ he said. Parkside Lanes averages more than 800 daily visitors and nearly 6,000 weekly guests, reported operations manager Stephanie Bonczyk.

Frieders recalled significant changes in the industry, starting with the introduction of automatic scoring in 1989, the first in the Fox Valley area. ‘It’s a major improvement, even though it means kids today don’t learn to score with pencil and paper,’ he explained.

He also noted the impact of bumpers, which prevent gutter balls and encourage young players. ‘They help kids get strikes and spares, fostering a positive experience,’ Frieders said.

Reflecting on the past 70 years, Frieders described the family legacy. ‘Founded by my great-grandfather in 1956, Parkside Lanes takes pride in its long-serving employees like Stephanie Bonczyk, who’s been with us for 49 years,’ he added. ‘Our family-run nature is crucial to our identity.’

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.