Hoboken Now Has A Bowling Alley, Futuristic Style

HOBOKEN, NJ — This isn't your father's bowling alley.

Fitting snug into a room at the sprawling Play! Hoboken indoor gaming and sports center, the four new bowling lanes installed this month have a few modern elements to make them more user-friendly for kids, while still providing a challenge to adults.

The lanes, manufactured by a Las Vegas-based company, include bumpers that can be either lifted or lowered to stop small kids from always rolling gutter balls. But when the bumpers aren't in use, the game is just as challenging as regular bowling, said Play! Hoboken co-owner Ian Rintel this week.

"People think mini-bowling is easier than regular bowling, but it's not," Rintel said, noting that to his knowledge, no one has rolled a perfect game in similar alleys.

Play! Hoboken is often expanding with unique indoor recreational activities that can be hard to find within densely populated, mile-square Hoboken. Located steps from the popular Columbus Park on Grand Street, the facility has an expansive ping pong room, scores of board games and fantasy games, classic arcade games, snacks, and a golf simulator.

The facility also serves as the site of Hoboken Adventures Camp, a summer camp that provides kids with both indoor and outdoor recreation.

Rintel said that he has big plans for the new alleys.

"I expect to do a lot of children's birthday parties," he said. "The campers can't get enough."

He said that families or adults can reserve one lane for $50 an hour and take turns playing, so it's affordable entertainment for a whole family.

Rintel said that he began looking for new entertainment options for his daughter, 4, and ultimately brought several of them to the facility.

"I first acquired a large number of unique board games appropriate for her age that anyone can come here and enjoy with their families," he said. "Then I acquired a special 'young children's' air hockey table which is a special low height for her age. I then customized a pool table to just 25 inches high (normal height is 30 to 31 inches) and obtained special cues so she could enjoy billiards. I also acquired a ping pong top to have a full size ping pong table that happens to be her height. Bowling was the next logical step."

He added, "I'm uniquely situated to do something about the 'lack of entertainment options' for children (and adults) in Hoboken."

(Rintel is also among those running for City Council this fall, and said this week that he intends to stay in the race. See more about the open seats here. The deadline to file to run is Thursday.)

To make an on-line reservation or reach out to Play! Hoboken, see the website here. Play! Hoboken is located at 1012 Grand St., third floor.

And, do you have news of a unique business opening or closing in Hoboken or Jersey City? Let Patch know.