• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Enjoying a behind-the-scenes look at a local, family-owned bowling alley

January 18, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

When friends of ours suggested we get a group together and go bowling last weekend, I knew I wouldn’t have any trouble selling my family on the idea. We love bowling.We were especially curious to see Greenmount Bowl because friends of ours—David and Nicole Richardson—bought it in July, and this would be our first visit under their ownership.

David and Nicole’s son, Lucas, and our older son were classmates until our boys changed schools in the fall. I knew Lucas was an outstanding bowler—he’s won the Western Maryland State Championship multiple times. But I don’t know anything about running a business, and especially a bowling alley. I was looking forward to seeing what Greenmount Bowl was like.

We arrived at the bowling alley, which is in Hampstead, Md., ready to bowl. We put on our bowling shoes, put in our food and drink orders—I have a son who loves bowling alley fries—and started bowling.

Maybe I should stop at this point to admit that I am a terrible bowler. John is a good bowler, and our boys do particularly well when they have bumpers on the gutters. We were with a fantastic, fun group, and it would be hard to say whether the children or the adults had a better evening.

As the evening was winding down and we were saying goodbye, Nicole asked us whether we wanted to see a behind-the-scenes tour of the bowling alley.

I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

We all lined up, listened to the instructions on how to stay safe on the tour, and followed the tour into the area behind the pin setters.

A gentleman named Mo who keeps the setters running greeted us and told us he had been setting pins since the mid-1950s.

We stood and watched from behind as the setters cleaned up the fallen pins and put new ones in their places.

The clatter of the pins up close, and the movement of the machines were absolutely fascinating.

We noticed different colored pins that Mo explained can be used for special contests—like to win a pizza.

I was in awe of all the bolts and metal pieces and tools and equipment that go into keeping the setting machines in order. I was in even more awe of Mo, who clearly knew how the machines worked and was able to keep everything going behind the scenes.

Mo showed us the tenpin machines too, and they were interesting, but the older duckpin machines were really fascinating to me.

After the tour, I stopped to chat with Nicole and David, the owners of the 24-lane alley who are parishioners at St. Bartholomew Church in Manchester, Md.

They both work full-time jobs in addition to their work at Greenmount Bowl. But even though they seemed to be running flat-out the whole evening, taking food orders and greeting people and delivering sodas to bowlers’ lanes, they also seem happy and really excited about all the bowling alley offers, and all the opportunity they see there for the future.

They have also added Greenmount OTB, an off-track betting location opening Jan. 22 in Greenmount Station, not on the same property, but at the restaurant next door to the bowling alley. Both Nicole and David have careers in Maryland’s horse industry. (David is executive director of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and Nicole is director of finance for the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Million and the administrator of the Maryland Bred Race Fund.)

Buying and giving new life to a community bowling alley, while also preserving and celebrating its history, must require a leap of faith. But I’m excited to see how Lucas and his family enjoy this new adventure.

And we loved our behind-the-scenes tour!

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

Rita Buettner is a wife, working mother and author of the Catholic Review's Open Window blog. She and her husband adopted their two sons from China, and Rita often writes about topics concerning adoption, family and faith.

Rita also writes The Domestic Church, a featured column in the Catholic Review. Her writing has been honored by the Catholic Press Association, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the Associated Church Press.

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

In honoring anti-Catholic activists, L.A. Dodgers strike out

10 Easy ways to grow in your faith this summer

Question Corner: Are our intentions actually remembered at the shrines we donate to?

Sabbath: A blessing we should think about accepting

Get to know St. Rita: A saint for impossible situations

| Recent Local News |

CEO, authors, NFL coach take part in Catholic college commencements

Connect program centered on empathy, listening

RADIO INTERVIEW: How to grow in your openness to the Holy Spirit

Archbishop Lori announces eight appointments

Archbishop Lori ordains six to transitional diaconate

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Nun’s incorruptible remains highlight rich heritage of Black Catholics in U.S., say experts
  • Under surveillance, government pressure, China needs prayers, observers say
  • Arson at beloved Illinois shrine leaves community ‘deeply wounded,’ says rector
  • Court puts temporary hold on South Carolina abortion ban a day after governor signed bill
  • La comunidad católica de Uvalde marca doloroso aniversario con Misa y oración
  • Uvalde Catholic community marks painful anniversary with Mass, prayers
  • America Media to launch weekly ‘Preach’ podcast on Pentecost May 28
  • Fifty years later, N.Y. priest still draws on Vietnam combat experience to minister to others
  • Pope Francis says situation at U.S.-Mexico border is ‘serious problem’

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED