Vancouver Icons: Commodore Lanes

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt Friday, September 7th, 2012 — 2:21pm PDT

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Vancouver’s Commodore Lanes, Canada’s oldest surviving bowling centre, opened up below Granville Street on September 8, 1930. Since its neon sign has been advertising bowling and billiards in the downtown entertainment district for the last eight decades, I’ve decided it should be this week’s featured Vancouver Icon:

1946 – Theatres and the bowling sign on Granville. VPL Accession Number: 27166.

Commodore Lanes opened up as a place where “Pleasant Days May Be Spent”. Created to promote quality bowling and billiards in the heart of the city, It has prospered at its Granville Street location ever since. In [82] years, much had changed, but the original motto remains the same. [Source: Commodore Lanes]

Photo credit: elvis_hitler2000 on Flickr

The alley is still alive and kicking, attracting a downtown crowd that’s up for some good old fashioned fun, in slick shoes. They host league nights, parties, tournaments, and the Bowl for Big Brothers Classic in their 18,800 square foot venue with twelve lanes.

A Friday Night On Vancouver's Granville Street

Photo credit: to be, inspired & to be, inspired on Flickr

Photo credit: Duane Storey on Flickr

Sharpen your pencils and keep score on paper while the foosball table, pinball machines, and the jukebox provide a soundtrack. Vintage photos hang on the wall, cold beer is served by the jug, and all those who haven’t yet found their strike zone can roll the 5-pin bowling ball down the lane ‘granny style’.

Photo credit: Eric Flexyourhead on Flickr

Photo credit: Clayton Perry Photoworks on Flickr

Photo credit: AE Creations on Flickr

You can find Commodore Lanes at 838 Granville and they’re open daily from 11:00am until midnight (from 10:00am on Fridays) and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. Get active, have fun with friends and family, or wait out some afternoon rain on the weekends at this legendary local — and Canadian — establishment.

Other Vancouver Icons posts include: Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Pool, White Rock Pier, Main Post Office, Planetarium Building, Lord Stanley Statue, Vancouver Library Central Branch, Victory Square, Digital Orca, The Crab Sculpture, Girl in Wetsuit, The Sun Tower, The Hotel Vancouver, The Gassy Jack Statue, The Marine Building, and The Angel of Victory. Should you have a suggestion for the Vancouver Icons series please feel free to leave a note in the comments. It should be a thing, statue, or place that is very visible and recognizable to the public.