Sacco's Bowl Haven in Davis May be closing soon

[seltzer92.livejournal.com]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/16/after_68_years_last_candlepin_may_fall/

i like going to this bowling alley. it feels like stepping into a time warp...

Comments

[ron_newman]

The article seems to suggest that Joe Sacco is having second thoughts.

If you click on the tag, you'll see some previous discussion of the bowling alley, including some posts by the woman who wants to buy it.

[synergyseeker.livejournal.com]

Joe isnt having second thoughts. He called me (woman buying Sacco's) right after the article to explain that his words were misinterpreted. He simply said that it wasnt definitive, obviously, until the closing....he wanted to be legally clear that I dont own it until after the closing in April.

Of course its hard for him to sell. Its been a family business since 1939...but we have a very good relationship and the purchase is progressing as planned.

[ron_newman]

Thanks for your reply. The article confused me a bit, because I thought the whole reason he was selling it was that he didn't want to continue running a bowling business.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you have a fine business planned, but I would rather see Sacco's stay and you do your thing somewhere else.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Well, she's not forcing him out or anything. It seems he chose to sell to her because she's trying hard to be sensitive to the desires of the community, and might keep some of the bowling lanes... I do know what you mean, but it seems like it's his own decision.

[nungnung.livejournal.com]

IAWTC. It seems like just bowling isn't enough to support that space, and I'd rather see it go to use as a community center of sorts instead of more retail, office space, or a gussied-up bowling alley with $10 cocktails, a la Kings (not that this was ever on the table).

I DO, however, agree that it's a shame that places like Sacco's are dying out. :(

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, I wasn't implying that. I meant I wish that Joe could find a way to make Sacco's Bowl Haven work, financially, AND that the organization-formerly-known-as-the-Connections-Center would also find a home in Davis Square.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Ah, I gotcha. Yeah...

[ron_newman]

And I have to admit to some similar feelings. Is Sacco absolutely intent on selling to somebody, or would he be just as happy keeping the whole thing going as it is?

[synergyseeker.livejournal.com]

Joe isnt the only one involved in the process. Its a family owned property. While I know that Joe has a lot of affection for the business and the community - he is still very much wanting to sell. He expressed to me that his biggest concern was that he didnt want to sell to someone that was going to turn it into box retail.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, do you know to what extent he tried to find someone who'd keep more of the bowling alley?

I confess, I am not really plugged into the commercial real estate market, but still, I'm surprised we never saw notices pass by here. I would have given it serious consideration. Or did I just miss it all?

I'm with the folks who'd much rather see Sacco's stick around. :(

[synergyseeker.livejournal.com]

Joe had it on the market on and off for two years. It was listed on MLS for a while. I know it was a high priority for him to find someone bowling friendly...or at least more community minded. We are open to investors if you want to part of the project. :-)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

*nodnod* I can see the listing now that I, uh, looked for it. :}

I'm also really glad you're keeping some of the lanes around -- the more the better! I mean, you gotta justify keeping all those shoes, right?

I sincerely hope you're getting a good deal on the place (not that I wish any loss on Joe, but I have to assume he's making a bundle either way).

[julishka.livejournal.com]

as the future new owner says, it's been listed forever (in real estate terms). i saw the commercial listing about 2 years ago.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I believe you, and like I said, I don't look at commercial listings very much. Though looking at the history now, I see that the reason I never noticed it was that it was a bit out of my range...

I wasn't accusing anyone of anything -- I'm just surprised it wasn't posted here, as in, in the Davis LJ, that's all.

[elements.livejournal.com]

I've mentioned your project to several friends, including other folks who've enjoyed Sacco's from time to time, and everyone seems to think it's an exciting idea, too. I personally very much appreciate the sensitivity to the community's love for the bowling lanes that you've shown. I agree that it's a really sad end of an era, but I also think the odds of finding buyers who could keep Sacco's as it is now would be slim. I'm much more excited about the center you're planning than I would have been about a more commercial-feeling bowling alley, for example.

[synergyseeker.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your support and getting the word out!

[mrboboto.livejournal.com]

I have to wonder, of all the people who have popped up saying "Oh no please keep Sacco's"- how often do you actually go to Sacco's? It seems like a lot of people are getting mistakenly nostalgic for something they don't actually do. All I know is that he wouldn't be having business problems if as many people as say they will miss it were regular patrons. If the new owner kept the sign hanging up, would you even notice?

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

My husband and I went to Sacco's every week before I got too pregnant to bowl. We've tried to take the baby, but she's not quite up for it yet. I miss the heck out of it and would definitely notice eventually, if maybe not within a week these days ;).

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

All I know is that he wouldn't be having business problems if as many people as say they will miss it were regular patrons

Wait, how do you know that the people who wish it could keep running aren't regular patrons?

As for myself, I'm not a "regular patron" of any bowling alley or pool hall, but I prefer Sacco's to Lanes and Games and would rather go there for my occasional bowling or pool junkets. I like Joe, and I like the atmosphere.

[synergyseeker.livejournal.com]

Its a good question - and one that the banks are asking us!lol (keeping any of the bowling lanes takes up a big amount of space for small revenue return) I know Joe's business has increased with all the publicity, which is a great thing!

[seltzer92.livejournal.com]

apparently there is a bowling alley in east boston. has anyone here ever been?

i'd go to sacco's more often...if i didnt have terrible depth perception and didnt completely suck at bowling...