Ball Square bowling?

[subtledagger.livejournal.com]

Does anybody know whats up with the little bowling place in Ball Square?  I looked in the window, and everything is still set up, but is it ever open?

Comments

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess that will be our little secret then, right? (winks)

Right? (elbow to ribs)(flexes knuckles)

This has to be on the books somewhere, but where? I discovered the ownership of the sliver of land by accident; I picked one of the Boston Ave. properties in the Medford database without an address, and Foster's name popped up, so I ran HF's name through the Somerville database, didn't have time to dig through everything, though. Apparently taxes are being paid on the sliver of land.

But the bowling alley's a little mysterious, as are some political ties between Somerville and Medford. At least it hints at who's hanging out in there (DPW guys, all those guys who stand out in Ward Five on Election Day...). Also, who's the current owner of the old animal clinic on the corner?

Ron - you wouldn't happen to know who used to own the Willow Jazz Club in Ball Square, would you?

[ron_newman]

No, sorry. Not even sure what's now located where the Willow as. I was not very active in local politics then, but I do recall being annoyed that the city would shut down a live music venue just because of a drug bust.

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

I think there was a bit more to it than that, Google "Willow Jazz Club" and see what the posters at the SN site had to say.

[ron_newman]

I remember that discussion -- in fact, I was briefly part of it. I still think the city would have done better to supervise a license transfer to better ownership than to shut down a live music venue.

A little more Googling finds that the Willow was at 699 Broadway, which is now home to ERA Norton Group Realty, co-owner of the Somerville News. Anyway, this is the opposite side of Boston Ave. from the bowling alley.

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

Norton Realty is located where the Willow was? That's gotta be worth something on the Unintentional Comedy Scale.