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Union County Weekly | April 29, 2016 | Page 9
Changing Lanes
Monroe couple trades 9 to 5 to transform, revamp iconic bowling alley by Hannah Chronis hannah@cmgweekly.com
In its prime, Skyway Lanes was an institution in Monroe. The 16-lane bowling alley first opened in 1972 and the family-run business provided Monroe residents with a place to hang out and have fun in a family-friendly environment. Skyway Lanes was the place to be during the 80s and 90s. Eventually time took a toll on Skyway Lanes. The building began to age, the scoring machines became dated and teenagers began choosing shopping malls and movie theaters over bowling alleys. But Shane Carelock, grandson of the original founder and owner Cromer Carelock, didn't want to see the family legacy die, recalling what Skyway was like during its heyday. That’s when he turned to Mark and Julie Fox, family friends of the Carelocks who dreamed of continuing the legacy of Skyway Lanes, and providing an entertainment center for Monroe residents. “We always told them, ‘If you’re ever ready to sell it, ask us first,’” Mark Fox said. “So last April, they came to us ready. We negotiated a price, and promised them we would keep it a bowling alley so that tradition could continue. “Truth is, we bought a zoo. We knew it was going to take a lot of work and a lot of money, but we had a vision and we’re seeing that come to fruition.” Once the deal was closed, the Foxes got to work renovating and transforming what would become Fox’s Alley Bowling Center. Mark Fox, who has a background in construction and spent eight years flipping houses in Las Vegas, handled the renovations while wife Julie took care of the business side of the bowling alley. The Foxes replaced the tracking and ceiling tiles, rebuilt the interior sheet rock, repainted interior and exterior walls, replaced the floors, gutted the plumbing and upgraded the bathrooms. Old, box scoring televisions were replaced with flat screen TVs, and four, 60-inch televisions were added to the bar area, which includes its own separate entrance. They also enclosed a half acre outside adjacent to the 30foot-by-30-foot patio, where they’re in the process of adding a sand volleyball court to go along with the patio seating and corn hole boards.
The full kitchen, which has been gutted and redone, boasts everything from hand-pattied burgers to nachos, while the bar offers both beer and spirits. The Foxes implemented a taxi service to ensure guests make responsible decisions, and off-duty police officers come in on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. for added security and safety. The improvements came with a hefty price tag of $300,000 – about 25 percent of that going to the alley’s high-tech scoring system. “Everything is redone and updated,” Fox said. “We literally gutted this building and put it back together.” For the Foxes – high school sweethearts of 27 years – the bowling alley is more than a business venture. With two grown children out of the house, it was time for them to take a leap of faith, try something new and provide Monroe with a one-of-a-kind entertainment center. “We’ve worked all our lives and saved up our money,” Fox said. “We looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s do something together that we can retire on.’ We felt like if we did it right, we could pay our loan back and retire on this. We prayed about it for a long time and every door that got closed got reopened.” Fox’s Alley Bowling Center celebrated its grand opening April 15, as Monroe Mayor Bobby Kilgore bowled the first ball. Nearly two weeks in, Fox said he’s been very pleased with the business and excitement surrounding the bowling alley. “We looked at Monroe and said, ‘Holy guacamole’ we can bring something to the area that will really pop,” Fox said. “We were seeing money going to Charlotte or Matthews instead of staying in Monroe, and we’re excited to capture some of that business. We really want this to be a familyfriendly place, and a fun place to hang out.” Fox’s Alley Bowling Center is located at 1901 Skyway Drive. The center is open Monday to Wednesday from 10 a.m. to midnight, Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. Cosmic bowling specials are offered Thursday to Saturday. Call 704-776-9518 for more information.
Mark and Julie Fox invested more than $300,000 in Fox’s Alley Bowling Center to provide Monroe with a unique bowling alley and entertainment venue.
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