Resurrecting the space formerly occupied by Bikinis nightclub, Lucky Strike Lanes is the perfect antidote for boredom—and, admit it, we are all a little bored, especially with bowling. Until now, the sport has been overrun by mullets, and while we love mullets, bowling has finally evolved beyond the mud flap into a full-fledged nighttime destination. Lucky Strike is going balls out.
Knocking over the old white-trash stereotype, the intimate 10-lane bowling venue is a hysterical hybrid of upscale, energetic nightlife and lethargic recreation. Part of an international franchise (mostly notable for its celebrity clientele at the Hollywood and Vine location in LA), and coming complete with a proven track record of success, this 15th Lucky Strike locale will still receive a very noticeable PMG stamp. "They have a great product," said Greg Jarmolwich, PMG's director of operations, who guided our tour through the construction site. "But let me humbly say, they will get a lot of recognition for their brand by what we do here."
The first and most obvious Vegas addition will be the implementation of bottle service, making it the first Lucky Strike—and likely the first bowling alley ever—to provide such an option. With the standard nightclub price point undercut by about $100, the temptation to have your own bottle of spirits suddenly seems plausible even to us common folk.
While it's an undeniable draw to the tourist market, locals will truly reap the benefits of the new arrival. Open to all ages during the day, Lucky Strike will be 21-and-up staring at 9 p.m. PMG never shies away from taking care of the industry, so Mondays will be taken over by BUBA. No, not your cellmate, but Beacher's Unprofessional Bowling Association. Kicking off at 9 p.m., local nightclubs will square off in a no-holds-barred bowling tournament hosted by infamous local comic Jeff Beacher.
"It'll be controlled chaos within reason," said Jarmolwich of Beacher's well-known entourage of freakish party animals. "But no monkeys, I promise you that. Still, it'll be his usual brigade of craziness." Each team will get custom jerseys, as well as everything from bags to towels. "If somebody from Tryst wants Victor Drai's face on a bowling ball—done," Jarmolwich added while walking around the sawdust-strewn alley. "We'll get them whatever they want; there is a whole retail side of this, as well. Lucky Strike is all about fun. People want something else to do, and bowling is such a great way to be competitive but without having to be serious about it."
Replacing the standard bowling-alley menu of stale popcorn and mozzarella sticks will be a 156-seat dining area offering classy bar food. Bite-size mac-and-cheese balls and buffalo chicken crisps anchor the menu for the 25-seat mahogany bar that surrounds the lanes. Resident mixologist will be Frank Tucker, the master of cocktails behind the brilliant drink menu at PMG's Asian-persuasion dining joint Social House. Already in the works is an innovative cotton candy-infused drink, with the fluffy house-made sugary treat dissolving under the alcohol, instantly concocting an array of unique martinis.
Designed by Bergman, Walls & Associates, the brick walls will be adorned with vintage neon signs and photographs, along with several flat-screen plasmas either displaying your score or a movie. "This is an alternative and an addition to nightlife, not a replacement," Jarmolwich said. "We wanted to offer a complete guest experience, and Lucky Strike is the next extension of both nighttime and daytime entertainment. People will like it here."
Justin Jimenez firmly believes we should draft beer, not people. And he always sees better through the bottom of an empty glass. The associate editor for Las Vegas Magazine, he can be reached at
[email protected].