NYC's oldest bowling alley closes after 76 years

NEW YORK - New York City's oldest bowling alley has closed after 76 years.

Bowlmor Lanes in Greenwich Village closed Monday after the owner was not offered a new lease.

"The entire company is filled with tremendous sadness as our original location is shutting its doors," Colie Edison, vice president of marketing, told CBS Radio's 1010 WINS. "It's really been a historic, iconic location in Greenwich Village."

Edison said the space on University Place will become luxury condos.

"It's extremely disappointing, if it was up to us we would keep Bowlmor Lanes there forever," Edison said. "The landlord is choosing to tear down everything on the block and turn it into luxury high-rises. I'm not sure Manhattan or even Greenwich Village needs more luxury high-rises."

A spokeswoman said Tuesday that the landlord, William Macklowe Co., had no comment.

The bowling alley has hosted generations of children's birthday parties and notables including Lily Tomlin, Sarah Jessica Parker and former President Richard Nixon have bowled at Bowlmor Lanes.

The New York Times reports that Leonardo DiCaprio came in with cast members from "The Wolf of Wall Street."

Owner Tom Shannon bought the bowling alley in 1997 and now owns an empire of more than 270 bowling establishments. Bowlmor has two other locations in New York City -- one in Times Square and the other at Chelsea Piers.