K-J Bowl

it really is as good as it gets. an immaculate 80’s aesthetic. the kindest staff. a great time.

Looking for a quicker way to get home from work one afternoon I spotted KJ Bowl in an unassuming strip mall. My wife didn’t believe me that there actually was a bowling alley in this off-​the-​beaten path location, but it’s there and it’s awesome.
Walking into KJ is like taking a step back in time. Not much has changed over the years, but that’s the way I like it. Like most of the neighbourhood bowling alleys that still exist, it’s the Canadian standard five pin.
It’s never really busy, so you never have to wait for a lane to be open. Just show up, slip on some shoes and start knocking the pins down. My wife and I have started going there a bit more often for little mini dates. It’s so close to our house and if we’re looking to get out of the house and do something together for a little bit, this always fits the bill.

K-​J Bowl is my favourite type of bowling alley. Totally old school, hasn’t been renovated since the 70s (besides the electronic score keeping), in a basement in a strip mall in a random neighbourhood, only 12 lanes. It completely reminds me of the bowling alleys when I was a kid. None of these fancy 500 lane mega bowling-​laser tag-​whatever complexes.
I’ve actually lived near here for six years and knew of K-​Js existence, but didn’t venture in until yesterday, with my husband and a friend, and I’m glad we did. As soon as we walked down the many stairs I was transported.
It wasn’t very busy, with people at only two of the other lanes. The girl working mentioned it was a very slow Saturday. It also happened to be glo bowl.
Each game was $ 5.00/person and $ 1.50 for shoe rental. They had pop and a small selection of bottled beer (basic stuff like Canadian) and those bottled Caesers (only $ 4.50) and coolers. They have chips and stuff, as well as fries, onion rings, wings and, oddly, popcorn chicken.
I love the retro plastic seating, random Fred Flinstone and Goofy paintings, and bathrooms painted blue for boys and pink for girls, ha. Now that I know of this little gem, I’ll definitely bowl there more often. I had such a fun night there!