First opened in 1958, Wheat Ridge Lanes is a longstanding and iconic Denver area bowling alley. Its aptly-named owner, Spencer Frame, is looking forward to realizing the alley’s potential as more than just a place to knock down pins.
“I want to keep [the tradition] alive, and if possible, make it an even better experience,” Frame remarks. Before becoming owner, he spent years bowling in leagues organized by the alley’s previous owner, Dave Hanscom. The two worked closely together to secure Frame’s purchase of the old building in 2021, ensuring that Wheat Ridge Lanes would stay put at its 38th Avenue location. Since the transfer of ownership, Frame has not only kept Hanscom’s high standards of maintenance for equipment and lanes – he has improved services and added his own personal touch, breathing new life into the alley.
Recent construction of a large patio outside Wheat Ridge Lanes is a major point of pride for Frame. His hope is that the space will be “[…] a great place to play outdoor games and enjoy the Colorado sunshine,” for bowlers and non-bowlers alike. Outdoor offerings will include ping-pong, mini-golf, bocce ball, cornhole and more. As an “advocate of fun,” Frame sees the value in offering games and a gathering place to anybody and everybody in the community, and he’s confident that the spacious new patio will do just that. The outdoor area is expected to be open by mid-August.
Food may be an afterthought for some bowling alleys, but Frame wants his in-house restaurant operation to be a central piece of the experience. Referred to wryly as “The Country Club,” the kitchen serves everything from burgers to salads to shrimp scampi.
“It’s a down-to-earth ‘country club’ where the everyday person can go have a delicious meal and some fun,” mentions Frame, emphasizing that you don’t need to pay country club prices for a quality meal. Besides food, the bar has several beer taps and cocktail options, with quick and attentive service to boot.
“It’s like running three businesses in one,” Frame muses, but, with a business degree and a lifetime of bowling under his belt, he’s the perfect man for the job.
Frame makes it clear that he bought this alley not only for his love of the sport, but for his love of Wheat Ridge and its community. He mentions how the character of the community is reflected in its support and preservation of old school local businesses like his. He wants to provide not just lanes, shoes and balls for his community, but a continuation of the long lasting tradition at Wheat Ridge Lanes.
For information about leagues, events and pricing, visit wheatridgelanes.com, or follow their Instagram @wheatridgelanes_.
