Right Up Your Alley

After decades of operating inside Charleston’s oldest bowling alley, Emma’s Lounge has closed and in it’s place a new restaurant and bar has opened by the Queen Street Hospitality group, the same folks that have brought you 82 Queen, Swig & Swine, and Lowcountry Bistro.
“It’s totally different as far as the atmosphere and the type of food. But the quality of the food and the quality of the service is the same as our other restaurants,” says Jonathan Kish, Queen Street Hospitality CEO. “So people can expect to have top notch food, a rotating draft list of seasonal and local beers, craft cocktails, but in a light-hearted tavern.”
Renamed Ashley Lanes Tavern, the 2,000-square-foot restaurant and bar is now open inside Ashley Lanes Bowling Center to complete the trifecta of burgers, beer, and bowling. “West Ashley was missing out on food service with bowling. So we transformed the old and dated snack bar into a new, lively place where families and friends can come and enjoy great food and drinks while they knock down some pins” says Kish.
“We manage the bar and restaurant, but also take part in decisions for the bowling alley as well,” says Kish, whose father, Steve Kish, is owner of Queen Street Hospitality, and who’s cousin is married to the bowling alley’s owner. “There are some new things coming down the pipeline that we are really excited about,” says Jonathan Kish.
Ashley Lanes Tavern’s signature dish is its burger. You can stack them as high as 10 certified angus beef patties, along with the restaurant’s “awesome-sauce”, grilled onions, and all of the burger accoutrements. Pulled pork from just down the way at Swig & Swine BBQ on Savannah Highway, pimento grilled cheese, fried chicken, mac and cheese bites, pork rinds, and boiled peanuts round out the menu to Southern perfection.
“We want to be known for the burger. It’s juicy, cheesy, saucy, and just melts in your mouth. And everything else on the menu is delicious. People, of course, love the Swig & Swine pulled pork that we top with pimento cheese and buttery toast,” says Kish.
Guests can cozy up to the tavern’s full bar with an array of Charleston’s favorite spirits, pitchers of domestic and local craft beers, a specialty cocktail list, wine, and $1 Jell-O shots. You can even go for the $3 PB&J special which will get you a 16-ounce can of PBR and a Jell-O shot.
“Ashley Lanes Tavern is a place where people don’t have to take themselves too seriously,” adds Ashley Lanes Tavern manager Bobby Jackson. “The food is killer, and we’re keeping the vibe funky with some classic bowling humor. It’s a really fun atmosphere whether you’re a serious bowler, or you just want to chill at the bar with your friends.”
With a quintessential bowling theme, The Big Lebowski and Kingpin will rotate constantly on two of the seven flat screen TV’s. Specialty cocktails like “The Munson”, “McCracken Moonshine,” and “The Lebowski” (White Russian, of course) commemorate the cult classics, in addition to a lounge area that has a rug, “which really ties the room together.”
“We had a lot of fun with the retro and vintage theme since we are in the oldest bowling alley in Charleston,” says Kish. “So we incorporated rustic elements, and played around a lot with the kitschy bowling props, especially the Big Lebowski. Hence the Big Lebowski artwork, the classic rug, and themed drinks. Very tongue-in-cheek.”
Kish says the retro concept also honors the history of the establishment, which opened on September 18, 1959. In typical 1960s fashion, the original bowling alley had a beauty shop and daycare to occupy women and children while the men bowled. In fact, the tavern is located where the old daycare used to be. There are 24 original lanes reaching 60-foot long, which are renowned for being the fastest in the Tri-County area.
“As we were tearing down the wood paneling we found this giant Budweiser campaign poster from the 1960s that’s about 9 feet by 18 feet. So we framed it to preserve it, because it couldn’t be a better fit for the Tavern,” says Kish. “Ashley Lanes is a classic Charleston establishment, and we’re excited to enhance the overall experience. With the closing of recent bowling alleys, our tavern couldn’t open at a better time to satisfy Charleston’s bowling thirst … pun intended.”
Ashley Lanes Tavern is located at 1568 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. For more information, call 766-9061 or find them on Facebook.