Lake Bowl celebrates its 50th anniversary

Bowling alley success attributed to family

MOSES LAKE — Expect to see a lot of 50s at a Moses Lake bowling alley's anniversary celebration this weekend.

Lake Bowl kicks off its 50th year with a celebration beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The celebration includes 50-cent hot dogs, 50-cent bowling, 50-cent shoes, 50-cent sodas and games for kids, said Troy Duzon, whose family owns the business.

George and Bernice Russell started the bowling business in Moses Lake in 1957. They originally had a market in the north Seattle area, son Bob Russell remembered, but when a competitor moved in next door, they were faced with two opportunities.

"Working with Brunswick Corporation, they said there was two spots which had a promising future — one of them was Anchorage, Alaska, and one of them was Moses Lake," he said. "Obviously they chose Moses Lake."

Bernice Russell still goes in to work at the alley each day. George died in April 1978.

"George was always interested in bowling, he liked it real well," she said. "I know George had plans, he just thought it was a great place. I'm sure he's pleased with all that's happened over here."

Bob Russell, currently the president of the corporation and the eldest son of three sons and two daughters in the family, said the business has lasted so long because it's about people.

"Bowling is people and there's a lot of people who have gone through that building, whether you're an employee or a bowler," he said. "It's a social thing. A lot of people have grown up in there. It's got some history."

Bernice Russell said she is proud of her entire family.

"Of course that's how come we could do it, because we're all working here," she said. "Including grandkids and husbands and wives, the whole bunch. Everybody still works and we're kind of here, just about every day."

As for the future, Bernice said some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have shown some interest in the business, but she's not sure whether they would continue on the tradition.

Bob Russell hopes so.

"I think the third generation is going to start taking over here pretty quick, and the fourth generation is being born, so it's going to be sort of up to them where they go with it," he said. "I think it will still be about people and I think it will still be there."