Covina Bowl
 Covina Bowl in the 1950s | |
 | |
| Address | 1060 W. San Bernardino Road Covina, California |
|---|---|
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1956 |
| Closed | 2017 |
| Demolished | 2021–2022 (partially) |
The Covina Bowl is a former, googie-styled bowling alley located in Covina, California. The bowling alley operated from 1956 until closing in 2017.[1] After closing, the bowling alley building and sign were preserved and integrated into a set of new townhomes.[2]
History
[edit]Designed in 1955,[3] then built in 1956 and designed by Powers, Daly, and DeRosa, the building's unique architecture was influenced by car culture, jets, the Atomic Age, and the Space Age. The familiar A-Frame neon sign arose that same year. The bowling alley, in addition to a space-age theme, also evoked an Egyptian theme in the interior that was added on in the 1970s.[4] The alley originally had 32 lanes, and would later expand to 50.
Due to years of decline, the Covina Bowl shut it doors on March 12, 2017, with the banquet rooms shutting down the year prior.[5][6]
After the closure, the property was considered highly endangered by the Los Angeles Conservatory, with the iconic property's future in the air. In 2021, the Covina City Council approved a development plan for the Covina Bowl's property, including a renovation to the original iconic sign.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Barragan, Bianca (2019-08-15). "Groovy Covina Bowl could be partially preserved as part of townhouse development". Curbed LA. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ Realty, Stream (2023-10-17). "Trumark Hires Stream Realty Partners To Sell Historic Landmark Bowling Alley In Covina, CA". Stream Realty Partners. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ Hess, Alan (1986). Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-87701-334-1.
- ^ Hurley, Andrew (2001-02-05). Diners, Bowling Alleys, And Trailer Parks: Chasing The American Dream In Postwar Consumer Culture. Basic Books. ISBN 978-0-465-03186-3.
- ^ "Iconic Covina Bowl closing its doors forever". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "Covina Bowl, A Gem Of Googie Architecture, Shuts Its Doors". LAist. 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ Welk, Hannah (2021-03-28). "Trumark Homes Gets OK for Covina Bowl Redevelopment". Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-06-13.