The new Asbury Lanes is a game-changer

But then you walk in. If you were a frequenter of the old Asbury Lanes, and can clearly recall the tattered furniture, weathered floors, warped bowling lanes and kitschy artwork that gave the place its charm, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the overhaul inside the Fourth Avenue space. Everything is new:

• The stage is no longer on the back wall and placed on top of the bowling lanes, but is permanently set on the right wall with state-of-the-art sound and lighting to support its eclectic lineup (more on who’s playing in a moment). The stage is significantly larger and flanked by walls of beautiful vintage speakers shipped in from Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a good-looking setup.

• The new Lanes features only six bowling alleys but all are functional with custom equipment designed by Brunswick. To bowl, it’s $20 per half-hour per lane and $5 for shoes. For larger concerts, the lanes will be covered with a temporary floor to create more standing room.
• There are two main bars, one wrap-around with four TVs for sports viewing (the old Lanes had no TVs) and another straight bar on the back wall, placed underneath the venue’s most striking art project: nearly 300 fake bowling balls arranged and painted to look like an American flag.

Perhaps the grandest undertaking in this renovation was the creation of a full-service diner where the old Lanes’ lounge area and auxiliary bar used to be. It’s a small, retro-inspired eatery with tile floors, vinyl booths and a counter, seating 40 and slinging burgers, breakfast plates, boozy milkshakes and a few trendier dishes — avocado toast and sweet potato hash in a bowling alley? The diner will stay open 24 hours a day on weekends through the summer.