Better enjoy it soon before the Dixie crowd adds one more place to their small-but-growing eastside repertoire. I want to see it next time I'm in town. Did they leave the rad tile mural of the disfigured nuclear family carrying bowling bags?

ahhh, yeeeah. who ever comes up with their themes, needs to be shot in the groin.

Once I hit 30 I think the novelty of bowling + * wore off.

I can't wait until Concept starts building the combination mini-golf course/strip club in the vacant lot across Belmont from Grand Central. I hear it will be non-smoking.

Any idea how much the bowling is?

Remember when the original plans for this building was to turn the entire thing into a big-ass indoor farmers market? Unlike the looks of this redevleopment, that idea would've actually been cool.

I haven't been to Grand Central yet but from what I've seen and heard it looks like the same exact thing as a place in L.O. called Players. It may play with the suburban crowd but I think things in SE need to cater a little more to those of us who live there for them to be successful.

I like the Concept guys, personally. But perhaps we should supply the next idea, and they could run it? Lance Chess's idea for a Mercury Golf Course is still the best around.

It's not really like Players. There is no video games, kids are only allowed till 8pm and they can't get in after 7pm. A more apt comparison would be Lucky Strike Lanes out of California.

Btw, I saw Mr Humphrey's and guest there last night, he seemed to be enjoying himself.

Also, I work there.

Tonight is the Grand Opening, everyone is welcome to come form their own opinion.

Ugh, I don't know why I added 's to Humphrey, let's not mention it again.

Did they leave the rad tile mural of the disfigured nuclear family carrying bowling bags?

They were supposed to find a way to move it inside. NO idea if they did.

Man, it didn't take long to get this up and running. I'm not sure if a place like this can work well in this neighborhood, but it's better than an empty building.

At least they didn't tear the building down, that would have been a real shame, even if the place will be infested by the west hills crowd for awhile.
The Pump Room was a great place for a cocktail or three back in GCB's prime.
Let's hope the nuclear tile family lives on somewhere.

OK, I just went there to check it out. I didn't see any disfigured families but there was spendy bowling (about $50/hr at peak times) and lots of couches. The upstairs was pretty nice, I must say.

Screw gentifying developers and their concepts.

US out of Iraq.
California out of Oregon.
Yuppies out of the East Side.

Thank you.

$50/hr? for bowling?! sheezus. I'll stick to the AMF on powell, and reminisce about the good old days at Grand Central when crappy punk bands played on the lanes while you bowled.

Based on Anita's comment I'd say the East Side needs all the yuppies it can get.

are you kidding. There is already 1000's of yuppies on the East Side. Con-temporize and stop thinking of loafers/sweaters/polo, and look around at New Seasons/designer t-shirts/microbrew/thousand dollar bikes/and haircuts that come with a cocktail.... you are smack dab in the middle of yuppies on the east side already. face the truth.

The real comparison is The Garage in Seattle. It used to be an abandoned auto garage, then became a pool hall (16 or so table), then in 03 or 04 added a bowling alley.

I've been there and I love it. I wouldn't exactly consider myself a yuppie. I love Hal's and the Hut as well. Sometimes it's ok NOT to feel dirty when you leave a bar. I have been to but do not frequent any of concept's other establishments. I think this is exactly what that area of SE needed. This "artistic" class (or whatever you are calling yourself) should run, no sprint down there and get yerself some j o b so you can quit whining about not being able to afford a place to live in this city. These folks just did you a huge favor and you are too stupid to take advantage of it. Once you get a little change in your pocket, let's go bowling together. It'll be fun!

Ohhhhh! I absolutely agree with SEaster... look around! Your granola is now $14 at Wild Oats... quit complaining about the cultured with cash! Grand Central is an excellent way to get the crowd that doesn't particularly enjoy cigarette stenched garments back into bowling. Who doesn't like a fancy dinner and a good night of smashing pins without tripping over screaming kids and e-bombers screwing up your night with strobe lights and 80's electro... seriously.

Ohhhhh! I absolutely agree with SEaster... look around! Your granola is now $14 at Wild Oats... quit complaining about the cultured with cash! Grand Central is an excellent way to get the crowd that doesn't particularly enjoy cigarette stenched garments back into bowling. Who doesn't like a fancy dinner and a good night of smashing pins without tripping over screaming kids and e-bombers screwing up your night with strobe lights and 80's electro... seriously.

I totally agree with "really." Zupan's and New Seasons plus tappas bars, wine bars and fancy boutiques on Hawthorne spreading to Division, and $450,000 price tags on homes, we are fully yuppified already. If only PBR lovers could drink Sanka instead of Stumptown!

let me just clarify. I was more or less just pointing out to number 16: anita some kind of ranted point about how the yuppies are already here. ..."gentrification"....give me a break. That word is thrown around too loosely.

those giant tv screens are creepy...anybody need a Farenheit 451 refresher? Also, $54/hr is really disgusting

I can't believe what I've just read, it's a nice place, good service and great food. It beat's the hell out of toe jam shoes that you can smell for a week afterwards, bowling balls with finger holes filled up with grease and God only know what else, deep fried heart attack food servied up with warm beer in a dirty glass! Mind you, if you like that kind of thing then all power to you mate hope you have good medical insurance.

grand central is part of a larger plan to completely overhall the eastside into one unaffordable pearl. take a look around people, yeah there is gentrification, but it is not COMPLETED. just wait until that huge loft/condo complex is finished on belmont around 23rd. you will see more places bought out, knocked down and gentrified to the hilt. within the next five years you will see more and more eastside spaces taken up by these complexes and all of this will drive up property taxes and rents. say bye bye to any remnant of affordable living we still have.

I'm surprised by the digs on this place on the message board. Portland has been missing this for a long time and this concept has been successful across the country with Lucky Strike Lanes. Just be glad we get to enjoy it as a non-chain run business. If you think bowling is for nerds, you might want to check yourself.