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Metro Detroit bowling alley to close after 50 years

Posted at 5:34 PM, Jun 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-14 10:18:04-04

Last week, we told you that Mercury Lanes in Dearborn was shutting down. Now, another bowling alley will be closing its doors.

Sheila Kaer has worked at Airway Lanes in Waterford for more than 25 years.

“For me, it’s bittersweet,” she said. “A lot of great memories, a lot of great people.”

She said she’s been looking for a reason to retire, and, unfortunately, she has one.

“Now it is history.”

Airway Lanes has been bought by a boat dealership. For those who’ve been bowling here for decades, their feelings are in the “gutter.”

“Those ones are having it the roughest because they thought they’d bowl the rest of their lives at Airway.”

Jan Dean has been bowling at Airway for more than 40 years.

“Really sad, it’s my second home,” she said.

The bowling alley opened in 1961.

This place has been filled with memories, especially those who got married here, including Kaer’s son.

“There is a lot of history here,” Kaer explained. “It’s not like you will be able to go back and say that’s where we had our wedding reception because now it’s going to be a boat place.”

Waterford has other bowling alleys, but Dean says the people here at Airway Lanes are the ones who made it a great place.

If you want to come here and enjoy this place one more time, you have until June 30.