Bowling alley leaves little room to spare

The Athletic Club of Columbus is on a roll.

Officials there have refurbished the Booth, a bowling alley and lounge in the basement of the club, 136 E. Broad St.

It's the first part of a several-year, overall facilities master plan, estimated to cost $4 million total.

Sarah Favara, director of membership and marketing for the Athletic Club, said officials are trying to keep the club viable for another 100 years.

"It's exciting," Favara said. "There's a lot coming up. And this has been a great first step."

The 4,800-square-foot space was renamed after Henry Booth, the club's first president in 1912.

It features five bowling lanes with projection screens poised above each one, allowing non-bowlers to watch other sports programming.

"Even though we renovated the space, it's still the original wood on the lanes," Favara said.

"And the pinsetters are vintage Brunswick machines."

There's also a lounge with fresh cocktails, several styles of craft beer on tap, by the bottle and in the can, plus wine.

Bartender Grant Bain is a "true mixologist," squeezing fresh juice and making mixers in house, Favara said.

Also, as part of the renovation, is the new menu, prepared by club chef John Wolfe.

Pizzas are the highlight, using fresh-tossed dough. The menu offers seven signature pies and allows members to choose their own ingredients.

Starters include duck confit quesadillas. Salads and burgers round out the choices.

House-roasted coffee, a proprietary blend from Cafe Brioso, is offered at the Booth and throughout the club.

Club founders had initially wanted to place the bowling alley on the roof of the six-story building but thought better of it, Favara said.

Interestingly enough, the pin setters are now located underneath the sidewalk on Broad Street, she said.

A Brunswick billiard table, which has been with the club since it opened but restored since then, sits in a room off to the side of the bowling alley.

The next phase of construction has not been determined.

The Athletic Club of Columbus offers amenities such as hotel rooms, a barber shop, four restaurants, a banquet space, basketball court, pool, four squash courts and a weight room.

A spa was added to the third floor in September 2013. A group fitness studio on the sixth floor opened a year later.

There's a $500 initiation fee to join the club. Monthly dues range from $141 to $233.