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Community Spotlight: Decatur
Bowler Regina Mansfield came to Suburban Lanes the final day before the bowling alley closed
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Johnny Worthem, 69, bowled at Suburban Lanes for 25 years.
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Bowlers of all ages flocked to Suburban Lanes for more than 60 years.
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ONE LAST BOWL
Suburban Lanes closed after more than 60 years
By Dena Mellick
Decaturish.com
Suburban Lanes Bowling Alley quietly
closed its doors on a Sunday night in early
May. Trisha Walker, owner of Suburban
Lanes, along with her husband Thomas
Walker Jr., confirmed the closing in an
email, saying Sunday was their last day of
business.
Owners Trisha and Thomas Walker
had petitioned to keep Suburban Lanes
in Suburban Plaza, which is being
redeveloped by Selig Enterprises. However,
in February, the Walkers lost their lease and
began looking for a buyer for the bowling
alley.
When asked if a buyer had come
forward, Trisha Walker said in an email,
“there is an interested party. However,
nothing has been finalized.”
Bill Stogner, Senior Vice President with
Selig Enterprises, also told Decaturish,
“Were potentially working with another
group to take over the bowling alley’ but he
said there was not a deal yet.
On that final Sunday evening, about
15 people were in Suburban Lanes for one
last round, but generations of families have
bowled strikes since it opened in 1954.
Assistant manager Jaime Meredith said
he was staying until the end of the night to
close the bowling alley for the last time.
“I’m trying not to think about it too
much. But before I lock up, I’m going to
throw one last ball down there, just to say
I got to bowl before we closed. That will be
pretty cool,” said Meredith.
Bowler Regina Mansfield was there
with a friend.
“We didn’t even know it was the last
night. We just wanted to come bowl, and
this is where we come,” she said. “I feel a
little sad, because this is the bowling alley
we know.”
The closure of Suburban Lanes means
a number of bowling leagues are without
home along with a handful of dedicated
employees.
Stogner previously said the developer
had worked to keep the bowling alley, but a
financial agreement couldn’t be reached.
The redevelopment of Suburban
Plaza had a rocky start with community
groups fighting the proposed Walmart, but
eventually backing down.
The Walmart is now well under way,
and Stogner said it would open this fall. He
confirmed leases have been signed with
other anchor tenants including Ross, Home
Goods, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, and
LA Fitness.
Stogner also said Moe’s and Pizza Hut
are staying, along with the uniform shop
and the hearing aid company. Starbucks, a
nail spa, and a barber shop will be added to
the center.
However, another current business
won’t make it into the new development.
Stogner said despite attempts to work out a
deal with Cozy Burger, the restaurant will
not remain in Suburban Plaza.
Stogner said Selig is still working to
bring in more retailers and businesses. He
said he expected other shops would open in
early 2016. 03
Atlanta VA opens outpatient clinic in Decatur
The Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical
Center has opened an outpatient clinic
in Decatur on Arcadia Avenue.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will
be held later this summer for the new
clinic, which opened to patients in
March. The clinic houses dental offices,
mental health services, sleep medicine,
a women’s clinic and a radiology clinic.
A shuttle service is available from the
main campus of the Atlanta VA on
Clairmont Road.
“The Atlanta VA Medical Center
continues to expand as we improve
access to care for our Veterans,”
the VA Medical Center said in its
announcement.
The 21-acre property the clinic sits
on was formerly the DeVry University
campus. The site had been considered
for a mixed-use development and
briefly as an expansion site for the City
Schools of Decatur. 03
Decaturish.com contributed to this
report.
1 0 June 2015 | INtOWTL
AtlantalNtownPaper.com