Java Lanes
Java Lanes was the oldest bowling alley in Long Beach. Built in 1958 by the firm of DeRosa, Daly & Powers, it was the very last of the authentic Polynesian style bowling centers in Southern California. Java Lanes’ swirling neon ‘BOWL’ sign was a stunning example of postwar Googie. Waning business enjoyed a revitalization in the 1990s when restaurateur Mark DiPiazza reactivated Java Lanes’ long-dormant entertainment license, opened the exotic Lava Lounge and put together years of high-energy music shows by local bands and touring acts. In 2002, the Long Beach City Council revoked the venue’s entertainment license in response to increasing complaints from local residents and calls to the police. In 2004, facing slow business, the owners sold their property. A zone change allowed Brookfield Homes to build 79 condominiums on the site.
Long Beach, Los Angeles County
Photographer: John Bare