Lucky Strike Lanes
With Monday’s opening of Lucky Strike Lanes, a new era in dining and bowling will be brought to Miami’s South Beach area. With a singularly upscale ambiance uncharacteristic of a bowling alley—vintage elements, modern décor, state of the art technology and a menu that “speaks to the inner child” (L.A. Times) — owners Steven and Gillian Foster have created America’s first truly high-end “bowling lounge.” Among its many features, Lucky Strike showcases work by up-and-coming artists projected on floor-to-ceiling high resolution video screens at the end of each lane. Along Came Mary Productions, Hollywood’s top caterer and event production company, provides an inventive menu of casual fun fare. A private room with its own six lanes is also available for parties and events.
“It’s a bowling alley, but it’s really more like a hip place you can go to have a good time, and bowling is just one of the things you can do when you’re there,” said Javier Parra, general manager Lucky Strike South Beach. “I think it fits well into our entertainment world here in South Beach.”
The Hollywood location has already brought out the glitz and glamour of music, film, television and sports. It has been featured as a Hollywood hot spot in a multitude of national and international publications, on Access Hollywood, E Entertainment, MTV and several reality TV shows. From Adrian Brody, Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz, Christina Aguilera, Drew Barrymore, Jessica Simpson, Kelly and Jack Osbourne, Mandy Moore and Elijah Wood to Fred Durst, Gwen Stefani, Hillary Duff, Eve, Beyonce, Matthew McConaughey, Vince Vaughn, LeBron James, Serena Williams to Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Robin Williams, Diana Ross, Marcus Allen, Barry Bonds, Sandra Bullock, Tom Selleck, Mike Meyers, Tyra Banks, Scarlett Johansson, Keanu Reeves, Jamie Foxx, Paris Hilton, and hundreds more, Lucky Strike has become a social haven for celebrities.
In the last 25 years, starting with the country’s first upscale roller-skating nightclub in 1978, the husband and wife team of Steven and Gillian Foster, along with partner Kevin Troy, have opened a growing collection of striking entertainment concepts, many of which are modern twists on vintage interactive pastimes. For this work, Steven was honored with the 2001 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Ernst & Young, CNN, USA Today and NASDAQ. Irrepressively creative, even by entrepreneurial standards, Steven and Gillian believe Lucky Strike to be the high point of their career in the location-based entertainment industry.
Lucky Strike, at 15,000 square feet with a capacity of over 500 patrons, will feature:
• 14 state-of-the-art lanes with automatic scoring and the latest in ball return technology
• Custom lounge seating replacing the traditional molded plastic chairs
• A warm, intimate contemporary décor with a 1930s/1940s retro feel
• A 100-foot by ten-foot video wall over the pins exhibiting current shows from emerging artists of all genres (graphic, photographic, video, fine, etc.), as well as music videos, film clips and customized images for special events
• A 100-seat restaurant plus full-service dining at all 14 lanes
• An outdoor seating area (coming soon)
The Fosters partnered with Along Came Mary Productions for Lucky Strike’s food service. Called “L.A.’s #1 catering and event production company” by the L.A. Times and “an epicurean Steven Spielberg” by the Hollywood Reporter, Mary and her company have provided the food and ambiance for hundreds of movie premieres, Emmy and Grammy festivities, major corporate events and private parties for A-list celebs. Under the leadership of Bill Starbuck, Mary’s head of catering for the last 20 years, Lucky Strike offers a menu unlike that of any other bowling center. Along with burgers, hot dogs and pizzas, there are Shrimp Salad Martinis, Homemade Tomato & Cheese S’mores, an assortment of delicious starters and many other fun food offerings including Mary’s signature desserts. “While high in flavor and imaginative in presentation, this is not white tablecloth food. The emphasis will be on food that is affordable, fun, memorable and a draw in its own right,” notes Starbuck.
The Fosters expect families and children during Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons (a cereal-and-cartoons package will be available) as well as business people for weekday lunch hour (with a food-and-bowling offer). They also expect a cocktail crowd, couples on dates, dinner guests and a late-night lounge scene (after 9 p.m., Lucky Strike Lanes will be 21 and over).
“We welcome locals, tourists, young adults, business and industry professionals, singles and groups,” says Gillian. “Lucky Strike is an ideal venue for groups of four to 400 and will be serviced with care by a seasoned team of event coordinators,” adds Steven.
“In the 20s and 30s, bowling alleys were the sophisticated social centers of their time,” notes Steven. “In the last couple of generations, they became a blue-collar downscale phenomenon. But all good things are cyclical. We see this not as a novelty or a trend or the latest thing. We’re doing with bowling what we hope to do with art — make an age-old experience accessible within a social environment. It has not been attempted on this level before, and we are happy to offer this experience to the people of Miami Beach.”
Lucky Strike Lanes
1691 Michigan Avenue
Miami Beach
305.532.0307
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