Brunswick Riverview Lanes

Three strikes and… it’s a turkey.

Unlike in baseball, strikes are a good thing in bowling, even if you have to use the bumpers. 

And Mathew Deutsch should know. He has been in the industry for 27 years. He started working at Brunswick Riverview Lanes part-time when he was 18 as a puller and pin chaser.  

From 1991 to 1999 he managed bowling alleys with Brunswick, and he came back in 2009 after a 10-year break. Deutsch said in this business you take openings where you can, which is why he has worked in the bowling industry in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut and Alabama. 

He also does a bit of bowling himself. 

“I enjoy the camaraderie of league bowling,” Deutsch said. “It helps, businesswise, to get to know your league bowler base, but the camaraderie is really what makes it more fun than anything. The competition, for me, is more with myself than it is against anybody else.”

That’s not how all people feel, though. Deutsch said that with bowling today, he notices a dichotomy in the bowlers who come to Brunswick — the competitive league bowlers and the ones bowling for fun. 

Bowling used to be covered every Saturday afternoon on ABC Sports, but now instead of just being a competitive sport, Deutsch said it is a very popular activity for everyone. He has league bowlers from ages 10 to 98. 

Brunswick sees the entire spectrum of guests consisting of kids, teens, college students, family reunions, adult parties and even businesses, which hold events and meetings at Brunswick. 

“We run cosmic as much as we can,” Deutsch said. “That is really a driver for the kids. They love the flashing lights in the dark.”

 Teens frequent the bowling alley at night when Brunswick has discounted prices. Deutsch described the alley as a high-volume facility. 

“Bowling has been around for so long that everybody knows what it is,” Deutsch said. “It’s not complicated. It is still challenging, but it’s a fun activity. You add a full-line food and beverage department to that, and really it satisfies everything as a night out.”

Brunswick supplies just that, and the food isn’t just the old circular hot dog and pretzel machines. The bowling alley offers a menu of American fare with hot dogs and pizza, and the event menu even extends to pulled pork, beef brisket, egg rolls, wraps and fried ravioli. 

The full-service bar provides liquor, wine and draft and bottled beer, including specialty beers such as Good People and Angry Orchard.