PINS TO REPLACE PILLS AT FORMER DRUG STORE

The Northern California community of Ukiah has been without bowling since 2019. Yokayo Bowling Center had been struggling for some time as leagues gradually disappeared, and COVID served as the nail in its coffin.

Situated between Mendocino County’s vineyards and California’s famous groves of redwood trees, Ukiah is a popular tourist destination, but the available mix of activities for locals has been somewhat lacking.

Now, resident Steve DeLucia has been granted a permit to transform a vacant 17,500-square-foot building that formerly housed a Rite-Aid drug store into a bowling-based entertainment facility. DeLucia’s plans call for 12 bowling lanes, a bar, gaming area, reservable party rooms, a private karaoke room and a supervised soft play area for children.

“The floor, the roof and the walls are staying where they are,” DeLucia said. “Pretty much everything else will change to some degree. The restrooms will be in the same place to make use of that plumbing, but they’ll be expanded and rebuilt.”

DeLucia said he hopes to open the rechristened Ukiah Bowl sometime next year.