‘Iconic place’: Chateau Lanes aims to rack up ownership change

Manitoba’s largest tenpin bowling centre — home to sport champions and novices alike — has hit the market.

Chateau Lanes bore no “For Sale” sign Thursday afternoon. The Nairn Avenue parking lot was full; at least 50 seniors had gathered for their weekly bowling club.

They knocked pins near a wall of youth championship banners dating to 2004. By the restaurant, an adult winner’s banner from 1999 hangs, and members’ near-perfect scores are showcased on boards.

“There’s pretty much something happening every day,” said manager Meagan Savage.

She’s grown up at Chateau Lanes; her family bought the business in 2010. The bowling alley has been an east Winnipeg hub since 1963.

There’s a retirement, said real estate agent Jamie McCreedy. Chateau Lanes is now listed for $1.99 million.

The price doesn’t include the 30-lane building itself — it’s leased — but the business is up for grabs.

“I list places every day, and I haven’t had anything like this with so much interest and intrigue,” McCreedy said. “It is an iconic place.”

Michael Schmidt, executive director of the Manitoba Tenpin Federation, called the listing “shocking.”

“It’s been a staple in our bowling community,” said Schmidt, who has several records on display at Chateau Lanes.

It’s been the site of Canadian championships and major Manitoba tournaments. Hundreds of children have passed through youth bowling programs under its roof.

The ownership family, the Nilsens, are well-integrated in the province’s bowling society and bring knowledge to Chateau Lanes’s operations, Schmidt said.

“Hopefully, whoever decides to invest in it will do as good of a job as they have,” he continued.

Winnipeg holds the bulk of Manitoba’s tenpin league players — there’s more than 1,000 enrolled, Schmidt said. Brandon and Dauphin have notable tenpin populations, he added.

Randy Verrier sat back and watched his peers play Thursday.

“It’s just a nice place to be,” he said. “It’s a beautiful seniors league here.”

He’s trekked to Chateau Lanes for 16 of his 62 years bowling. Lately, he’s been joining the Golden Agers, a regular Thursday crowd. It’s a place he socializes while in the midst of cancer treatments, he said.

“Have fun, exercise — all the usual,” Gary Gibbons, a fellow Golden Agers bowler, said of his reason for showing up.

At least 15 staff work the bowling alley, restaurant and lounge at 1145 Nairn Ave.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com