Tony Pirruccello’s West Lanes Bowlatorium

February 13, 2024

Before opening a new bowling alley on the western fringes of town, Tony Pirruccello did his homework. He knew that in other cities, bowling alleys on the outskirts were thriving. It was a risk worth taking as the city continued to expand further and further west and would eventually bring bowlers with it.

When Tony emigrated from Carlentini, Sicily, in 1922, he couldn’t speak a word of English and only had four months of formal schooling. That didn’t hold him back as he took business classes and learned the language while living in Wichita, Kansas.

Purcello’s Lounge at 36th and Farnam across from Blackstone (Cottonwood) Hotel. This building burned to the ground was replaced with the current building that is home to Crescent Moon.

Tony relocated to Omaha, where a number of Sicilians from Carlentini had settled in the Little Italy neighborhood. At first, he made his living as a cement worker and by selling fruit in the City Market. It was there that he met his wife, Nellie Gibilisco. From there he pivoted to the bar business and opened the popular Purcello’s Cocktail Lounge across the street from the Blackstone Hotel at 3570 Farnam Street. Its name appears to have been an Americanized version of their last name.

1960 photo of 40 Bowl on the right. It faces Dodge St with 40th running across the photo. This is the current site of McDonald’s. Admiral Theater is the large white building.

By 1947 the family opened Forty Bowl at 120 S. 40th Street next to the Admiral Theater. They left the business, and by 1955, Tony and Nellie opened a new bowling alley three blocks west of the city limits. Located at 151 N. 72nd Street, it was north of Dodge on the east side of 72nd in an area that had been a cornfield. Despite the risk, the location offered a key advantage: there was no competition, as all other bowling alleys at the time were located near or in downtown.

1954 Durham photo showing the future site of West Lanes along 72nd St.

By that time, Omaha was considered the bowling capital of the world, as it would eventually have 27 establishments operating 500 lanes. The family lived upstairs and worked tirelessly to build it into one of the best facilities in town. The risk paid off five years later when Crossroads Mall was built to its west in 1960. With it came new customers, and the intersection of 72nd and Dodge would become one of the busiest in Omaha. Growing in popularity, West Lanes with its 24 lanes was state of the art, with automatic pinsetters, a lounge that advertised a luncheon for businessmen, free bowling lessons for women, and a nursery to care for children.

1955 Durham photo of West Lanes looking east.

They operated the bowling alley as a family business with their son, Sam, also being involved. The Pirruccello family suffered the tragic loss of their son when he passed away from a heart attack at just 28 years old. Despite the loss, they pushed forward and continued to capitalize on the increased traffic and remodeled in 1961. West Lanes was the site of some controversy in 1971 when the American Bowling Congress investigated following a rash of high scores. Tony doubled down by stating that they had done nothing wrong and that the scores were the result of refinishing the lanes using a new Brunswick finish, combined with the fact that they had the best bowlers in town. The ABC took no further action after its investigation.

1955 Durham photo of West Lanes. Photo is looking northwest where Crossroads would be built in 1960.

Tony remodeled again in 1973, at which point his establishment became the first in town to install computerized automatic scorekeeping. When a series of 36 tornadoes touched down in the Midwest in 1975, one of them struck West Lanes, ripping the roof off and causing water damage to half of the lanes. This resulted in its closure for a period of time.

By the time they retired in 1980, Tony had served as president of both the Bowling Council and Bowling Proprietors Association of Greater Omaha and had been admitted to the Omaha Bowling Hall of Fame.

West Lanes remained open, having been sold to Bud Simmons and Larry Phillips, who agreed to let Tony come and go as he pleased and to help out around the lanes. During their time operating the bowling alley, the Pirruccellos promoted a number of charity tournaments including Goodfellows, Bowler’s Victory Legion, and the Heart Fund.

While Tony passed away in 1996, his grandchildren including Mike Pirruccello reacquired the bowling alley in 2011, making it a family-run business once again. Following a renovation, Nellie returned at the age of 99 to throw out the first ball as part of its grand reopening.

West Lanes, one of the oldest bowling alleys in Omaha, continues to serve as a reminder of the Pirruccello family’s determination and faith in a city that continued to move west.

I’d like to hear what you have to say so feel free to drop a comment and share your experiences, favorite bowling alleys and whatever else. Until next time, keep exploring!