Serra Bowl closing after 51 years

It’s not the swankest set of lanes in the Bay Area, but Serra Bowl has had a special place in bowlers’ hearts for more than half a century.

Wednesday night, Serra Bowl announced on its Facebook page that it has lost its lease and will be closing:

“Unfortunately Serra Bowl has lost our lease and will be closing on April 15, 2012. We would like to thank all of our wonderful customers who have shared their lives with us over the past 51 years.”

As bowling in San Francisco attempts to move upscale, Serra Bowl offered 44 lanes of polished hardwood to bowlers at affordable rates.

Daytime rates for league bowlers were just $1 a game, with hourly rates for lanes topping out at $26 an hour on evenings and weekends. Though prices for the swanky new Lucky Strike Lanes on 4th and King haven’t been released, the chain charges between $55 and $75 an hour at other locations.