Another chapter in Denver's northwest side story ended when Elitch Lanes closed last night, after a weekend-long goodbye. "If you've been around northwest Denver, you know: The people who come in here are so much nicer than the average person," owner Cal Eichinger had told us back in December, when he announced that the bowling alley/bar/restaurant/neighborhood hangout would be closing this spring, after after more than sixty years in the Berkeley neighborhood.

Eichinger didn't want to go; the building at 3825 Tennyson Street that housed Elitch Lanes for more than six decades had been purchased for $4.372 million by a developer, which is putting a Natural Grocers on the property. (Another Natural Grocers is opening tomorrow in nearby Wheat Ridge.) But Eichinger, who bought Elitch Lanes thirteen years earlier, wasn't giving up on bowling after forty years in the business: He made plans to relocate Elitch Lanes to Western Bowl, at 10000 Ralston Road in Arvada.

At the last minute, though, that deal came up a gutter ball, as reported on Facebook last night:

It is with great sadness that we announce that the deal to move to Arvada will not be a reality. Last minute discussions fell through and tonight at Midnight we will close the doors and Elitch Lanes will be a part of history. Thank you for 63 great years.

RIP, Elitch Lanes. 

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