One of the new owners of  Plamor Lanes grew up in the bowling alley she and her husband bought from Betty Crawford.

Today marks one year since Crawford’s husband, Bob, died at age 75 of complications from prostate cancer and diabetes. The Crawfords  had owned Plamor Lanes since 1975, and the business was his passion.

“My husband was the one who did the talking, buying and selling. But he bounced ideas off of me. This bowling alley was his life. He enjoyed it,” Betty Crawford said.

Last week, she sold Plamor Lanes at 1411 Grand-view Ave. to Larry and Leanna Richardson, who have already taken over operations and are looking toward the future and a new generation for the bowling alley.

“I was ready (to retire) since age 65, whenever he was ready,” said Crawford, 74. “It was the best of both worlds. He got what he wanted and he died happy.”

     New generation

Leanna graduated from Muscatine High School in 1984 and Larry graduated from West Liberty High School in 1983. They will move from Cedar Rapids to become active owners at Plamor Lanes.

Even before buying Plamor, the Richardsons’  passion for bowling was firmly in place.

Larry owned the former West Liberty Lanes from 1993-2002. He also holds a Professional Bowlers Association regional title and has bowled 28 perfect games.

Leanna — who, incidentally, is proud of the one perfect game she has bowled —  has been bowling at Plamor Lanes for as long as she can remember.

“My family came every week. We lived down here,” Leanna said of the bowling alley.

“She was little, I’d say about 6-years-old,” Crawford recalled.

Leanna and her father, Jim Martin, kicked off the Louisa-Muscatine School District’s bowling program in 1999 and they coached the school’s teams for six years.

The Richardsons, who have been married four years, feel comfortable at Plamor Lanes and are looking forward to making the business their life like the Crawfords once did.

    Changes

Coming Soon...Arcade/Game Redemption area, Extended Birthday Party Offers, Facelift to The BAR & Grill & the Banquet Hall!

Expect even more bowling tournaments, longer hours, better music and videos during Glow ‘n Bowl, and Friday Night Karaoke!