Lansing Duckpin hopes to score a strike with ‘casual’ bowling

Jessica Beach Pandoff is a competitive bowler, but she said the hobby can come with “a lot of baggage” between the special shoes and ball rental.

That’s why she and her friends enjoy duckpin bowling, a “casual” version of the sport with smaller balls and pins and shorter, elevated lanes. It allows players three turns instead of two and doesn’t require any special equipment.

“I love traditional tenpin bowling, but sometimes when you have a large family or just want a quick, casual activity, it can be a lot,” she said.

Duckpin bowling is gaining popularity across the country, but Pandoff and her friends lacked an alley to visit in town. So, they decided to start one themselves.

Lansing Duckpin opens Friday. Situated across Michigan Avenue from the Frandor Shopping Center, it offers a bar, a patio with yard games and, of course, nine duckpin alleys for up to six people each. They can be rented for $40 an hour.

Pandoff, the operations manager and one of five co-owners, said she and her colleagues hope  to cultivate a casual atmosphere that appeals to a wide demographic.

“You’re going to be able to have your own lane,” she said, “and our bar ranges from nonalcoholic to alcoholic beverages, so there’s something for everyone in the family, from toddlers all the way up to adults.”

Pandoff expects the business, which is on the ground floor of the University Edge apartment building, to appeal particularly to college students. She said 800 students live in the apartments above Lansing Duckpin, and its proximity to MSU means it’s sure to become a “college bar,” to an extent. However, she stressed that the business aims to be “inclusive to everybody.”

“We’re still catering to the college kids, but we’re also family friendly,” she said. “If I want to go down by Michigan State’s campus with my 3-year-old, I’ll think, ‘Okay, what time of year am I going down there? Is the place going to be prepared for a 3-year-old?’ Everything here fits all ages.”

As word of Lansing Duckpin spreads, Pandoff said she hopes the business will become increasingly connected with the community.

“All five of us owners really love supporting local, and we’re not a franchise. What you see here is what we and our team have come up with,” she said. “We want to become a go-to spot, not just for the bowling, but for people to come hang out on our patio, get a drink or anything along those lines. We love the local community and want to be part of it.”