When I was in high school, Rock-n-Bowl at Plaza Lanes was the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. It was less about the bowl and more about the social scene, but that didn’t mean we weren’t lacing up the rental shoes and scouring the racks for a ball that fit our hand. Preferably one that didn’t have “Butch” engraved in it.

Yes, I have fond memories of the crashing pins, colored lights and teenage angst. And those memories all came rushing back when I stepped into the center on Wednesday.

Of course, the center itself has changed a lot since those days in the late 80s and early 90s. Brian Quanne, who bought the center in 2003, has done a significant remodel. New carpeting, a fresh paint job, colorful murals and automatic scoring have given the 49-year-old center a cleaner, more modern look.

General Manager Mark Ewen has helped bring about that change. He said the facility’s facelift has helped focus the business back on families and kids and both open bowling and birthday parties have increased.

That’s not to say that those casual bowlers are replacing league bowling. Leagues remain important, said Mark. In contrast to most of the country’s centers, Plaza Lanes has actually seen an increase in its league bowling over the last four years.