A citizen-led group has been established in Ballard to save the Sunset Bowl from imminent closure. Save Sunset Bowl has already received 2,500 signatures from local voters to keep the bowling alley alive....at least until the summer of 2009, when the new owners of the property plan to break ground on a multi-use development.

Supporters of the Ballard landmark got good news on Tuesday, when the spokesperson for the new owners said they would be happy to consider keeping the bowling alley open until ground-breaking. Said Avalon Bay Communities spokesperson, Brian Fritz, "We are definitely open to considering a bowling operation in our development."

There is, of course, a catch. Fritz says that day-to-day operation would have to be up to the community. Currently, Save the Sunset is trying to secure a staff to run the business, as well as trying to buy equipment from the previous owners of the bowling alley before it is auctioned off. This will cost thousands of dollars that, so far, the supporters of Sunset Bowl have not secured.

This Seattlest has lots of fond memories of Sunset Bowl and feels it would be a great loss to the city. Every town needs a 24-hour bowling alley! The Sunset serves an estimated 2,000 bowlers a week and, with the loss of Leilani Lanes, there are few places remaining to satisfy Seattle bowlers' needs. We sincerely hope Save the Sunset succeeds. Let us know where to send a donation--we'll send a check in the mail. Or, hell, sign us up for a graveyard shift!

A photo of the glorious Sunset Bowl in Ballard, courtesy of Flickr Contributor- tessbrianna