Buffalo’s Best Bowling Alley: Mallwitz’s Island Lanes

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) — It was a gutter ball for every alley but one on Grand Island. Mallwitz’s Island Lanes took the prize as Buffalo’s Best Bowling Alley. 

The staff is a true family affair. Mike Mallwitz is the manager at Mallwitz’s. His wife Michelle also works there, along with his brother-in-law Chris, his nephew Sean, and his aunt. 

Mike’s dad, Art, started Mallwitz’s nearly 40 years ago.

The family will tell you the reason for their longevity, and becoming Buffalo’s Best, is thanks to what Art taught them all: treat customers right.

“What I learned from my dad is the way you treat customers from the second they walk in the door. If you do that right, the rest of it is easy,” said Mallwitz, “Most of our customers are our best friends. And if you haven’t met us yet, and you walk through our doors, you’re immediately family.” 

The building has two separate areas to bowl. If a party is happening in one area, a league can practice in another with different lights and music. It’s not all about throwing splits and strikes, Mallwitz’s also invites big crowds for Bills and Sabres games in their bar and restaurant area. 

In true Western New York fashion, Mike has to brag about the wings, “Our customers would put our wings against any other wing in Western New York.” 

The Mallwitz family also believes in giving back to the community. Mike says they do fundraisers for many school functions on Grand Island, and raise about $25,000 a year for Relay for Life.

In 2015, they even won Business of the Year from the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce.

Mallwitz’s is open seven days a week. On Friday, cosmic bowling starts at 10:00 p.m. All you can bowl for two hours is just $10.

Link to website: https://www.islandlanes.com/