Lucky Strike Lanes coming to Phoenix

The swanky bowling destination Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge is moving into downtown Phoenix's CityScape development, announced RED Development LLC, the company behind the project.

Known for its signature cocktails and celebrity guests, the alley is set to open in the spring of 2010, which is when many of the restaurants, bars and shops in the $900 million space are scheduled to open. Eventually, a grocery store, hotel, offices and a pharmacy will open in the mixed-used development, stretching from First Avenue to Second Street and from Washington to Jefferson streets.

The Phoenix location will be 18,000 square-feet, with a main sports bar area and 12 lanes, four of which will be in the VIP Luxe Lanes lounge area, an element that will only be in four other locations.

Lucky Strike founder Steven Foster said his company considered Tempe and Scottsdale, but he sees Lucky Strike as an independent business well-suited to downtown Phoenix's rough-around-the-edges aesthetic.

“Lucky Strike in our minds is still suited to a downtown, urban, hip, boutique environment,” he said. “We've watched Phoenix grow and morph over the years. And with the RED Development project, we reached the tipping point.”

RED Development managing partner Mike Ebert said his company turned down offers from establishments that focused too much on just drinking or that focused too much on family-style fun. Instead, he's aiming to attract a diverse, stylish crowd of 18- to 45-year-olds.

In more than 18 cities, the 5-year-old chain has brought an element of red-carpet panache to a traditionally blue-collar pastime, as celebs in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami have flocked to the Lucky Strikes in those cities.

In New York City, Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick hosted his 22nd birthday party there recently, complete with a signature cucumber martini written up in InStyle. And in LA, it's where John Mayer Twittered about bowling poorly with Jennifer Anniston this winter. Lucky Strike has also been filmed in episodes of the new 90210 and "America's Next Top Model."

The lanes have lounges with low, cushy seating in some cities, wine bars in others, and they all serve food fit for the velvet-rope crowd, including such small plates as tuna-steak lollipops and fried mac and cheese bites, as well as a turkey brie sandwiches and salads. And in an extra touch of hipster swank, Lucky Strike frequently partners with artists in each market to put local art on the walls and on the projection screens above the lanes.

But possibly the most unexpected thing about the new downtown bowling alley is that it will have a dress code. Among the clothing banned will be athletic wear, including sweats or jerseys, excessively baggy clothing, construction boots and headgear.

Phoenix Suns CEO Rick Welts has been bowling since he was in grade school, but he's most excited about the new lanes because he said they create one more compelling reason to make downtown a nightlife destination.

“It's going to enhance all of the restaurant and entertainment options around,” he said. “We are very much involved in everything to do in downtown Phoenix. And we continue to invest in downtown and continue to believe we're in the early stages of becoming the kind of downtown you see in Denver or Seattle or Portland (Ore.)."