Bryant Lake Bowl

What Bryant Lake Bowl does

Bryant Lake Bowl is a privately held, single-location neighborhood entertainment venue at 810 West Lake Street in the Lyn-Lake Uptown district of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The property originated as a 1920s Ford dealership, became a bowling alley in 1935, and was restored and expanded in 1993 when owner Kim Bartmann converted an adjacent video and pool hall into a 90-seat cabaret theater; longtime employee Erica Gilbert purchased the restaurant in 2018. The venue integrates three revenue-generating operations under one roof: eight vintage bowling lanes equipped with AMF 82-30 pin-setting machines from the 1950s/60s maintained to original specification, a full-service restaurant and bar operating approximately 84 hours per week (9 AM to midnight Sunday-Thursday; 9 AM to 1 AM Friday-Saturday) with locally sourced ingredients and a curated tap program featuring eight Minnesota and Iowa craft breweries, and an intimate 85-90 seat cabaret theater hosting near-daily comedy, cabaret, drag, improv, and live music performances.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model targeting Minneapolis locals, families, couples, theater patrons, private event hosts, and tourists. Pricing is unit-based and transaction-driven: bowling at $5-$7 per game plus $3 shoe rentals, restaurant menu items at $4-$18, theater tickets at $10-$35 with advance and door pricing tiers, and structured group packages including the Monday 'Cheap Date Night' bundle at $38 and private catering at $20-$25 per person. Distribution occurs through walk-in traffic, online ticket and gift card e-commerce on a Squarespace storefront, takeout ordering via Upserve, email newsletters, social media, and earned media — most notably a 2021 viral one-take FPV drone video by JayByrd Films that secured coverage from BBC, New York Times, The Verge, and other outlets.

Name

Bryant Lake Bowl

Legal name

Bryant Lake Bowl

Website

https://bryantlakebowl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bryant Lake Bowl is a privately held Minneapolis entertainment venue combining eight vintage bowling lanes, a full-service restaurant and bar, and an 85-seat cabaret theater at one Uptown location, serving walk-in consumers, private event hosts, and theater patrons via direct-to-consumer pricing and ticketing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bowling and Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Bowling Centers (71395), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Supper Clubs & Dinner-Theater Restaurants (THAFACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gaming Café/Bar Hybrid Venues (Food & Beverage + Competitive Play) (MPAFALAD), Neighborhood & Sports Bars (THAFAEAA)

Keywords

• Vintage bowling lanes
• Cabaret theater performances
• Full-service restaurant
• Private event hosting
• Craft beer dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Full-service restaurant and bar serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch with locally sourced ingredients. Extensive craft beer selection featuring local Minnesota breweries. Alcohol sales including cocktails, wine, and specialty drinks.
2. Bowling Lane Rentals: Per-game bowling fees with pricing varying by day of week. Shoe rental and sock sales. Party reservations for groups of 12 or more at hourly rates.
3. Theater Ticket Sales: Tickets sold for live performances including comedy, music, drag shows, improv, and private events. General admission seating with advance and door pricing. Theater rental for private events.
4. Merchandise and Gift Cards: Branded merchandise including clothing, accessories, and novelty items. Gift cards available in various denominations for consumer purchases.
5. Private Event Catering: Party menu catering services for private events including buffets, add-on trays, and desserts. 20% gratuity fee added to all party events. Non-refundable deposit required to hold dates.
6. Special Promotions: Specialty events and promotions including Cheap Date Night package at $38, half-price mimosa Tuesdays, and trivia nights that drive customer acquisition and engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bryant Lake Bowl is a historic Minneapolis entertainment venue operating 8 vintage bowling lanes with original AMF pin-setting machines, an intimate 85-90 seat cabaret theater hosting comedy, music, drag, and live performances, and a full-service restaurant and bar featuring locally sourced ingredients and craft beer from Minnesota breweries. The venue combines bowling, dining, and live entertainment under one roof, with private event hosting and catering as additional revenue streams.

Product overview

Bryant Lake Bowl is a single-location neighborhood entertainment venue offering three integrated experiences: vintage bowling on retro 1950s lanes, dining from a scratch-made menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, and live entertainment in an intimate 85-seat theater. The venue operates as a unified destination combining bowling, restaurant/bar services, and theatrical performances, with private event hosting capabilities. Notable offerings include the Cheap Date Night package, catering services, and branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vintage Bowling Lanes Retro bowling experience on 1950s vintage lanes with hand scoring, classic above-ground ball returns, and original AMF 82-30 pin-setting machines. Bumpers available on all lanes. Open to walk-in customers for casual bowling and reservations for groups.
• Cabaret Theater Intimate 85-90 seat cabaret theater with a 9' x 22' stage hosting live performances including comedy, musical, drama, dance, drag shows, and music. Full restaurant and bar menus served inside the theater during performances.
• Restaurant and Bar Full-service restaurant serving breakfast until 3 PM daily, lunch, dinner, and brunch with locally sourced scratch-made food. Full bar with extensive craft beer selection featuring local Minnesota breweries, cocktails, wine, and specialty drinks. Happy hour Monday-Friday 3 PM-6 PM.
• Private Events and Party Hosting Event hosting services including bowling lane reservations (minimum 12 people), theater rentals for up to 82 guests, and buffet-style catering for birthdays, corporate events, and private parties. Catering packages include Taco Party ($22/person), Pizza Party ($20/person), and Wings Party ($25/person).
• Cheap Date Night Package Monday night special package combining dining, drinks, and bowling entertainment at $38 for couples, including two entrees, two beers or a bottle of wine, and one round of bowling.
• Gift Cards and Branded Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• International media coverage with viral drone video reaching major outlets including BBC, New York Times, and The Verge
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• JayByrd FilmsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021JayByrd Films, founded by Jay Christensen in 2020, created the viral drone video 'Right Up Our Alley' featuring Bryant Lake Bowl. The one-take FPV drone flight became a social media sensation, generating international coverage in BBC, New York Times, The Verge, and major news outlets. JayByrd Films works with iconic brands including The Wynn, Formula 1 Miami, New York Yankees, NHL, PGA, and American Idol.
• Modist BrewingcoreOthersLocal Minneapolis brewery featured on tap at Bryant Lake Bowl. Known for creative, experimental beers using a custom brewhouse with the region's first mash filter.
• Pryes BrewingcoreOthersMinneapolis-based brewery located at 1401 West River Road N. Always available on tap: Pragmatic Classic Pils and Miraculum Midwest IPA.
• Bent Paddle BrewingcoreOthersDuluth-based craft brewery using Lake Superior water. Venture Pilsner always available on tap at Bryant Lake Bowl.
• Castle Danger BrewingcoreOthersLocated in Two Harbors, MN near Lake Superior. Castle Cream Ale always available on tap, described as easy-drinking craft beer for everyone.
• Sociable Cider WerkscoreOthersMinneapolis cidery at 1500 Fillmore St NE. Freewheeler cider always available on tap.
• Bauhaus Brew LabscoreOthersMinneapolis brewery at 1315 Tyler Street NE. Family of musicians, scientists, and artists creating German-inspired beers with a sense of play.
• Lupulin BrewingcoreOthersLocated in Big Lake, MN. Known for Hooey Hazy IPA and SmaZey. Commitment to unique beers with attention to quality and community involvement.
• Toppling GoliathcoreOthersDecorah, Iowa brewery founded in 2009. World-renowned for IPAs and barrel-aged stouts, distributing to 30 states with 40+ rotating beers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Punch Bowl Social: Multi-unit experiential entertainment concept offering bowling alongside scratch-kitchen dining, craft cocktails, and live events. Comparable to Bryant Lake Bowl on integrated bowling + restaurant + entertainment, though at significantly larger scale and unit count.
• Pinstripes: Bowling, bocce, and bistro concept operating upscale dining alongside bowling lanes. Directly comparable integrated bowling + restaurant concept targeting similar family, group, and private-event customer segments as Bryant Lake Bowl.
• Mission Bowling Club: Boutique San Francisco bowling and restaurant concept featuring locally sourced food, craft cocktails, and a curated vintage-modern atmosphere. Closely parallels Bryant Lake Bowl's positioning as an upscale, hospitality-forward bowling-and-dining venue.
• Brooklyn Bowl: Brooklyn-based venue combining 16 bowling lanes, a restaurant/bar from a Blue Ribbon partner, and a live music programming arm. Most directly comparable to Bryant Lake Bowl as a working venue that fuses bowling, F&B, and nightly live entertainment under one roof.
• Kings Dining & Entertainment: Multi-unit entertainment venue combining bowling, bocce, full-service restaurant, and bars with live events. Comparable integrated bowling + dining + nightlife concept, operating across multiple U.S. markets.

Emerging players

• First Avenue: Iconic Minneapolis live music and entertainment venue. Comparable to the cabaret/theater programming strand of Bryant Lake Bowl's business, both venues supply Minneapolis's appetite for live entertainment, though Bryant Lake Bowl's intimacy differs from First Avenue's larger concert format.

Broad incumbents

• Lucky Strike Entertainment: Largest boutique bowling chain in the U.S. with bowling, F&B, and event programming at scale. Overlaps substantively with Bryant Lake Bowl's bowling-entertainment offering but lacks the intimate vintage theater/cabaret component and operates as a chain vs. a single historic venue.
• Bowlero (now Lucky Strike Entertainment): World's largest operator of bowling entertainment centers with hundreds of U.S. locations. Same core bowling + F&B + private-events value proposition as Bryant Lake Bowl but at materially larger scale and with different brand/positioning.

Regional players

• Memory Lanes: Minneapolis bowling and entertainment venue offering bowling, food, and bar services. Direct regional competitor to Bryant Lake Bowl within the same Minneapolis market, sharing the local bowling demographic but without the cabaret theater.
• Red Stag Supperclub: Minneapolis supper club combining locally sourced American cuisine, cocktails, and live programming. Comparable to Bryant Lake Bowl's dinner-theater programming and locally-sourced F&B positioning in the same Minneapolis market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bryant-lake-bowl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bryant Lake Bowl