The thunder clap of pins falling is only the start of fun at Monterey Lanes.

There are some things in life that just appeal to everyone: eating pizza, falling in love, even something as simple as bowling. Well, not everyone. But most people can get into the swing of having fun very quickly when throwing big, heavy balls down a smooth aisle for a win. Nothing beats that elation of a strike­ – knocking down all ten pins in one roll. It doesn’t require a ton of athletic prowess to enjoy, and at the end of the day it’s just a great way to bring people together.

For locals, Monterey Lanes has been the place to go since the Svetich family opened the business in 1979. The lanes were first helmed by James Svetich, and are now run by his daughter Leslie, who hopes to improve the North Monterey neighborhood with family fun.

And bowling isn’t just for families, although it does make for a great kid’s birthday party. So says Cassie Smith, administrative assistant to Leslie Svetich. Smith has been with the company for almost 20 years, and has learned along the way how much people love bowling.

“Five-year-olds can run around in here and have a blast having their birthday, and then we have league bowlers who are 105. It appeals to every age and generation. During the day, kids come in and have fun, and at night, adults come in and have the bar.”

While bowling isn’t a very athetically demanding form of exercise, it can be a healthier and deeper way of connecting than less-engaging social activities.

“Some people go to the movies, but that’s not very social. To come bowling, you can eat, drink, have fun and still be competitive with friends and family,” Smith says. “We keep it clean and updated, and change up the carpets and furniture constantly.”

Technological advancements are apparent here too, as the touch-screen scoring systems become more dynamic every day. You can take a photo and add your own face to your game screen. For children’s parties, the birthday kid gets to have their face shown on all their friend’s lanes. You can even log in and share your scores on Facebook.

Staying current does help businesses stay relevant, and Monterey Lanes staff members are currently in the process of installing new lighting effects that will dance over the pins.

Bowling is many things, but most importantly, Smith says, it’s whatever you want it to be – competitive sport or friendly kid’s party or anything in between: “It’s everything you want to get out of it.”