On April 26, 2026, the pins at Skyway Lanes will come crashing down for the last time. The Jeffery Manor mainstay, long known as Chicago's last Black-owned bowling alley, will host a farewell party that day from noon to 7 p.m. as the family gets ready to put the 36-lane building on the market.
The family says the closure date is set for April 26, 2026, capping a brief surge of support that ultimately could not keep the business afloat. A fundraiser pulled in more than $25,000, which went toward resurfacing the parking lot, rebuilding the front counter, and buying new house shoes. Even with that boost, the family says rising costs and lost league revenue were too much to overcome, as reported by Block Club Chicago.
Pandemic Hollowed Out Leagues
Owners say many of Skyway’s longtime leagues never regrouped after the two-year pandemic shutdown, wiping out the steady, weeknight income that once kept the lanes humming. Johnnie and Mary Hill bought the alley in 2009, but the family says mounting property tax assessments and debt left them scrambling for lifelines. FOX 32 Chicago reported on those financial struggles last year.
Surge of Support Couldn't Be Sustained
According to the family, a rush of donations and new business held strong for roughly four months before tapering off, leaving them without the time, energy, money, or know-how to turn that momentum into a permanent fix. "The community did everything they could do," said Jarell Corley. As the end date approaches, the family has started listing equipment and other assets on Facebook Marketplace while preparing to sell the property, as reported by Block Club Chicago.
What Losing Skyway Means for the South Side
For decades, Skyway has been more than a place to chase strikes. It has anchored the neighborhood with youth leagues, Chicago Public Schools tournaments, and countless local fundraisers, and its looming closure will thin an already shrinking roster of alleys on the South Side. Across the city, dozens of smaller bowling centers have shut down over the years, turning once-ubiquitous neighborhood hangouts into rare options for affordable recreation. FOX 32 Chicago has previously reported on the alley’s community role.
The family says they have yet to find a viable buyer willing to keep the building running as a bowling alley, so the April 26 goodbye is shaping up as a final roll: one last chance for regulars and first-timers alike to pack the lanes that have hosted birthdays, leagues, and fundraisers for generations.
