While the bowling lanes were used less and less, music was filling in on more nights. The neighborhood was getting rough and business slowed so Fireside began to showcase live music on a part-time basis in 1994. As the neighborhood changed and Fireside fell into disrepair Lapinski handed the establishment to his son Jim. From 1971 until 1990 Lapinski operated it as a thriving bowling alley. Lapinski and McGuire operated it together until 1971 when Lapinski bought out McGuire. The Fireside Bowl was owned and operated by Hank Sophie until 1966 when Rich Lapinski and Alec "Mac" McGuire bought the bowling alley from an ailing Hank Sophie. In 1956, Fireside was expanded by four lanes bringing the total to 16, and both AMF's Magic Triangles and 82-30 automatic pinspotters were installed at the same time. It started life as a 12-lane pin-boy bowling alley and thrived throughout the 1940s and 1950s. In the summer of 1941 renovations began and the owner Hank Sophie converted it into a bowling alley, cashing-in on the bowling craze that began in mid-20th century America. The building was an ice factory in its early days.
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