The Rose Bowl Lanes has been a fixture of the Edgington Lane area of Wheeling since 1969 when the business moved from its location at Bae Mar Place to its current home at 89 Edgington Lane.
It’s a family-run establishment with a loyal following of league bowlers that keep the house packed. Since 1987, that family was the Manukins—Jerry Sr. and Jr. along with family matriarch Judy.
Jerry Sr. began working at the Rose Bowl long before his family took it over, starting out as the house mechanic before making the jump to ownership. These days the lone bowling house in Ohio County is still open and going strong. It’s still family-owned too, but that family now is no longer the Manukins.
Jerry Sr. recently turned 83 years old and had been thinking about retirement, but admitted that selling the Rose Bowl was a decision born of opportunity, not of necessity.
“We weren’t actively looking,” Jerry Jr. admitted.
“The occasion arose, and we took it,” Jerry Sr. added. “We figured it was starting to be time. I’m 83 years old and it’s time for someone else to take it over.”
That occasion occurred this previous winter when the Miller family, whose youngest son Kaden bowls on the Wheeling Park bowling team, showed up early for one of the Patriots’ matches.
Kaden’s father Pete was talking with Jerry Sr. when the two started spitballing potentialities.
“I was talking with Jerry Sr. and he looked at me and said ‘You ought to buy this place,’’’ Miller recalled. “I looked at him and said ‘You ought to sell it to me,’ and that’s how it started.
“The opportunity was there, but I had no inclination at all that they were selling. I figured Jerry Jr. would take over when Sr. was ready to retire, but he told me that, after working for so long here with his dad, he couldn’t see himself doing it without his dad by his side.”
And with that, Dirty Dog Lanes was born.
While the name has changed, the spirit of the Rose Bowl and what made it special has not. It’s still family-owned. The Millers have two sons and extended family, all of whom will be working at the lanes.
Even the new name is a nod to the family’s other business—the Dirty Dog Tavern, a popular night spot and eatery near the campus of West Liberty University.
The name change is a nod to keeping the family businesses a part of the same brand, something Pete and his wife Cheryl hope to eventually pass down to their two boys.
“We have two kids we want to pass our name down to,” Cheryl said. “We don’t want to tarnish the Rose Bowl, but it’s a transition. They made it successful for years and years, but we want to brand it and carry on in the tradition of a family-owned establishment.
“We want to stay true to that and not change much, just enhance it a bit.”
Forthcoming Changes?
One of the bigger changes being seen locally and nationwide is the conversion to the “pay-per-hour” bowling model. Both St. Clair Lanes and Chestnut Lanes in Barnesville have done so with equal amounts of success.
Might such a change per possible at Dirty Dog Lanes? Don’t look for it anytime soon.
“It’s pretty big in most places, but it’s probably not anything that’s coming in the near future (here),” Pete Miller said. “I like the by-the-game model. People can come in here, have fun, and don’t have to feel that they are pressured to hurry up and throw.”
Miller noted there is a regular group of four that comes in for open bowling. They take their time, maybe stop for a smoke break outside or two, but bowl a few games before leaving. They are consistent customers. It’s also not so busy that the group, or others like it, need to be hurried along because other groups are waiting.
So no, no pay-per-hour bowling is coming anytime soon. The Manukins, though, did admit that it was an option they were exploring.
“We were starting to think about it right before Pete approached us,” Jerry Jr. said. “Our machines and scoring are capable of doing it, but we never did.”
During and post-COVID, the Rose Bowl took advantage of its loyal league bowlers and primarily operated its open hours are league nights which, at the Edgington Lane bowling house, ran seven nights per week during league season. Open bowling was a bit sparse.
That is one area the Millers are looking to expand upon at Dirty Dog – open bowling opportunities.
“This place is established and well ran,” Miller said. “There will be changes, but nothing too drastic. This is a well-oiled machine and we want to take it over and run it pretty much as they did.
“But we are going to try to do a little more open bowling, plus we’ll have a little more staff than they did.
“We’ve had pretty good turnouts for our cosmic bowling. People are coming in, having fun, and it’s a diverse crowd. We have young and old, men and women—a bit of everything.”
Those who’ve frequented the Dirty Dog Tavern know of its extensive, and popular, food menu. Miller said many of those options will eventually be available for purchase at the Dirty Dog Lanes as the menu is being revamped.
Manukin Jr. will also still be sticking around the bowling house, not only as a member of various leagues but also as an employee—his own employee.
He’ll be operating a pro shop inside Dirty Dog Lanes separate from the house itself.
“We’re hoping by the middle of August it’ll be up and running,” Miller said of the pro shop. He’ll be ready to go, selling balls, drilling balls, merchandise, and anything you need.
“He’s still here now bowling in leagues and drilling balls for people. This will make it a little more official. He’ll have a place of his own.”
While not official, Miller said he’s thinking of calling it the Rose Bowl Pro Shop, a way to pay homage to the history and success of the bowling house his family stewarded for more than 30 years.
Going Forward
While Manukin Sr. is retiring from the bowling game, he’s not hanging up his proverbial work hat just yet.
In his spare time, Jerry Sr. has become an author, publishing two books within the past few years, both of which fall into the category of Christian Literature.
“Only You And God Knows You: ‘I don’t understand the Bible, but I do understand God and life”’ and “I Would Gladly Meet You Half Way If I Knew Where To Start: God Knows My Life” are both available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, both in hardcover and paperback, along with digital copies.
He has another book in the works and is looking for a publishing company that will help him promote his writing.
“I started about four years ago,” Jerry Sr. said. “The thing about it is, my advice to people is to take notes of your thoughts.
“If you think something, write it down, otherwise, you will forget about it.”
