Regional Bowling Centers Trying to Pick Up Spares : Recovery: Alleys that survived quake open their doors to displaced leagues until other facilities can be repaired.

As an independent owner of an area bowling alley, Bill Mossontte grapples daily with an industry giant: the Brunswick Corp.

Brunswick owns four bowling centers in the Valley, Mossontte one.

“This is one of the most competitive markets in the United States--the San Fernando Valley--for bowling,” Mossontte said. “League bowlers are valuable entities. You’re always trying to add league bowlers. I’m extremely competitive with Brunswick.”

In the month since the Jan. 17 earthquake rocked this area, Mossontte has welcomed Brunswick league bowlers by the hundreds to his Mission Hills Bowl. But Mossontte is not robbing Brunswick of business. Instead, he has rushed to his competitor’s aid.

“I will take their bowlers here and send them back when their houses are ready to reopen,” he said. “This is a time to help each other out.”

Few area lanes escaped damage from the 6.8 temblor, and four of the 13 in the San Fernando, Simi and Santa Clarita valleys remain closed. A fifth--Brunswick Valley Bowl in Simi Valley--reopened Friday.

Brunswick Granada Lanes and Corbin Bowl in Woodland Hills have so much damage they might never reopen. Rocket Bowl in Chatsworth won’t reopen until early March after repairs and remodeling. Brunswick Matador Bowl in Northridge won’t reopen until at least September, and the future of Granada Lanes hinges on a lease that expires in 10 months.

Of Brunswick’s four lanes in the area, only Bowlerland Lanes in Van Nuys stayed open after the earthquake.

“It’s a mess,” said Warren Flanigan, regional vice president of Brunswick. “There’s a lot of shuffling going on. I don’t think the dust will settle for quite some time.”

Flanigan estimates damage at three Brunswick locations at nearly $1.3 million. In addition, Brunswick is losing business. An estimated 2,000 league bowlers are either out of action or bowling elsewhere. Flanigan has been forced to cancel some leagues that were scheduled to run through May.

A bigger fear is that the Valley might become another San Bernardino. According to Flanigan, nearly two-thirds of that city’s league players stopped competing last year when two bowling alleys closed. When it comes to the livelihood of their sport, the Valley’s bowling proprietors--fierce competitors that they are--stand in unison.

Mossontte already has one of the busiest league schedules in the area, but he has taken in more than 350 daytime bowlers from Brunswick venues and reduced their fees.

“We want to see them bowl--for the industry,” Mossontte said. “Otherwise, the industry suffers. They quit.”

Mossontte is not the only bowling proprietor to step forward. Bowlerland has brought in 10 leagues and an estimated 500 bowlers from Matador and Granada.

Canoga Park Bowl is now home to two leagues each from Matador and Granada, representing an additional 300 bowlers. Canoga Park has become the temporary home to nearly 700 displaced bowlers, including those from 12 Corbin Bowl leagues.

Woodlake Bowl in Woodland Hills has accommodated nearly 200 bowlers from Corbin and Rocket Bowl. And Rocket Bowl, even though it is shut down, has promised to accommodate outside leagues without a temporary venue as soon as it reopens next month.

“I really feel closer to the competition,” said Mike Willis, bowling manager at Canoga Park Bowl. “There’s a working-together feeling.”

Aside from league players, recreational bowlers face even greater inconveniences. Most of the nine operating centers in the area have filled what used to be open-bowling time with displaced leagues.

At Mission Hills Bowl, for instance, the only slot for recreational bowling Monday through Thursday is from noon to 2:30 p.m. Open play at Canoga Park is not available until after 11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 p.m. Sunday. Saturday is open all day, however.

The greatest obstacle in the aftermath of the earthquake is restoring the four bowling alleys that remain closed. Most of them have cracked beams and partially collapsed roofs.

Matador Bowl likely has sustained more than $1 million in damage, Flanigan said. The south wall was removed because it was unstable. Rain has warped the lanes and rusted the pin-setting machines.

“We might just write it off as a loss and rebuild it,” Flanigan said.

Damage at Simi Valley, estimated at $250,000, was primarily superficial. Granada Lanes suffered the least damage ($20,000-$30,000), but it has provided Brunswick with its biggest headache.

Asbestos has been discovered in the cracked ceiling and must be removed. Flanigan claims that all repairs at Granada Lanes are the responsibility of the owner.

“It doesn’t appear they are working too hard on it,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we won’t reopen. But maybe the landlord is trying to tell us he doesn’t want us there.”

Flanigan also said Brunswick has been looking for a new site in the Valley in case Granada Lanes’ lease is not renewed later this year.

The lounge, restaurant and video game room are open at Corbin Bowl, but no repairs will be made to damage in the bowling alley, said owner Allen Shaw, until an accurate cost figure is determined.

Shaw said his lease could be dissolved and he could be forced to close if repair expenses exceed 25% of the estimated cost to build a new structure.

“I’m extremely (interested in) repairing this business,” Shaw said. “We were probably one of the hottest open bowling centers. I could have this reopened in a matter of weeks.”

Shaw said he spent about $500,000 upgrading the facility a year ago.

Because Rocket Bowl suffered partial lane damage, the venue must be sanctioned anew for league play once repairs are completed.

Rocket Bowl manager Donna Adamek said the $400,000 cost to reopen the center covers not only repairs but some much-needed refurbishing. For that, the timing of the earthquake was ironic.

Said Adamek, “We had OKd a remodel job the day before.”