Founded in 1924 by John K. Mahall, Mahall’s started out as a dance hall, before adding a confectionery store then a barbershop. It’s latest — and longest running — iteration is as a restaurant and bowling alley. Prior to its first and only change of ownership in 2012, the establishment was passed down through three Mahall generations — with each family at some point living in the apartment above. Since its founding, Mahall’s has undergone several remodels and renovations. In the 30’s, four bowling lanes were added to the lower level, the dance hall was converted into 10 lanes & a post-prohibition restaurant/bar was added. In the 50’s, the Mahall family bought the building next door in order to provide a new wing for billiards and a larger recreational space in general. Mahall’s occupies a unique and distinctive section of Lakewood’s Birdtown neighborhood – initially built to house Union Carbide and Standard Oil (mostly immigrant) workers. There, Mahall’s 20 Lanes appealed to the close-knit community and business thrived for decades. In 2012, a new family took the keys. Led by Kelly Flamos, Joe Pavlick and their immediate families, the group has remained dedicated not only to preserving this important piece of American history, but also to the proliferation of the arts on the westside of Cleveland. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Founded in 1924 by John K. Mahall, Mahall’s started out as a dance hall, before adding a confectionery store then a barbershop. It’s latest — and longest running — iteration is as a restaurant and bowling alley. Prior to its first and only change of ownership in 2012, the establishment was passed down through three Mahall generations — with each family at some point living in the apartment above. Since its founding, Mahall’s has undergone several remodels and renovations. In the 30’s, four bowling lanes were added to the lower level, the dance hall was converted into 10 lanes & a post-prohibition restaurant/bar was added. In the 50’s, the Mahall family bought the building next door in order to provide a new wing for billiards and a larger recreational space in general. Mahall’s occupies a unique and distinctive section of Lakewood’s Birdtown neighborhood – initially built to house Union Carbide and Standard Oil (mostly immigrant) workers. There, Mahall’s 20 Lanes appealed to the close-knit community and business thrived for decades. In 2012, a new family took the keys. Led by Kelly Flamos, Joe Pavlick and their immediate families, the group has remained dedicated not only to preserving this important piece of American history, but also to the proliferation of the arts on the westside of Cleveland. And the rest, as they say, is history.
