Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama

Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama is a bowling alley in Newington, CT. The center is a 10-pin bowling destination that has served families and friends since January 13, 1959. Open seven days a week with hours running from 9am to midnight on most days (3pm opening on Mondays and 9pm close on Sundays), the alley maintains a non-smoking, friendly environment and can be reached at 860.666.5411. It holds a rating of 4.10 based on customer reviews. The business was founded by Frederick H. Callahan Jr., a Newington police officer who rose to the rank of Detective Lieutenant in the Newington Police Department, and his wife Loretta (Wood) Callahan. The couple built the bowling center on their own farmland, with Loretta working the front desk and Frederick, known as Bud, maintaining the machines and helping in the lounge. Their two sons, Frederick H. Callahan III and Francis "Rip" Callahan, grew the Bowl-O-Rama into a family owned and operated business. Fred III followed his father into the Newington Police Department, while Rip served as a firefighter and Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners. Rip married Patricia Zame, who worked as the Bowl-O-Rama's bookkeeper until her passing in 1994; he later remarried, and his wife Lisa now helps out in the office and at the control desk. The next generation began helping out at a young age, taking in rental shoes and cleaning. The center sits on Berlin Turnpike in Newington, near the Det. Lt. Fred H. Callahan, Jr. Memorial Bridge, about a third of a mile away, and roughly 0.2 miles from Parola Property.