What’s worth it? A $150 pair of jeans? A $40 steak? A $20 lap dance? A $4 cuppa joe? Maybe, or maybe not, depending on your personal perspective. Thankfully, Americans still get to freely choose where they squander their hard-earned bucks, and one gal’s dream vacation may be another man’s pair of tickets to the OSU championship game.
I was reminded of all this after reading a colleague’s recent blog entry, complaining about the prices at downtown’s Corner Alley where an hour’s worth of bowling costs $35 for up to 8 people, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. (The rest of the week, the price is $4.25 per person, per game.)
Lisa writes that she and a friend had planned to head over to the hipster hotspot on a Friday night, but were “shocked” to learn the prices. “So much for supporting the downtown Cleveland revival,” she grouses. “For that price, we figured we could buy a new pair of heels and ruin our manicures ourselves.”
Cute. But kinda knee-jerk. As Corner Alley sales and marketing guru Mary Lessick points out, the $35 (which, divided by eight, comes to far less than the price of a movie ticket; or, for those with tiny social circles, a modest $8.75 when divided by four) isn’t merely for bowling. “It’s like buying a cool space to hang out.” Sure, part of that purchase price includes the “opportunity” to cough up even more cash for booze and grub. In that regard, it’s a lot like catching a concert at HOB or a comedy show at Hilarities. But also included is a chance to mingle with other presumably cool Clevelanders, maybe make some new friends, and — possibly most important of all — get the hell outta the house on a Friday night.
That’s worth something too.
So maybe it is too pricey to become part of Lisa’s weekly budget. And certainly she has the right to spend her $17.50 (half of the $35 fee) however she chooses. For comparison, though, that’s about the cost of a grilled cheese sandwich, a beer, tax, and tip at the Lakewood bar and grill Melt or pizza and a movie at home.
But in any case, I’m moved to point out that, like all commodities, bowling at the Corner Alley — or any other type of entertainment — is only overpriced if no one is willing to buy it.
Apparently, in this instance, that’s not the case. “We’ve been swamped!” Lessick says. “On Friday and Saturday nights, we’ve had huge waits for a lane.”
Obviously, for some Clevelanders, the price is right. — Elaine T. Cicora
This article appears in Jan 3-9, 2007.
Corner Alley and “hipster bowling”?!?
I am deeply involved with the “Monsters of the Misery Court” …aka the Stafford Brothers…specifically Joe Stafford. I have been separated from my wife (estranged) for over 6 YEARS….and going through a divorce for over 2-1/2 years. This week, we have been in court and I have been on the witness stand for 2 full days, with no end in site! Billable hours is ALL that the Staffords work for AND everyone knows it! So why in the Hell doesn’t someone put a stop to it? I think there needs to be a total movement to “cook their collective asses!” I have 3…count ’em, 3 attorneys that I am paying, PLUS I am losing the whole week of work! As a self-employed dentist, it could easily put me out of business if this goes on for too long! And, you can rest assured, with the Stafford Brothers involved, it will last until they have sucked every last penny from the “marital estate”!
It is truly criminal! However, as long as men and women think that “…they will get their collective day(s) in court…” we as a society will continued to be totally SCREWED by the likes of Joe and Vince Stafford! FYI, I have answered the same fricking question 25 times in the past two days! And the arrogant asshole….aka Joe Stafford…just smirks and says “…this time, tell the truth…”
What a crock of shit!
If I sound frustrated…you have NO idea! I would LOVE to see a general uprising against such crap! I will be happy to lead, but I need some support!
I will be interested in any/all comment!