AMF Firebird Lanes

Ok. sooo I RECENTLY got into bowling. I liked it before, but now I’m starting to like it even more. After YEARS I came back here, and I went with some close friends. I would consider them to be more like family. We went on a Friday night for their midnight bowling. and we had gone to a few bars before and when we went here I got really into bowling, and they have these shooters. they call them Tooters (test tube shooters) and OMG they are absolutely AMAZING! Also… you should try their long islands, I’ve never had such good long islands like the way they make them here. The next time I went they remembered us and gave us great service… I mean I’ve always had great service since then. Terry who works there is awesome… he’s really helped me to perfect my game. It’s sad because I don’t go there anymore since I live in Portland, but I love the fact that Sunday through Thursday if you go 9-​close it’s only 10 $ including shoes! They have some pretty great deals too if you’re really into bowling. I like coming here instead of any of the other bowling places in Salem because of the service. I am always treated very well here, and the staff are very friendly and helpful.

You wouldn’t know it was there if someone didn’t assure you it was. But I found it. Heck, I found it pretty good with a 197, 253 and 224. Yeah, I think I’ll go back.
The guy at the front desk was pretty nice and even came down to our lane to check on us. He’s apparently a pretty good bowler and started helping us with some advice, since we hadn’t bowled on league for over 6 years.
I miss bowling. The lanes here are synthetic and I prefer traditional wood lanes, but whatever. Gotta go with the flow and move into the modern era (seems like an oxymoron when talking about bowling). I’ll probably join a league or two here eventually.

My hubby, daughter and I came here on a Friday night for a friends kids birthday party. I have to say this is the weirdest place and location for a bowling alley. It’s smack dab in a residential neighborhood and it’s set WAY back from the main road. Heck, on the outside it doesn’t even look like a bowling alley, but more like some type of Spanish hotel/​mission. Anyhow…
Upon arrival, I spotted the table with the league sign-​up sheets. As I was browsing through the assistant manager came up and greeted me and was very friendly and informative about which league was which. Hubby and I have been wanting to join a fall league so he was very wise to have come and talk to me when he did! My hubby came over soon after to the table and also had a nice chat with the manager.
After our chat we headed to the front desk to check in. The guys running the front desk were very pleasantly polite and helpful, even with all of our mass confusion! Somehow they put us up on lanes 3 & 4 which was right next to our friends birthday party. I consider this excellent customer service.
We head down to our lanes and start our 2 hours of bowling. About 15 – 20 minutes into our first game the general manager came down to greet us and just chat with us. Apparently he came at the right time because my husband was on a hot streak and cranked out seven strikes in a row! He offered me some tips on how to improve my throw and I too threw a strike. He asked us if we ever have been on a league and would we like to join one. I guess he didn’t know the other manager had already asked but that’s ok… we felt honored to even be asked.
Well, hubby ended up with a 253 game after the manager chat. Not too shabby for not having bowled in over a year!!! We definitely plan to come back soon and hopefully be a part of a league this fall.
The only reason I gave them four stars is because of how the girl that works in the snack bar area treated my daughter. This was our first time here and we did not know they did not offer water for free. My daughter went up to ask for some water for us and the girl rudely told her «We don’t SERVE that here… IF you want WATER you HAVE to pay for a $ 2 BOTTLE.» So my daughter asked her if she could have a cup to put some water in and the rude girl yet again tells her «YOU have to BUY A $ 2 BOTTLE! NO CUPS!!» My daughter came back to us, mortified that she got treated in such a bad way and refused to go back and ask for anything else.
I wound up sending my husband back to get a pitcher of lemonade which cost $ 6…probably a lot cheaper than all those water bottles anyhow. Hopefully the management will speak to this girl and give her some advice on how to NOT be rude to new customers and especially young girls. :/

I’ll admit, I am not an accomplished bowler. Aside from being a 5 year old sleeping on the orange plastic chairs when my father bowled in a league back in the 70’s, my bowling experience is limited to a few games every few years at the suggestion of friends.
Which in some ways gives me the perfect viewpoint for the majority of the population, because a quick poll of the people I know indicates that most of the population has a similar relationship to bowling.
Anyway, a friend suggested an Sunday afternoon diversion of bowling. Asking a friend who bowled in a league what was the best option in Salem, he suggested Firebird Lanes. When he said it’s on Center Street I said, «What?! There’s a bowling alley on Center?» Yes, there is – just keep going past Lancaster. In about ¹⁄₈ mile you see a very large sign for Firebird that leads into what looks like a huge parking lot for an apartment complex. Huh? The building itself has NO markings, and it’s just kinda… weird.
But, inside, the place was spotless, bright, and early on a Sunday afternoon totally empty aside from two gentleman sharing a lane. The guy at the front desk were pleasant and helpful, and the woman at the snack was was super helpful, bringing our goodies and checking in on us a few times.
A good selection of balls, and equipment that, to my eyes seemed well kept and in good shape. The shoes weren’t gross (although no more stylish than any others). The seating is plentiful and well organized. I’d bowled in Keizer not long ago, and I’d compare this place to it very favorably (cleaner, brighter, better equipment, etc.).
None of this helped my game, but it was fun and I hope to return a little more often and perhaps improve a bit.
For shoes and two games it was about $ 12.00. It took the three of us about 1.5 hours to do that, as we were chatting and catching up at the same time. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon. Games are about $ 4.50 each, but there’s a Sunday morning special: from 9−12noon games are like $ 1.69! This would be a great CHEAP way to have a little fun, catch up with friends and get your mind off whatever is ailing you!
There appears to be a league option for just about anyone who wants to bowl. So join the fun! By the time we left, the place was at about half capacity, and there was a representative mix of Salem: young, old, white, Hispanic, male, female. All seemed to be getting good attention and service from the staff.
As with any alley, walk in non-​league traffic will take a back seat to league play. So, if you don’t bowl and don’t know if the place is going to be busy with league play, give them a call and ask. Sunday afternoons seemed to be open and offer ample availability.

This place is closed??? I don’t think so. Weird. Anyway, the staff is always rude… and for non-​league family folk like me… they always have something going on… so you never know when to come and relax without being rushed. Salem needs a better bowling alley. The place feels greasy and dingy inside. Oh well.