Bham Now Woolworth — Try your hand at duckpin bowling at The Woolworth

Want to play the world’s largest PAC MAN game or duckpin bowl? Here’s your chance Birmingham because the long-anticipated gaming room, The Woolworth, opens today on Southside. Orchestra Partners and the owners of El Barrio and Paramount developed the idea for the social club where patrons can eat, play games and socialize in a fun-friendly atmosphere.

“The five and dime (10) Woolworth’s department store once occupied the space the social club is in and name was chosen because there is a term in bowling called which is a 5-10 split,” said John Boone, Principal, Orchestra Partners.

Inside this Woolworth, you’ll find a full service bar, dining area, plush sitting areas with board games, a duckpin bowling area and a spacious rooftop bar. When you’re not playing the games you can watch your favorite team play on big screen TVs that wrap around the bar and that are found in the sitting areas.

The Games!

Woolworth’s has eight duckpin bowling lanes. In Duckpin bowling the bowling balls are smaller than in 10-pin bowling balls and have no finger holes. The pins also are smaller and lighter, but the rules in duckpin bowling are the same as in 10-pin bowling. Keep in mind though, it is harder to make a strike in duckpin bowling because of the smaller lighter -pins.

You’ll also see and get to play world’s largest PAC MAN game. For 36 years this cultural icon has challenged gamers worldwide, but I have never seen one as large as the one at the Woolworth.

There are Foosball, Shuffleboard and bumper pool tables scattered throughout the area. You can play table tennis, arcade games or snap a photo in the photo booth.

Bham Now and Woolworth — The Woolworth’s Social Media Strategist Richard Danner with Shea Doriety.

Grab a Bite, Share a Drink, Have a Ball

You’ll find an American-modern Mediterranean inspired small plates on the menu. Fried fish bites, lettuce wraps, eggplant and flatbreads. There are Birmingham beer favorites on tap as well as fun specialty drinks like the Blue Hawaiian, the Spritzer, Notorious F.I.G., the Tennessee Split and Have a Ball. Patrons also can have a cocktail and eat in the Woolworth’s cosmopolitan rooftop bar which overlooks 20th Street South.

“Birmingham is working hard to revitalize the Five Points South area into a thriving entertainment district. Woolworth adds another entertainment venue for locals and tourists to enjoy in the heart of Southside,” said Richard Danner, Woolworth Social Media Strategist. “We are Southside’s fun-friendly spot where you can meet for good food, cocktails and have a ball (play a game).”