COVER STORY
Meet the Habetlers Rudy Habetler opened Habetler Bowl in Chicago in 1957, and today it's still going strong with son Bob and grandsons Bill, Dave and Jimmy. “What it means is we have enough of us to have a Habetler on the premises at all times to do things the way we would like to have them done,” said Bob. “If a decision has to be made, one of us is here to make it. We don't have to ask anyone else.” “We rarely take days off when we're in town,” said Dave. “One thing we tell our customers is if we're open, a Habetler will be here. It's not like 'we'll get back to you.' That doesn't happen. We'll get you an answer right away.” The 32-lane center was a palace when it opened with automatic pinsetters, recessed lighting, wallto-wall concourse carpeting and free parking.
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Until the early 1980s, it even had a rotating 30foot, multi-colored pin that could easily be seen from the nearby Kennedy Expressway. Rudy, who died in 1971 at age 61, was by far the family's best bowler having won the 1953 American Bowling Congress Masters and co-authoring a book “Strike-On” in 1959. The others have bowled sporadically, at best, primarily because they've been busy working. “It's hard to do it at your Rudy Habetler, the family place,” Bob said. “It's like eating at your patriarch, in the 1950s. own restaurant. Everyone is telling you about the steak.” Now age 69, Bob still remembers when he was younger helping Rudy. “We did everything, whatever we had to do,” he said. “We mostly did the crappy jobs. Dad always told me it was a learning experience. When he died I kind of took over. Today my boys pretty much are running it. I make coffee and help with the kids who come every day in the summer. We have about 3,000 kids through the Chicago Park District. It's a great business for us that time of year.” According to their father, Bill, 42, is the league guy while Dave, 43, is the repair guru. Youngest son Jimmy, 28, helps part-time doing whatever it takes since he's a full-time history teacher and a hockey coach. “Billy is personable. He gets along with the league bowlers,” Bob said. “Dave amazes me. He can fix anything and is not afraid to tackle anything. It's rare when we have to call a repair guy.” As the tie between both generations, Bob has seen many changes through the years. Among them are the advent of synthetic lanes, glow-inthe-dark and cosmic activities, rock and roll bowling and high-average competitors toting as many as eight bowling balls. “We're all too lazy to get any other work,” Bob said. “Plus bowling has been very good to our family. I hope it continues. I don't know if there will be a fourth generation.”
Meet the Millers Ernie Miller was a pinsetter in the 1940s who reportedly set a world record when he set pins over 200 games in multiple centers on the same day. By the early 1950s, he was buying and selling centers in northwest Washington, primarily those in trouble. “He took over when they went belly up, and he'd turn them around,” said son Steve, 58. “But he never owned more than two at a time.” His first was Broadway Bowl in Everett which he later sold and bought again. “It was converted from a Safeway grocery store,” Steve said. “I remember the 16
IBI
November 2012
Toni and Larry Mille r
of Glacier Lanes in
Everett, WA.