Striking Out On Her Own

February 2010

Sharon Joseph is bringing sexy back to bowling with Harlem Lanes, the New York City alley she built along with her aunt Gail Richards. Before opening up Harlem’s first bowling alley in thirty years, the two women drafted a detailed business plan that sought to put a new spin on the sport by making bowling glamorous. Complete with a suede lounge, leather seating, and bowling shoes studded with three-inch high heels, they created the space with women in mind. “We realized women don’t always want to sit at a bar. They want to sit around with their girlfriends and catch up, so our space looks like a living room. When you come in, even if you’re not a traditional bowler, it feels inviting and comfortable." explains Sharon.

Harlem Lanes opened with a high-profile bang thanks to Joseph’s persistent efforts to enlist Bill Clinton for the ribbon cutting ceremonies. After convincing Clinton’s office, which is located in the historic uptown neighborhood, that they would schedule the opening any time he was available, Sharon was given only a week’s notice before his arrival. The premiere occurred three days before the bowling alley was actually ready, however she says the premature ceremony was well worth it. “My daughter was not initially amazed by Clinton, but he really spent the time to make her smile. They went on to cut the ribbon together—that was a very special moment. And it was important because someone like the former president coming in and supporting what I thought was a very small community idea allows people to think about building their dreams, overcoming challenges, and realizing that if you stick to it, great things can happen.”

Sharon’s perseverance prompted her to give up a comfortable career on Wall Street and even sell her home as she spent four and a half years raising funds for the $4.85 million endeavor. As the first African American women in the country to build and own a bowling alley, the partners faced skepticism. People doubted their ability to overcome financial hurdles and construction obstacles. “A lot of women owned a bowling alley because they inherited it or they purchased already existing ones. We were probably the first to build it from scratch. So it was something to be told,” she recalls. (She has since returned to the corporate world, but continues to own and oversee things with the help of a supportive staff.)

Harlem Lane’s construction did prove difficult, but it was nothing this savvy entrepreneur couldn’t handle. After losing her initial location, the New York City native persevered until she secured a space in the historic Alhambra Ballroom building. The design called for a two floor model, which required the complex installation of a new level in a once abandoned building. She chose the duplex design so that the bottom floor could cater to families and kids while the upper level entertained more mature audiences. When the plan was complete, Sharon’s daughter celebrated her fifth birthday as the first official customer to roll a ball down one of the shiny new lanes.

While the neighborhood continues to evolve, the bowling alley has become a microcosm of the community and Sharon’s vision of providing an affordable service that would bring together all ages and ethnicities has become a reality. She remembers being rewarded by the graciousness of a 92 year-old woman who had been unable to bowl for ten years because of her inability to commute downtown. “That unique moment showed us that people, from little kids to adults, have been touched by Harlem Lanes. They have been inspired by our story and that makes it worth all of the challenges we’ve overcome.”