© Copyright 2024 Jack Kaplan

Central Park Lanes

“People have fun here. That’s all I can ask for. When the job gets boring, and I start having second thoughts, I try to tell myself this means something to a lot of people. That usually helps me,” Chuck Vozzella, owner of Central Park Lanes, said—a spotlight on a 1950s, community-oriented, family-owned bowling alley in East Boston. Authentic small businesses' power to unite individuals and create “family” is an integral hope of preserving grass-roots neighborhood institutions.

Patrons bowl, laugh and drink at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley that has been open since 1952 in East Boston. “People have fun here. That’s all I can ask for. When the job gets boring, and I start having second thoughts, I try to tell myself this means something to a lot of people. That usually helps me,” Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler, said. - Jack Kaplan
Patrons bowl, laugh and drink at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley that has been open since 1952 in East Boston. “People have fun here. That’s all I can ask for. When the job gets boring, and I start having second thoughts, I try to tell myself this means something to a lot of people. That usually helps me,” Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler, said.
The main floor of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley that has been open since 1952 in East Boston. “My dad, Angelo, opened this place when I was a kid. I grew up playing here, and my mission is to keep this old-timey feel alive,” said Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler. - Jack Kaplan
The main floor of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley that has been open since 1952 in East Boston. “My dad, Angelo, opened this place when I was a kid. I grew up playing here, and my mission is to keep this old-timey feel alive,” said Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler.
Outside Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The style, featuring straight pins and small balls, popularized in the 1880s, is iconic to New England. - Jack Kaplan
Outside Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The style, featuring straight pins and small balls, popularized in the 1880s, is iconic to New England.
Bowlers watch to see the result of their friend's throw at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. - Jack Kaplan
Bowlers watch to see the result of their friend's throw at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston.
Stacy Cohen jumps into husband Zack Cohen's arm after throwing a strike at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. - Jack Kaplan
Stacy Cohen jumps into husband Zack Cohen's arm after throwing a strike at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston.
A bowler throwing a ball at Central Park Lanes a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. - Jack Kaplan
A bowler throwing a ball at Central Park Lanes a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston.
Chuck Vozzella, owner of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley in East Boston, talks and laughs with friends. They Discuss things like sports, gambling, women, and daily woes, and Chuck often assumes a pensive face of contemplation. “ I am a listener. I am usually pretty quiet with all these guys,” Vozzella said. - Jack Kaplan
Chuck Vozzella, owner of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley in East Boston, talks and laughs with friends. They Discuss things like sports, gambling, women, and daily woes, and Chuck often assumes a pensive face of contemplation. “ I am a listener. I am usually pretty quiet with all these guys,” Vozzella said.
Former patrons and community members of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston, who passed away are memorialized on the alley's wall. “ These people used to bowl here or were just members of our community. When someone asks, I have no issue putting it up,” Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler, said. - Jack Kaplan
Former patrons and community members of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston, who passed away are memorialized on the alley's wall. “ These people used to bowl here or were just members of our community. When someone asks, I have no issue putting it up,” Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler, said.
(L,R) Marie Defeo, 86, Cheers and keeps score for her husband, Bruno Defeo, 87, as he prepares to roll a ball at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The couple has been coming here for over 30 years. “Bruno and I do it to stay close and stay active. We both have bad hearts but still come every week,” Marie said. - Jack Kaplan
(L,R) Marie Defeo, 86, Cheers and keeps score for her husband, Bruno Defeo, 87, as he prepares to roll a ball at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The couple has been coming here for over 30 years. “Bruno and I do it to stay close and stay active. We both have bad hearts but still come every week,” Marie said.
Ball return machines at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The style featuring straight pins and small balls, popularized in the 1880s, is iconic to New England. - Jack Kaplan
Ball return machines at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The style featuring straight pins and small balls, popularized in the 1880s, is iconic to New England.
Pins and lane numbers at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. - Jack Kaplan
Pins and lane numbers at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston.
Patrons bowl, laugh and drink at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley that has been open since 1952 in East Boston. “People have fun here. That’s all I can ask for. When the job gets boring, and I start having second thoughts, I try to tell myself this means something to a lot of people. That usually helps me,” Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler, said. - Jack Kaplan
The main floor of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley that has been open since 1952 in East Boston. “My dad, Angelo, opened this place when I was a kid. I grew up playing here, and my mission is to keep this old-timey feel alive,” said Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler. - Jack Kaplan
Outside Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The style, featuring straight pins and small balls, popularized in the 1880s, is iconic to New England. - Jack Kaplan
Bowlers watch to see the result of their friend's throw at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. - Jack Kaplan
Stacy Cohen jumps into husband Zack Cohen's arm after throwing a strike at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. - Jack Kaplan
A bowler throwing a ball at Central Park Lanes a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. - Jack Kaplan
Chuck Vozzella, owner of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley in East Boston, talks and laughs with friends. They Discuss things like sports, gambling, women, and daily woes, and Chuck often assumes a pensive face of contemplation. “ I am a listener. I am usually pretty quiet with all these guys,” Vozzella said. - Jack Kaplan
Former patrons and community members of Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston, who passed away are memorialized on the alley's wall. “ These people used to bowl here or were just members of our community. When someone asks, I have no issue putting it up,” Chuck Vozzella, owner and former professional bowler, said. - Jack Kaplan
(L,R) Marie Defeo, 86, Cheers and keeps score for her husband, Bruno Defeo, 87, as he prepares to roll a ball at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The couple has been coming here for over 30 years. “Bruno and I do it to stay close and stay active. We both have bad hearts but still come every week,” Marie said. - Jack Kaplan
Ball return machines at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. The style featuring straight pins and small balls, popularized in the 1880s, is iconic to New England. - Jack Kaplan
Pins and lane numbers at Central Park Lanes, a candlepin bowling alley open since 1952 in East Boston. - Jack Kaplan

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