Owner John Blancher Renovated 2009 (new location) Year built 1941 (original location) Seating type dance floor D&B Business Directory . The five-story, 56,000-square-foot property is bordered by the old Lafayette City Hall building, Traffic Court, a statue of Confederate Gen. Alfred Mouton and the Filling Station restaurant. Do Not Leave New Orleans Without Thursday Night At Rock 'N Bowl! 92% of travelers recommend this experience. We like to be part of the community. With that, a New Orleans entertainment empire was born. Rated 5 / 5. It will take a while before we have that in Lafayette, but thats the goal.. New Orleans: (504) 861-1700. Get ready to dance the night away while sipping on some beers, eating delicious food and knocking down a few pins. The acoustics for the band were surprisingly good for a big, open, high-ceilinged hall. We will go here again next time we are in town & will make sure there is a Thursday during the trip. We believe that we, the workers of the world, can unite in revolution to overcome capitalism and build a better world. West standards (Reno, NV) The lanes are very retro - circa 1950?? He also plays guitar in the cover band New Orleans Arrhythmia. It was the right thing to do., He says he has received overwhelming support from people who, like him, believe his critics dont have a sense of humor. But the outside Entergy connector that caught fire likely dated to the buildings construction in 1971. The night I went they had 2 incredible bands going simultaneously - Rebirth Brass Band on one floor, Rockin Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters in the basement. Follow Keith Spera on Twitter, @KeithSpera. Website. Thats not part of the political conversation for me., Regardless of what happens in the mid-term elections, I still will be trying to get along with everybody. Every night brings new live entertainment, ranging from funk to blues to zydeco. Rock N Bowl has it all! John Blancher, the current owner, purchased it in 1988 and a year later turned it into a live music venue, while keeping the bowling alley active. John recounts how he has seen boys and girls meet on his lanes, get married, and return years later with children of their own. BTW - Ye Ole College Inn is adjacent (on the same property) to Rock an' Bowl, which is an excellent restaurant. Theres a full kitchen, and a full bar, and live music four or five nights each week. Shopping. This side of town definitely needs more people and more foot traffic.. We are workers, employed and unemployed, youth, students, and seniors. Then took Uber back for $17 at it was 9:30 at night (but trolleys still operating) Convenient food at Ye Olde College Inn next door (make reservations). Rock n Bowl and Ye Olde College Inn owner John Blancher undergoes triple bypass surgery; doctors pleased with procedure, One way to get a gig at Rock 'n' Bowl? PERSONA: JOHN BLANCHER - New Orleans Magazine Blancher responded to the social media reaction by saying the situation has gotten way out of line., "No one is in favor of the attack on Paul Pelosi. Some pointedly targeted the business and its owner. He also acquired a neighboring restaurant, Ye Olde College Inn. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. I think that were going to get a chance to be a little bigger, he said. Reservations are recommended for bowling. The last Rock n Bowl we built was a learning experience, and Im sure this one will be, too., In the 27 years since he opened the original Rock n Bowl, proprietor John Blancher has tak. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Patrons will enter from Jefferson Street, where the banks drive-thru lanes are now. The Monumental Task Committee openly brags on its website that its polished the Henry Clay and Jefferson Davis monuments. New Rock 'n' Bowl facility to open in downtown Lafayette's old Whitney It's located on Carrollton Ave. right next to Ye Olde College Inn . It would have been a sold-out show. All Rights Reserved. The club features various live music of local musicians, and is also famous for booking many zydeco acts. Rock'n'Bowl | Special Events | Book a Party The band shifted gears. Subscribe It was easily going to be my best night.. So much fun to bowl and listen to live music at the same time. We were close several times, but things never worked out., Local officials in Lafayette have been supportive of his plans, he said: The city seems to be very open to it.. New Orleans Rock 'n' Bowl was first located in the second story of a mall. In no way was I inciting violence or (implying) that I felt that it was justified. He saved the night.. Costumes have been often offensive during Halloween and Mardi Gras for generations. All interior wiring was replaced when the building was converted to a bowling alley in 2009. Rock 'n' Bowl - Venue - New Orleans, LA - WeddingWire Rock 'n' Bowl owner reacts to controversy over post about 'outrageous' Pelosi costume. Food. The food probably death. Get ready to dance the night away while sipping on some beers and knocking down a few pins. We are funded by and for workers, for the liberation of all workers and oppressed people. The 62,000 square-foot building will be able to host events and normal bowling and concert-related activities under the five-story buildings roof. The post was a picture of a customer attending a Halloween party in New Orleans. Fun place. Rock n Bowl owner John Blancher is no stranger to social media controversy. John Blancher, photographed in the bar area of Ye Olde College Inn on January 3, 2013. Seems a lot of the crowd are regulars & they spotted us right away as new folks. Email Keith Spera at kspera@theadvocate.com. Mid City Lanes Rock 'n' Bowl remained open during reconstruction of the building. When an electrical fire cut Rock 'n' Bowl's power during Jazz Fest months after Hurricane Katrina. They openly glorify figures like P. G. T. Beauregard or Robert E. Lee, who fought to defend the Souths brutal plantation slavery regime. It's not far. I think itd be great to have because its just more development from downtown and more people that want to be downtown and not just be in some sort of strip mall office space somewhere.. My Daughter's 5th Anniversary celebration. Hes wanted to open a satellite Rock n Bowl outside New Orleans ever since HurricaneKatrina. My husbands kids are 18 and 19. Price: $24 per hour per lane Immediately after the closing, the devoutly Roman Catholic Blancher repeated a ritual from previous acquisitions: He hung iconic portraits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Guadalupe whose feast day coincided with the closing near the elevator in the lobby of the Whitney building. History. Rock 'n' Bowl - Venue - New Orleans, LA - WeddingWire Weddings Wedding Venues Restaurant Weddings Louisiana New Orleans New Orleans (City) Rock 'n' Bowl in Rock 'n' Bowl New Orleans, LA View map Phone number Request pricing 5.0 4 Gallery 16 About FAQs Reviews 4 Rock 'n' Bowl Wedding cake Wedding toasts Couple photo Wedding photo . Im not wishing bad on anybody. Many of his critics, he said, mistakenly believe hes the man wearing the costume. The club re-opened by December 2005, one of the first business back open in Mid City New Orleans. In 1941 the bowling alley opened on the upstairs floor of a small commercial mall building in Mid-City New Orleans under the name of "Mid City Lanes." a New Orleans icon, to the delight of both young and old. Eleven years later, we bought the Whitney building.. How would he have reacted to a customer wearing a costume referencing Republican House Minority Whip Steve Scalise being shot in the hip in 2017 during practice for a Congressional baseball game? Rock 'n' Bowl is a New Orleans institution where you can rock 'n' roll while you bowl. It looked like there were a few more private rooms off the main space. Address Just my two cents worth. New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 866-3683 Tuesday - Saturday. Rock 'n' Bowl owner John Blancher's Facebook post about a party attendee wearing a costume on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, that referenced the recent attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's. If you're from out of town and don't necessarily know your way around I would suggest cabbing/ubering it there. The new venue officially opened on April 15. Hes a big fan of Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars and believes they would be a great band for the grand opening. The Front Porch Grill offers good pub grub, and many New Orleans favorites such as fried shrimp, boudin bites, hot sausage poboys, and Ye Olde College Inns famous bread pudding. Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! They were opening acts for Anders Osborne who started at 2:00 a.m. Cover charge $12 for 3 bands! But by Sunday morning, fallout was all over social media. Site provided by GrowthZone - powered by ChamberMaster software. Highly recommended. This is a fun place. Live music and bowling define the Rock n Bowl brand, but the in-house catering business hosting birthday parties, office parties, holiday parties, etc. Overview. Specialties: Live Music, Huge Dance Floor, Beer, Booze, and Bowling Established in 1941. He plans to convert the first two floors into an entertainment emporium similar to the existing Rock n Bowl in New Orleans. The old Whitney Bank building on Jefferson Street in downtown Lafayette, La. Blancher said the top three floors will be rented as office spaces for businesses. In 1941 Mid City Lanes opened on the upstairs floor of a small commercial mall building giving way to the infamous RocknBowl. The tweet by Tisserand was retweeted and liked several hundred times and many comments directed at the Rock 'n' Bowl owner were pointed. Either way, it's Good Times! And Im sure there are some rockers that would want to hear (80s arena rock cover band) Contraflow., Rock n Bowl owner John Blancher has been hit up for gigs in many unexpected places perha. 7:23 p.m. For the past 15 years Benny Grunch & The Bunch have entertained Christmas night at The Rock N Bowl in New Orleans, La. The band still made money, it just wasnt as good as it was going to be., Stephen Klein, Cowboy Mouths manager, said in a statement, Thanks to everyone who showed up and sorry we could not perform our rock n roll revival, but circumstances were beyond our control. Elevators on the Lee Avenue side will transport parties and event-goers to the ballroom and suite areas, which he share a communal bar area. Hes just raw rock n roll. Mid-City. He played until the Entergy crew returned with the replacement parts and shut off Rock 'n' Bowl's power entirely to make the repairs. Rock 'n' Bowl is a New Orleans institution where you can rock 'n' roll while you bowl. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The first live music at the venue was performed on November 2, 1989 by Johnny J and the Hitmen. The customer is also carrying a sledgehammer. Im trying to get people to come into my place.. I have also seen him get extremely drunk and strip his clothes off on stage. The Thursday night crowd ranged from families with young kids to old folks to hard core, hard dancing music fans, to what looked like a wedding rehearsal party. New Orleans Chamber of Commerce And when those parts arrived and the repair was being made, power to the building would have to be shut off entirely, necessitating a full evacuation. The drive-thru window will be transformed into a window to the kitchen, Blancher said, and the erstwhile financial institutions current parking lot is the designated spot for some of the facility's bowling lanes. Given a choice, he noted, I would have scheduled it at another time.. We were there in the middle of the afternoon so it was not crowded. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate). Scott Billington has produced albums by Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-chas, Chris Ardoin, Geno Delafose and other Louisiana artists featured at Rock n Bowls weekly Thursday Zydeco Night. I would find it offensive, Blancher said.At the same time, I wouldnt throw a guy out on Halloween Saturday for wearing a costume., He cited a recent segment on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher in which the host lamented that Halloween is supposed to be outrageous.but every year, theres a new list of offensive things we shouldnt do on the day thats all about being offensive., The best costume caption that Blancher added to the Wheres Nancy? picture wasnt endorsing it, he said. It is a unique venue that combines a bowling alley and a music club together in one place. He expects the facility to employ 75-100 people once it opens. Rock 'n' Bowl - New Orleans, LA - Yelp Paul Pelosi, 82, was attacked in the couples San Francisco home on Friday, reportedly by a man with a hammer who was said to be looking for the Speaker. into a Rock 'n' Bowl, with plans to retain some of the bank features like the drive-through teller windows behind him, Thursday, December 22, 2016. Johnny Blancher's vision of turning an old Lafayette bank building into a premier downtown entertainment venue is on its way to becoming a reality. We were also able to bowl during the party. . Theyre kind of in place, he stated. Theres nothing funny about an 82-year-old man getting hit with a hammer. Eats. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The two previous reviews of 1/5 are from folks who either didn't give Rock 'n Bowl a chance or they hit it on a bad night. Music, plus bowling, plus party venue. Blancher said the facility in Lafayette will allow ample space for event-goers and casual customers alike. outfit 'would cause a firestorm'. This is a big, open hall. John Blancher, founder of the popular New Orleans bowling alley/music venue, has purchased Whitney Banks former headquarters in downtown Lafayette for $2.5 million. The dance floor was filled at times with young and old all having a great time. Hes such a force up there. It was a nightmare but we got through it, Blancher said. It would take at least an hour to get those parts. The club features various live music of local musicians, and is also famous for booking many zydeco acts. Rock n Bowl - Mid City Lanes (New Orleans) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. We saw the last show of the season for Contraflow and this cover band was outstanding. NEW ORLEANS The owner of a couple of high-profile businesses in Mid-City is coming under fire on social media for a post that seemed to champion a patron wearing a Halloween costume making light of the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband just the day before. Of course it isnt justified., He hopes Paul Pelosi recovers quickly. Reservations are recommended. One Stop Dine & Rock. Phone: (504) 861-1700; Fax: (504 . Favorite place for visitors to watch the locals play. I plan my New Orleans trips around Zydeco night. New Orleans Rock 'n' Bowl founder's son outlines vision for new Lafayette venue, BY KAILEY BROUSSARD | Special to The Advocate, New Rock 'n' Bowl facility to open in downtown Lafayette's old Whitney Bank building. We want to do charitable events; we want to find out what the needs are and play our little part in hosting and helping., Follow Richard Burgess on Twitter, @rbb100., Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. An outdoor connector that links the Entergy power line from a pole on Dublin Street to Rock n Bowls electrical grid caught fire just after 10 p.m. on May 5. But the music wont be exclusively Cajun and zydeco. Rock'n'Bowl | Live Music Rock 'n' Bowl and Ye Olde College Inn, which have remained open in limited capacity throughout the coronavirus pandemic, have temporarily shut down due to what owner John Blancher describes. Entertainment Event Space/Event Venue. Either way, its Good Times! But this wealth is stolen and privately owned by the capitalist class for their greed and profit. I dont think so because when I went there were kids bowling during the music and there was no barrier or separate entrance between the music and bowling areas. Gift Cards. Business has been booming ever since. New Rock 'n' Bowl facility to open in downtown Lafayette's old Whitney Bank building. His Facebook feed contains provocative posts about politics, the pandemic and other hot-button topics, alongside religious content and advertisements for upcoming events at his popular bowling alley and music venue. I wish I had the band's energy - they played for more than two and a half hours with hardly a break. Staff photo by Chris Granger NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, The band improvised to partially salvage what would have been the venue's biggest night of the 2023 festival season. It cant be easy for them to defend against the accusation of being white supremacists while theyre so busy licking slave-owners boots.