Sweat Fitness to Open BYO Bowling Alley in East Falls

The new Sweat Fitness and Frames will open in April near Philadelphia University.

Scott Caplan at the new Sweat Fitness and Frames

I’m sure this happens to you every day: You go to the gym and find yourself thinking, “Gosh, I really wish I could go bowling right now.” What if you could hop off the elliptical and stroll over to your gym’s bowling alley for a few frames?

“We’re building a gym with a bowling alley in it,” says Sweat Fitness co-owner Scott Caplan. “I just woke up one morning and said, ‘I don’t think this has ever been done,’ so we’re doing it.”

Dare to dream, no?

Caplan’s hatching his gym-cum-bowling-alley plan in East Falls, near Philadelphia University. Construction crews broke ground last fall, and the facility is scheduled to be up and running by April.

In addition to a fully equipped gym—the emphasis of which will be on group training opportunities for members—Sweat members will be able to score free bowling during off-peak hours (the timing’s not set in stone yet, but he’s thinking weekdays between 9 and 3). Caplan’s also developing a bowling fitness class, in which members will use bowling balls for a workout. Members of any Sweat Fitness location will be able to use the facility.

While drinks won’t be on the house, you can bring them if you want. The 10-lane bowling alley will be BYOB, and each lane will be equipped with keg-erators to keep your brew nice and cold. Caplan envisions the space being rented out for happy hours, birthday parties and more.

Of course, it’ll certainly be a hit with nearby Philly U students, who’ll have a free shuttle service at their disposal.

“We like the college,” says Caplan. “The real estate deal was right for us. We felt like it was an unserved area for bowling.”

If you’re looking to join, the gym is currently offering pre-sale memberships. Base memberships are going for $20 per month, but you can add a group-training package for an extra $30.