{"id":345696,"date":"2026-06-04T00:35:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T00:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/345696\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T00:35:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T00:35:34","slug":"oaklands-jack-london-square-to-lose-plank-a-longtime-bowling-venue-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/345696\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland’s Jack London Square to lose Plank, a longtime bowling venue"},"content":{"rendered":"

After nearly 12 years in Oakland\u2019s Jack London Square<\/a>, the bowling venue Plank is calling it quits.<\/p>\n

The jumbo-size establishment at 98 Broadway announced the impending closure on Instagram<\/a>, writing that its last day will be Aug. 2, 2026. Perhaps coincidentally, the shutdown comes just a month after an entertainment venue with a national footprint, Dave & Buster\u2019s, moved in down the block<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The business said that \u201cpersistent and significant drops in sales\u201d over the last two years and \u201csteadily rising costs\u201d had made staying in operation impossible.<\/p>\n

The departure of Plank follows that of several recent businesses, which include the Asian-inspired brewery Dokkaebier, the Seawolf pub and the Waterfront Hotel.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo our guests, neighbors, team members, event hosts, families and friends \u2014 thank you for making plank a place filled with energy, celebrations, laughter and memories. What started as \u2018Oakland\u2019s own\u2019 became so much more because of this incredible community,\u201d the company wrote.<\/p>\n

Customers who have made reservations in August and beyond will be contacted about refunds. However, people with gift cards and game-card credits should redeem them with the business before its final day.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the bottom of our hearts \u2014 thank you for being part of the plank story,\u201d the Instagram post ended.<\/p>\n

When Plank opened in Jack London Square in 2014, there were no bowling alleys in Oakland. The Mercury News reported that same year<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cPlank, which opened in October in the cavernous space that was once home to a chain bookstore, is already swollen with crowds that include families, young people and others. Plank also boasts a full-service restaurant that offers a variety of cuisine types (American, Latin, Italian, Asian) in a casual environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a huge, sprawling space. There\u2019s a bar right up front, situated between 12 bowling lanes and the sizable arcade area; another bar, six more bowling lanes and two pool tables in the 21-and-over \u2018Boardroom,\u2019 and an outdoor beer garden with a third bar, three bocce ball lanes and fire pits. TVs abound throughout, including three massive projection screens directly over the bowling lanes in the main room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those who miss Plank might drown their sorrows in beers at the city\u2019s new Dave & Busters, which opened in May, just a minute or two\u2019s walk away. Though the D&B\u2019s does not offer bowling, it does have arcade games and a giant claw machine called the \u201cHuman Crane<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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