Cain’s Lanes, a 12-lane bowling alley near Manheim that opened in 1960, closed in late June after the property sold for $1.15 million and is slated for demolition.
The buyer plans to replace the site at 670 Lancaster Road in Penn Township with a car wash and a drive-thru coffee shop, reflecting demand for quick, vehicle-centered services.
That demand has fueled a broader car-wash boom: NPR reported about 60,000 U.S. car wash businesses in 2024, with analysts expecting the total to potentially double by 2030.
Industry economics and environmental rules help explain the shift, with car washes generating roughly $1.5 million in annual revenue and using captured, reused water instead of runoff from home washing.
The change also underscores a wider retail trend away from social gathering spots such as bowling alleys toward automated convenience businesses.