Long before bowling became an app on your phone or a night out you planned last minute, it was something deeper. It was routine. It was ritual. It was the place you went every week, where familiar faces greeted you and the sound of pins falling meant you were exactly where you belonged.
That place was AMF.
For more than a century, AMF has been woven into the fabric of American neighborhoods. It has been where generations learned the game, where leagues became extended families, and where competition and connection lived side by side. As America’s longest-standing bowling company, AMF hasn’t just witnessed the evolution of bowling. It helped shape it.
Now, we’re taking a moment to honor where we’ve been, celebrate where we are, and share where we’re going next.
The heart of the neighborhood bowl
AMF has always stood for more than lanes and scores. It has been the heartbeat of local communities, a place where everyone is welcome and everyone belongs.
For some, AMF is where family traditions began. For others, it’s league night that’s never missed. For many, it’s where friendships formed, rivalries grew, and memories were made week after week.
This sense of belonging is not accidental. It’s foundational to who we are. AMF exists to bring people together through the timeless tradition of bowling, creating joy and community in a space that feels familiar, welcoming, and alive.
That purpose has guided us for generations, and it continues to guide us today.
AMF through the decades: a legacy built on innovation and community
AMF’s story is rooted in progress, but always anchored in people.
1900: The beginning
AMF began in Brooklyn in 1900 as American Machine & Foundry, originally focused on building industrial machinery designed to make everyday life work better. In its early years, the company manufactured everything from tobacco and baking equipment to complex mechanical systems, quickly earning a reputation for craftsmanship, scale, and innovation. Over time, that expertise expanded into consumer and recreational products, including bicycles, lawn equipment, boats, and sporting goods, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become some of the most iconic bowling equipment ever made. From the very start, AMF was defined by diversification, ingenuity, and a belief that well-built machines could bring people together.
1940s–1950s: Entering the game of bowling
By the mid-20th century, AMF had turned its attention to bowling. The company began manufacturing lanes, pinspotting equipment, and accessories, recognizing bowling’s growing popularity. In 1946, AMF unveiled the automatic pinspotter, a breakthrough that changed the sport forever. In 1952, the automatic pinspotter went into full production. By replacing manual pinspotting, bowling became faster, more consistent, and accessible to more players, helping transform it into a modern, repeatable pastime.
1960s: Bowling’s golden era and a new business venture
The 1960s marked a boom for bowling, and AMF was at the center of it. AMF automatic pinspotters powered thousands of bowling centers across the country, making the brand synonymous with the modern game. League play flourished, bowling became a weekly ritual for millions of Americans, and AMF helped define what the neighborhood bowling center looked and felt like.
In 1969, AMF acquired Harley-Davidson, a beloved American motorcycle manufacturer. AMF invested in modernizing manufacturing, expanding production capacity, and growing the dealer network nationwide. Under AMF’s ownership, Harley-Davidson introduced new models and innovations that helped scale the brand globally and strengthen its presence in the motorcycle market.
1970s: Growth beyond the lanes
As bowling continued to thrive, AMF expanded aggressively into other leisure and recreational industries. From Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Hatteras Yachts to sporting goods and fitness equipment, AMF became a diversified leader in leisure-time products. Even during this period of expansion, bowling remained one of the company’s most recognizable and influential contributions.
1980s–1990s: Refocus and reinvention
In the decades that followed, AMF began to streamline its operations, gradually stepping back from broad manufacturing and refocusing on bowling. AMF sold Harley-Davidson in 1981 to a management-led group, allowing the brand to return to independent ownership and continue its legacy. This shift marked a transition from equipment maker to bowling center operator. By the 1990s, AMF had become one of the largest operators of bowling centers in the world, moving closer to guests and communities than ever before.
2010s: A new era through Bowlmor
In 2013, AMF Bowling was acquired by Bowlmor Lanes to form Bowlmor AMF. This moment ushered in a new era of modernization, introducing upgraded environments, enhanced food and beverage programs, and a fresh take on the bowling experience while still honoring tradition. Bowlmor AMF became Bowlero Corporation in 2018, and AMF continued to operate in their brand portfolio.
Today: Part of Lucky Strike Entertainment
In 2024, Bowlero Corporation became Lucky Strike Entertainment. Today, AMF is part of Lucky Strike Entertainment and remains a cornerstone brand within a broader portfolio that includes Lucky Strike, Bowlero and the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). With the same parent company as the PBA, AMF connects everyday bowling with the highest level of the sport, bringing together open play, leagues, youth programs, and competitive excellence under one roof.
Tomorrow: Tradition carried forward
Looking ahead, AMF continues to focus on what has always mattered most. Community. Accessibility. The joy of the game. By honoring its past while evolving for today’s guests, AMF ensures that bowling remains a tradition worth passing down for generations to come.
The rebrand: a revitalized classic
This next chapter is not about reinvention. It’s about refinement.
The refreshed AMF identity represents a revitalized classic. It honors our roots while bringing a modern point of view to the neighborhood bowling center. It’s bowling done right, elevated without losing what made it special in the first place.
AMF remains America’s longest-standing bowling company, now designed for guests who value tradition with intention. Pristine lanes. Irresistible food and beverage. All-ages entertainment that feels welcoming, not overwhelming.
Guests can explore food and drink offerings through the AMF menu, or plan gatherings like kids’ parties and social events that bring people together with ease.
This is elevated tradition. Familiar, but refreshed. Trusted, but renewed.
Welcome to your house
AMF is your neighborhood bowl.
Your league house.
Your family tradition.
Your place to belong.
Our mission is to elevate the traditional neighborhood bowling center, inspired by our heritage and powered by community. Our vision is to be the best bowling center in every neighborhood we’re in.
As we step into this new chapter, we carry the past with pride and the future with confidence. The lanes are ready. The doors are open.
Welcome to AMF. A Classic Since Always.