Elitch Lanes, a 63-year institution in northwest Denver, will be closing its doors in May and heading to Arvada.

The bowling alley will be packing up its bowling balls, shoes, monitors, bar stools, name and Big Lebowski paintings and move into Western Bowl, 10000 Ralston Road in Arvada. The Denver location will close for good May 17.

“That’s about the best we can do,” owner Cal Eichinger said. “The dirt around here, it’s so expensive.”

Eichinger had been leasing the building at 3825 Tennyson St., but he was informed last year that the building was sold and he would soon have to vacate. He said the building will become a Natural Grocers.

Western Bowl, which Eichinger said has been struggling to survive, will take on the Elitch Lanes name and Eichinger, along with one of his managers, will take over the day-to-day operations at the new place. Eichinger will not be an owner.

The customer base, which Eichinger called very diverse and very nice, will follow Elitch Lanes up to Arvada, he said. But the move leaves a void in the bowling scene in Denver.

“Life goes on, but at least we have a place not too far away to go,” Eichinger said. “And our customers are going to follow us.”

Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joe_vacc