Sarah Taddeo

@sjtaddeo

Radio Social’s name gives visitors a glimpse of what they’ll encounter when they walk into the warehouse turned entertainment center in North Winton Village — a decidedly social experience.

Everything in the nearly finished, approximately 42,000-square-foot space — from two bars to lawn and table games to 34 bowling lanes spread across two different settings — screams social engagement.

And that’s exactly how owner Dan Morgenstern envisioned it.

“The whole intent is to get people to do things together,” he said. He knew bowling alleys, including Clover Lanes, his former business that closed in Brighton last year, are declining in popularity and could use a fresh take.

"The industry needed a change...and I was either going to close the doors and walk away or I was going to create something entirely different," he said. The destination will be open by late April.

More: Good Luck co-owner to create Radio Social's restaurant

More: Former Clover Lanes owner opening new bowling center

It would be difficult to walk into Radio Social — a name that hints at history of the building as a hub for radio production during World War II — and not be swept into a game with friends.

Two bowling areas make up much of the space, illuminated by muted light coming in from window bays set into original painted ceilings. An eight-lane, more intimate space at the front of the building can accommodate smaller groups or private parties, while diners look on from the main bar and seating area off to the side.

The larger, 26-lane bowling area features a spot for live music and offers a view of the rest of the activity room and a second bar, which will be focused on beer and whiskey.

Some of the bowling leagues from Clover Lanes have migrated to the new spot, and junior leagues and one adult league have been bowling at Radio Social since November, said Cindy Burnett, general manager of bowling and gaming. She’s currently building the schedule for spring and summer bowling, starting in May.

Radio Social's design scheme is colorful yet subdued, weaving together the facility’s dining and activity spaces and pulling in quirky elements like mid-century modern furniture and revamped lockers from Clover Lanes.

“The challenge was, how do we envision a bowling alley in the 21st century?” said Brandon Colaprete, senior project designer with Staach, the local firm behind Radio Social’s major design concept.

Hate bowling? There will be darts, pool, pingpong and shuffleboard too. And when the Rochester weather smiles down on us, a warehouse door will open onto a lawn where bocce, badminton and croquet will be available.

“The hope is that there’s enough activity that you’ll want to come with some frequency,” said Morgenstern.

That’s perhaps the most noticeable shift from the nostalgic tradition of Clover Lanes to the renaissance of Radio Social, said Morgenstern — a bowling alley has one major activity drawing customers, but this new layout offers a wealth of entertainment that’ll hopefully keep visitors returning for more.

You can also consume something besides fries and beer in the new spot, although they’ll have those things too.

The menu, which will feature Middle Eastern elements while including bar favorites, was curated by executive chef Steven Eakins, who’s coming back to his hometown after working with Marc Murphy's New York City restaurants, and food and beverage director Chuck Cerankosky, co-owner of hit local restaurants Good Luck and Cure.

Libations will run the gamut from cocktails that’ll be “fun and full of energy,” said Cerankosky, to craft beer favorites from breweries like Genesee and Three Heads, to traditional beer brands, whiskey selections and a “tightly curated” wine menu, he said.

There’s a lot going on, but the ultimate goal is to create a fun hang-out space for a variety of ages and tastes.

“We’re doing something that’s somewhat unprecedented in Rochester,” said Cerankosky. “But it’s not going to be anything other than approachable.”

STADDEO@Gannett.com

Staff writer Will Cleveland contributed to this story.

Clover Lanes move speaks to new bowling era