decided to keep the property — and was closed for a year due to COVID-19 restrictions before reopening in April 2021 . But the center has returned , says Tess Trent , San Bruno ’ s manager for over three years .
“ We ’ re coming back with a vengeance ,” Trent says , noting the return of its popular Tuesday , Wednesday and Friday bowling league nights . The center is open for bowlers six days a week , closed only Mondays . “ There ’ s a lot of returning bowlers , and lots of new ones , and I feel that with the indoor arcade , and bar-restaurant , we ’ re drawing back families again .”
After serving in the Italian Army , Salvatore Muzzi came to the United States with several family members via Canada in the 1970s . He eventually moved to Mountain View and then to Yolo County with Stella and their twin sons , Bruno and Salvatore Jr .. The family eventually purchased almond orchards in Dunnigan in Yolo County and Arbuckle in Colusa County , and they also have a small grape vineyard in Dunnigan .
“ I ’ ve tried a lot of places ,” Muzzi says . “ I like the people and the weather . That ’ s why we stay here .”
In 1999 , Muzzi bought the Woodland building from Brunswick AMF as an investment , he says . Brunswick still owned the bowling alley and equipment and rented the facility from Muzzi before financial problems caused Brunswick to leave in 2011 , taking the bowling machines and lanes with them .
With the building in general disrepair , Muzzi had a decision to make . He ended up keeping it as a bowling alley , “ a family business for families ,” he says . It was closed for about two years , and at a cost of about $ 500,000 , Trent says . The 30,000-foot facility reopened in 2014 with a new name , pool tables , an arcade , bar , restaurant and banquet room , 16 new lanes and machines , electronic scoring and other enhancements to the 1940s-era building , Trent says . They ’ ve since added eight more lanes .
Trent , who started as the center ’ s accountant before becoming manager , says that Salvatore and Stella Muzzi consider it a “ second home .” Trent says they live nearby and will often walk to the bowling center to mingle with other bowlers and guests .
“ If there ’ s a party , Stella might pop in and say , ‘ Any cake for me ?’” Trent says .
The center has seven employees , including a full-time mechanic , but the restaurant is currently closed while a search for a cook continues , Trent says . Meanwhile , Woodland ’ s bowlers seem happy to have a place to roll again . “ I come here a couple of times a week ,” says John Newhall of Woodland , during a Wednesday night league game , where he bowled a personal best of 236 .
“ It ’ s a cool environment , locally owned , and I like that the lanes are new .”
Steve Martarano was a reporter at the Sacramento Union for 10 years before working in public affairs for both state and federal agencies in Sacramento . On Twitter @ MartArchives .
“ There ’ s a lot of returning bowlers , and lots of new ones , and I feel that with the indoor arcade , and bar-restaurant , we ’ re drawing back families again .”
Tess Trent , manager , San Bruno Bowling Center
Salvatore and Stella Muzzi , owners of San Bruno Bowling Center in Woodland , met more than 60 years ago in their shared birthplace of Italy . They moved to Woodland in the 1970s and bought the lanes 22 years ago .
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