• Exterior sign hangs outside the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union) Photo: Will Waldron
Photo: Will Waldron
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Exterior sign hangs outside the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Exterior sign hangs outside the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Photo: Will Waldron
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Steve Hall from Saratoga Strike Zone dismantles the old Brunswick A bowling machine at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union) less
Steve Hall from Saratoga Strike Zone dismantles the old Brunswick A bowling machine at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being ... more
Photo: Will Waldron
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Martin Daley and his 5-year-old son, Mason, look at items up for bidding at the Playdium bowling alley auction on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Martin Daley and his 5-year-old son, Mason, look at items up for bidding at the Playdium bowling alley auction on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Albany residents attend the auction for items from the Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Albany residents attend the auction for items from the Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Martin Daley and his 5-year-old son, Mason, look at items up for bidding at the Playdium bowling alley auction on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Martin Daley and his 5-year-old son, Mason, look at items up for bidding at the Playdium bowling alley auction on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Albany residents attend an auction for various items from Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Albany residents attend an auction for various items from Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Albany residents attend an auction for various items from Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Albany residents attend an auction for various items from Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Albany residents attend an auction for various items from Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Albany residents attend an auction for various items from Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Albany residents attend an auction for various items from Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Albany residents attend an auction for various items from Playdium bowling alley, which closed last week, on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Martin Daley looks at old copies of the Times Union at an auction for various items from the Playdium bowling alley on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Martin Daley looks at old copies of the Times Union at an auction for various items from the Playdium bowling alley on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Martin Daley looks at old copies of the Times Union at an auction for various items from the Playdium bowling alley on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
Martin Daley looks at old copies of the Times Union at an auction for various items from the Playdium bowling alley on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union)
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Mike Lucey, who has been working at the Playdium bowling alley since he was 15 years old, sells bowling pins during an auction for the closed bowling alley's items on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union) less
Mike Lucey, who has been working at the Playdium bowling alley since he was 15 years old, sells bowling pins during an auction for the closed bowling alley's items on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times ... more
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Mike Lucey, who has been working at the Playdium bowling alley since he was 15 years old, sells bowling pins during an auction for the closed bowling alley's items on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times Union) less
Mike Lucey, who has been working at the Playdium bowling alley since he was 15 years old, sells bowling pins during an auction for the closed bowling alley's items on April 14, 2018. (Massarah Mikati/Times ... more
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A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
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A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
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A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
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Image 21 of 38

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
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A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
Image 23 of 38

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
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A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
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A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
Image 27 of 38

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
Image 28 of 38

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

A sample of items up for auction at 11 a.m. Saturday at former the Playdium bowling alley, 363 Ontario St., Albany, by Mazzone's Auction Service.

Photo: Courtesy Mazzone's Auction Service
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View from the lanes at Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
View from the lanes at Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Photo: Will Waldron
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Restaurant area at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Restaurant area at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Photo: Will Waldron
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Bowling shoes are stored at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Bowling shoes are stored at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Photo: Will Waldron
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Steve Hall from Saratoga Strike Zone dismantles the old Brunswick A bowling machine at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union) less
Steve Hall from Saratoga Strike Zone dismantles the old Brunswick A bowling machine at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being ... more
Photo: Will Waldron
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Bowling machine game counters and controls are shown at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union) less
Bowling machine game counters and controls are shown at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. ... more
Photo: Will Waldron
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Bowling shoes are stored at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Bowling shoes are stored at the Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Photo: Will Waldron
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Pins are strewn behind the bowling machine at Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will Waldron/Times Union) less
Pins are strewn behind the bowling machine at Playdium Bowling Center on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Albany N.Y. Contents from the storied bowling alley are being auctioned on Saturday morning. (Will ... more
Photo: Will Waldron
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ALBANY — The Playdium Bowling Center was packed one last time Saturday morning as residents piled in to claim bits and pieces of the Albany staple at an auction. The bowling alley, which has been situated in the Pine Hills neighborhood since 1940, closed its doors earlier this month.

"I grew up in Albany, so this is like the end of an era," said Martin Daley, who attended the auction with his 5-year-old son, Mason. "I'm trying to see if I can purchase some piece of history."

Daley was admiring different kitchen machinery. He said he was hoping to bid on plates adorned with the Playdium logo and some neon signs.

Hosted by Mazzone's Auction Service, the bowling alley was selling everything except for its bowling lanes and bowling balls on Saturday. Passersby enthusiastically pointed at popcorn and ice cream machines, admired glass cups and bowls, and got to observe how the bowling ball return operates — which Daley said was of particular interest to his son.

The closing of Albany's oldest bowling alley is bittersweet to those who have known it for years.

"The people, that's what I'm going to miss," said Vince Bonanni, who has been working at the alley's Pro Shop since 1982. "I made a lot of nice friends here."

Mike Lucey first started working at Playdium in 1960, when he was 15 years old.

"Back then you just cleaned up, picked up bottles, emptied ash trays," he said of when he first started. Eventually, he worked his way up to manager.

"There's just too many memories to even mention any," he said. "It's all family. I bowled every night."

Lucey and Bonanni are not leaving the bowling industry, though. The two are moving on to work at Spare Time Latham.

"Change is tough, but I think like with any business the market dries up," Daley said. He and Bonanni went on to talk about how children are losing interest in bowling.

"Now kids are into soccer and other sports, there's so much more to do so families just don't commit to bowling anymore," Bonanni said.

Bonanni grew up with bowling. His parents used to own a bowling alley in Schenectady, and he loves the game.

"It's a one-on-one sport," he said. "You against the pins, that's what the challenge is."

However, people expressed hope about what's to come at the location. Earlier this year, the city approved a $16.2 million proposal to build a 109-unit apartment complex on the site.

"For us in the neighborhood it's a good opportunity to have new residents come and breathe some life into the neighborhood," Daley said. "It's exciting."