Tucked along Olive Boulevard in the heart of Olivette sits a St. Louis institution that has been part of the community for more than six decades. Olivette Lanes first opened its doors in 1958 under the ownership of pro bowler Nelson Burton, originally known as Burton Lanes. Over time, the center changed hands and eventually took on the name of the town it serves—a subtle but fitting shift for a bowling alley that has always felt like a true neighborhood fixture.
By the time Don Klackner purchased Olivette Lanes in 2011, he was already 27 years deep into the bowling world. His career with Brunswick Corporation took him across the Midwest and South, opening locations—including the Valley Park and St. Peters centers—and overseeing up to a dozen properties at once as a district manager. But in late 2010, that chapter came to an abrupt end when he lost his job with the company. What could have been a setback instead opened the door to something far more personal: the chance to run a center of his own. Within a year, Don and his wife Sandi, a silent-but-steady partner, took ownership of Olivette Lanes and began shaping it into one of the most respected entertainment destinations in the region.
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