The White House is renovating one of the most exclusive bowling alleys in America – a favorite rehab target for presidents of both parties that’s at least once blown up in the president’s face.
On July 28, the General Services Administration, under the auspices of the Executive Office of the President, awarded a nearly $253,000 contract for lighting work on the two-lane Harry S. Truman Bowling Alley, according to public contract awards reviewed by West Wing Playbook. And on Aug. 18, GSA awarded another contract to the same contractor, Charles Mann Enterprises, for $8,800 in escort services – essentially accompanying outside workers through secure areas – tied to the bowling alley project.
The White House and GSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The last time the GSA went near the bowling alley, which is reserved for the use of White House aides and their guests, the project didn’t survive a news cycle. In 2014, under former President Barack Obama, the GSA proposed a complete rebuild of the bowling alley’s lanes, which it described at the time as “irreparable.”
An hour and a half after Time Magazine broke the story about the bowling alley reno, GSA canceled the project, amid a Republican backlash over whether it was a good use of taxpayer money. Reince Priebus, then Republican National Committee chair, posted a list of funding needs with items like the economy and securing the border crossed out. “Repair WH bowling alley,” meanwhile, was accompanied by a checkmark and a link to the story about the project.
The Republican-controlled House at the time even adopted an amendment to prohibit funding to renovate the White House bowling alley. Former Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.), who introduced the amendment, likened upgrading the bowling alley to ice cream – constituting a “want,” not a “need.”
Also on Aug. 18, GSA awarded Charles Mann Enterprises a separate $878,000 contract for an “EEOB basement studio project.” The bowling alley is located in the basement of the EEOB. The award listing did not contain any more details about the project.
Charles Mann Enterprises is a Washington-based construction management, facility support and procurement firm founded by Charles Mann, the four-time NFL Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion who spent most of his professional football career with the Washington Redskins.
The alley, first built in the West Wing in 1947 to celebrate former President Harry Truman's 63rd birthday, was funded by Missourians. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower moved it to the EEOB in 1955. It was renovated in 1994 by former President Bill Clinton.
And it saw repairs under the first Trump administration, too. First lady Melania Trump oversaw restoration of the original wooden lane, and the bowling alley itself underwent a full renovation with updated electrical wiring, new mechanics and a fresh interior. It was paid for by the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America.
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