The Alley off Upper King set to become hotel

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Another new hotel is coming to downtown Charleston, striking out a bowling alley that currently sits in that space.

The owners of the buildng that houses The Alley recently received approval from The Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals to build a 175-room hotel at 131 Columbus St. This new development will replace the existing bowling alley, arcade, bar, restaurant and event space.

The Alley became downtown's first public bowling alley since the 1960s when it opened in 2012. A staple of Upper King, the building once served as a wine and liquor distribution warehouse.

The owners of the building now anticipate a major boost to tourism in the area to come in the form of the Lowcountry Lowline, a greenspace and multi-use pathway that would border the new hotel.

131 Columbus St. is part of Charleston's "full-service corridor," meaning hotels with higher room counts must meet specific requirements. The new hotel will need to include a meeting space and a restaurant that serves three meals a day.

While demolition will begin once construction plans are finalized, The Alley will remain open for the foreseeable future. A timetable for construction has yet to be established.