In the East Bay, the name Dudek is synonymous with bowling and home heating oil and has been a mainstay in the Warren business community since the early 1930’s — among the oldest businesses in town. Although they are uncertain when the business actually started, Dudek's keeps chugging along, with the fourth generation in line to take the helm.

The history of the family business goes back to the late 1920s or early 1930s, when John and Mary Dudek turned a mechanics garage in to an eight-lane bowling alley next door to their existing heating fuel business. Selling mostly kerosene at the time, the Dudeks owned land on the south side of Child Street that includes a single-family home that sits behind the businesses.

The pair steadily built up their two businesses and in 1948 added 10 more lanes to the increasingly popular duckpin bowling fad that used “pin boys” to reset the pins.

It was 1955 when the Dudeks' nephew, Skip Mansi, returned from an Air Force deployment in Korea and began working for the family business. Skip worked side-by-side with his aunt and uncle and learned how to run both the bowling alley and fuel companies.

In 1972, the Dudeks retired and Skip bought the businesses. His wife Ethel came on board and took over the secretarial and bookkeeping duties from Mary.

As with many family business, their children grew up helping out and spending most of, if not all of their free time there.

After graduating from Warren High school in 1975, son Scott began working full time for the family business and son Kevin in 1983 after he also graduated from Warren High School.

“Scott gravitated to the bowling side and I took the oil. We both know how to run both sides and we have always helped each other out,” Kevin said.

The brothers took over for their parents when they retired in 1999, but that’s not to say their dad isn’t involved.

“Dad comes in almost everyday and helps Kevin a bit, but you can usually find him here at the alley in the mornings,” Scott said.

As times changed, so did the businesses.

Kevin now has seven employees and runs a full-service oil company.

“Back when I started I integrated propane which wasn’t readily available in the area. We added grills and heaters and are a distributor for Weber products. We recently renovated our showroom and propane filling facility,” he said.

Dudek oil services the East Bay, Southeastern Massachusetts, Portsmouth, Middletown, Tiverton, Little Compton and consider themselves a discounted full-service company.

“It’s great that it has stayed in the family. My two boys came to work here and we have remained a close family,” Skip said.

The bowling alley went automated in 1955 when John Dudek installed new equipment to reset the pins. In 2003, Scott made the investment in electronic scoring and about six years ago did a major renovation that included replacing the maple wood lanes with synthetic wood.

“The synthetic looks like wood but does not require the constant maintenance. We also added a pizza oven and updates the snack bar,” Scott said.

An avid bowler himself, Scott was a high-ranking state player in his younger days and is a member of the Warren Athletic Hall of Fame. His daughter Venessa Mansi is also a top-ranked bowler in the state.

The popularity of the bowling alley hasn’t wavered over the years and the owners said they are the only duckpin bowling alley in the East Bay. Youth and adult leagues keep the business busy all year long, and Dudek is a popular birthday party destination and other group outings.

“We have quite a few adult leagues and senior leagues. We have a Rockin’ Bowl night and we also have a small bar for those adults who like a beer while bowling,” Scott said.

One league, the Rumstick Rollers, has about 50 participants who gather every Thursday morning for some good fun and good-natured competition.

Pricilla Drummond, 92, of Bristol, started bowling regularly at age 80 with the Rumstick Rollers and is one of the high-scoring players.

“My average is a 78 but my high game is a 109. Its fun and a nice group of people to bowl with then we have lunch. I look forward to it every week and plan to continue as long as I can,” Mrs. Drummond said.

Gwyneth Grove of Barrington has been playing in the Rumstick Rollers league since 2010 but as a Barrington native, bowled at Dudek's as a child.

“I have been bowling here since I was about 10 and took my kids and now my grandchildren here to bowl. I love the sociability aspect of the league,” Mrs. Groves said.

Coming up in the ranks of family members working at Dudek's include Scott’s stepson Chris and Kevin’s son Justin. Chris works the bowling alley and Justin the oil company.