If the $2.5 million sale of Tacoma’s Tower Lanes – 6323 6th Ave. – goes through, the new owner will remodel and maintain a bowling center. That’s the word from two sources familiar with the deal.

Like many cities, Tacoma has seen the demise of many of its local bowling businesses. Bob Hanson, owner of the Tower pro shop and former manager of the lanes, notes that bowling centers were built on the outskirts of towns, and then the towns grew, property values rose, and it became more economical to roll with apartments, strip malls or housing developments.

Hanson said today he has heard of the Tower sale. “It’s a bowling center and it’s going to stay a bowling center if the sale goes through,” he said.

Hanson, incidentally, rolled an 826 series last week, including a perfect 300 game.

Jeanne Naccarato (whose latest 300 came last October) said today that she too is familiar with the proposed sale at Tower Lanes. Neither she or Hanson would name the potential buyer, although Naccarato said, “He’s a bowler. He wants to keep it for bowling.”

It seems like any type of financing comes with stricter standards these days.

The Wall Street Journal reports that it's spreading to car loans.

Here's an excerpt from a story in today's Journal:

Many lenders are making fewer loans and instituting stricter standards on loans they do approve, often requiring higher credit scores, making smaller loans and demanding bigger down payments. GMAC Financial Services tightened lending standards three times last year, and firms like AmeriCredit Corp. and Sovereign Bancorp Inc. have recently raised the minimum credit score required for borrowers to avoid an automatic rejection of their car-loan application.

Where you live can make a difference. Some lenders are applying especially tough standards for borrowers in states hard-hit by the housing crisis, such as California and Nevada.
While “subprime” borrowers with poor credit will bear the brunt of the shifting lending standards, even “prime” borrowers with good credit may be affected by some changes. And some consumers may not be able to get a car loan at all.

This year through March 20, about 90 percent of auto-loan applications from prime borrowers were approved, down from 92.5 percent for the same period last year, according to CNW Research, which tracks consumer spending. Among subprime applications, 57 percent have been approved this year, down from 68 percent early last year. Loan applications for all types of borrowers are also being sent to a greater number of financial institutions before being approved, according to CNW.

I'm working on a story for tomorrow's business section featuring Water Concepts, the $2 million gallery-of-gallons, the upscale festival-of-fixtures, the brand new world-of-wet at the old Busch's at 3505 South Tacoma Way.

Owned by Rosen Plumbing Supply of Tacoma, the store offers pretty much everything and anything you'd ever want in the way of water-related fixtures - from tubs and sinks to spigots and spas. Here's a look at an infinity tub (who knew?) and a selection of shower heads. (And the fun part is, most of the stuff is hooked up, so you can go there and take a shower. Or a bath. Or a few hours to look around.)