Beardstown bowling reopening plans underway
BEARDSTOWN – The lanes at a bowling alley in Beardstown no longer echo the clatter of pins or the rhythm of balls rolling across their wooden surface.
But the owner of the building housing the lanes hopes to change that with the help of the community.
Curtis Large hopes the community will step in and help him create a non-profit organization to oversee the restoration and management of the bowling alley.
“We’re trying to get a committee together to form a non-profit organization that would oversee bowling,” Large said.
Large runs a restaurant and banquet hall above the bowling alley, though that space is now closed due to the pandemic.
He started thinking about reopening the bowling alley after hearing stories from customers at his restaurant, he said.
“That alley is in their memories,” Large said. “We have people saying they met there or went there with their grandparents. People want it to be open, but it’s not something I can afford to do myself. -same.”
After hearing these stories, Large took to Facebook to gather community feedback on whether people would be interested in the driveway reopening and if there would be any help available.
“I did a poll and got over 1,500 likes in less than seven days,” Large said. “People want it.”
The bowling alley needs work to be operational, Large said, adding that the cost of repairs was more than he could afford.
“That’s a lot of money, more than I could find,” Large said.
The building is over 75 years old and has good foundations, Large said, but there is water damage inside the bowling alley, several walls were gutted by the previous owner and need to be replaced. , and the ceiling must be replaced.
By large estimates, there is at least $500,000 of work to be done, although there could be more depending on whether existing equipment is repaired or completely replaced, he said.
Some local organizations and businesses have already expressed interest in donating once a nonprofit has been established, Large said.
A conflict of interest prevents Large from starting the nonprofit himself, he said, although he plans to help run it, help find local donors and grants and to help run the bowling alley.
He said he plans to lease the bowling alley space to the nonprofit for a few years before offering to sell the building to the association when he retires.
“I feel like if I don’t push for it, it won’t happen,” Large said.
Those wishing to help can contact Large at 217-320-1210.