LAKEPORT — Lake County”s last remaining bowling alley is facing financial woes, according to Lakeside Lanes owner Roland Barnes. He”s cutting bowling hours and laying-off employees, he said Thursday, in order to keep the doors open.
Compounding late water and electric bills, a nearly empty food pantry and a suspended liquor license is the result of losing two bowling leagues. Barnes said at an average of $8.50 weekly profit per person, that”s a chunk of change he”s going to miss.
“There was no reason for them to quit ? we”re going to be open,” Barnes said.
Elsie Shaffer is the secretary for the Tuesday and Wednesday night leagues that chose to pull out four weeks early. This week was the two leagues” last.
“We were told when we came in Tuesday that the doors would be locked Friday, so we had no choice other than to end the league. Once you end you can”t start up again. Who knows how long it”s going to be open. Wednesday, we voted to stop for the same reason ? we”re not sure what will happen,” Shaffer said.
In addition, Shaffer said many bowlers drive 70 miles round-trip from Clearlake to bowl once a week. The two leagues had a total of 76 members. Lakeside Lanes will consequently lose about $646 of weekly profit.
“They said there would be no summer leagues. I have no idea what we”re doing for next year ? it”s all up in the air,” Shaffer said.
Barnes conceded in a Thursday interview that the money problems facing Lakeside Lanes make the future of the establishment uncertain.
“I have no idea how long I”m going to be able to keep it open,” Barnes said.
Barnes added that since he took over ownership three years ago, he”s sunk $12,000 every month out of his own pocket into the bowling alley. Barnes held up a $2,810.74 electric bill showing that he had seven days to pay. He additionally produced a notice that the establishment”s water will be shut off if the bill is not paid by March 31. The bowling alley”s restaurant will remain open until foods run out, and Barnes said there”s “not very much” left.
To fix the problem, Barnes said he”s letting go of three employees, including one of his managers. The remaining employees, who used to work an average of 30 hours per week, will now work about 24 hours a week. The bowling alley will no longer be open in the mornings, but instead will be open most days from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Barnes said he is bringing back former employee John Richardson. Richardson said he left the bowling alley in December because he didn”t like the direction prospective buyer Bob McDaniels was taking the business.
“Roland wanted this place to be for everyone, all ages. In my opinion, the people who wanted to buy it wanted it to be a bowling center only and exclude young people,” Richardson said. He said he will be back Wednesday to help Barnes through the transition.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
