going at Brunswick Zone in
Homewood Tuesday, but few
details were available about
the closure of the bowling
center. (Photo by Eric Crump/
The Chronicle)
Members of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District adult bowling program were ready to take the lanes Tuesday morning for the first meeting of the winter session, but they ran into a problem: no lanes.
Area bowlers were surprised Tuesday to learn that Brunswick Zone XL had closed for renovation, apparently with little or no warning.
Phil Knowles, park district community center manager, sent an email late Monday afternoon to bowlers signed up for the program to let them know about the situation, which he said he found out about an hour earlier.
“They’ve been very understanding,” he said of program participants. “They understand these things happen. When you’re using someone else’s facilities you’ve got to be able to roll with the punches.”
Knowles said he is checking with other bowling facilities in the area to see if the program can relocate for the January to April session.
Brunswick Zone
Tuesday, Jan. 6.
(Photo by Eric Crump/
The Chronicle)
There was some activity at the facility Tuesday morning. People could be seen entering the building, but none would comment on the closure.
The bowling center at 3043 W. 183rd St. was purchased last year by AMF. The company has not yet returned The Chronicle’s phone or email messages seeking comment.
Bob Grabowski, Homewood fire chief and acting community development director, said the company had not contacted the village about the project.
Prior to AMF’s purchase, Brunswick Zone representatives asked the village to eliminate a 5 percent amusement tax that went into effect in 2013, saying the tax was burdensome on a business that was struggling to break even.
Trustees eventually compromised, reducing the tax rate to 2 percent early in September.
Related story:
Trustees give lukewarm reception to amusement tax reduction proposal
Contact Eric Crump at [email protected]