Farewell, bowling in Cloquet
While league play wrapped up its final season at Cloquet's Southgate Bowl in April, demolition of the building began Tuesday, May 29. By Monday this week, all that was left was a pile of rubble.By: Jana Peterson, Pine Journal
- In the olden days
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How times have changed. In the old days, men wore shirts and ties to bowling league, with some businesses buying entire uniforms for the teams they sponsored.
“Nowadays,” said Southgate Bowl owner Gerry Pollard, “most just wear jeans and T-shirts.”
Ron Freeman, who has been bowling for 46 years, remembered the heyday of league bowling in Cloquet.
“Years ago, every night of the week they had two shifts,” he said in a previous Pine Journal article. “One was at 6:30 p.m. and the other was at 9 p.m., and the alleys were full.”
In recent years, Pollard said the leagues have been declining in popularity.
“Young people just aren’t willing to make that weekly commitment,” he said.
It made the decision to sell his bowling alley and the adjoining restaurant property a little easier, said Pollard, both a bowler and a businessman.
While league play wrapped up its final season at Southgate in April, demolition of the building began Tuesday, May 29. By Monday this week, all that was left was a pile of rubble.
While Henagin’s Hideout restaurant has plans to relocate and reopen soon, Pollard and his wife, Rose, are retiring and will not rebuild. A Walgreens store will be constructed at the Doddridge Avenue site.
Which means Cloquet no longer has a bowling alley.
For now…
Photo page in the June 7 issue of the Pine Journal
Tags: carlton county, updates, bowling, business
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