Franklin bowling alley Buffalo Street Lanes has announced that it will be closing permanently at the end of this bowling season.
According to a recent Facebook post from the business at 1244 Buffalo Street, the building is under contract and the new owners do not intend to operate it as a bowling alley.
The bowling alley’s last night will be Saturday, April 26, the post said.
The post didn’t specify who the new owners will be nor their future plans for the building, but did note that it will be up to the new owners to sell the bowling alley’s contents.
“It has not been an easy decision, but it is what’s best for our family,” the post said.
The business also thanked the alley’s league bowlers, as well as all who had supported the alley over the last nine seasons.
“You all have blessed us in a million different ways. We hope to still see you around town,” the post said. “We hope you’ve created fun memories. We certainly have,” it continued.
The post encouraged customers to use their gift certificates before the bowling alley closes and added that certificates that say “N/A” on the expiration line are eligible for a refund if they cannot be used in time.
Owners Ryan and Jessica Rudegeair purchased the bowling alley, then called Masterson Family Lanes, in 2016 from Cory and Sarah Masterson, owners of property rental business Lighthouse Apartments and construction business Masterson Enterprises.
Cory Masterson’s parents had bought the alley in 1997, and he estimated at the time the Rudegeairs purchased it that the historic building had been a bowling alley for the previous six to seven decades. Before that it had housed a roller rink and a dealership, he said.
With the closure of Buffalo Street Lanes, the only public bowling alley in Venango County will be Seneca Lanes on Route 257 in Cranberry Township.
Multiple attempts by the newspaper to contact the Rudegeairs for further comment or information on the future of the building were not returned.
