The owner of Salem Bowl is hopeful of being able to reopen sometime before the end of September.
Steve Ludwig says there has been heavy smoke damage throughout the facility in addition to the small area of the lounge where the fire appears to have started in the outside wall. He notes work can’t start until the insurance company completes its investigation which is still ongoing.
Ludwig notes the smoke smell is still strong enough in the bowling alley you can’t stay inside for long period of time. He suspects a large number of ‘soft items’ that absorb smoke will have to be replaced, while the hard floors and other equipment will be okay.
Ludwig says fortunately the structural damage is limited to the one wall.
He was out of state at the time and returned Wednesday to begin work with the insurance company and talk with contractors.
The closure will delay the start of several leagues, which will begin once the repairs are finished. Ludwig hopes everything is back to normal by the time he begins working with all the bowling teams at the schools in the area.
