Columbia Lanes on Eagle Day Avenue has a new owner who hopes to reopen the bowling center in mid-July.
By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher
Columbia Lanes, which closed 10 months ago, has a new owner who hopes to reopen the bowling center by July 15.
The new owner, Bruce DeWeber, told the Marion County Informer that he finalized the purchase of the bowling center Friday.
DeWeber realizes Columbia Lanes, 211 Eagle Day Ave., had a bad reputation, but he hopes to turn things around and make the bowling center a clean and safe place for families. In fact, DeWeber said he will not sell alcohol or allow smoking in the facility when he reopens. He said he has only one chance to change people’s perceptions of the bowling center.
In order to run the bowling center, DeWeber has moved to Columbia from Bossier City, La., where he was a maintenance manager for a bowling alley. He noted that he has worked in the bowling business for 40 years, and owning a bowling center was the logical next step for him.
Prior to opening, DeWeber said he needs to do some work on the facility including putting in new carpeting, patching walls, painting and replacing ceiling tiles. DeWeber said Columbia Lanes was a foreclosed property that he purchased from Citizens Bank.
I REALLY HOPE U CAN CLEAN THE BOWLING ALLEY THE YOUTH GROUPS NEED A PLACE TO GO THEY HAVE TO GO OUT OF TOWN IF THEY WANT TO DO ANY THING GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS U
Good I’m tired of going to hburg just to bowl……
THIS REALLY SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. NOW IF THE NEW OWNER CAN KEEP IT CLEAN AND SAFE,AND KEEP THE LOCAL GANGS FROM DOWN THERE SO IT WILL BE SAFE FOR A FAMILY. IF NOT,IT WILL BE JUST LIKE THE LAST OWNER,SHOOTINGS EVERY WEEK END AND THUGS AND GANGS HANGING AROUND. MABY HE CAN MAKE A GO OF IT. THIS WILL SURE HEPL COLUMBIA AS WELL AS GIVE PEOPLE SOMEWHERE TO GO INSTEAD OF HATTIESBURG. THANKS JOSH
Keeping the smoking and alcohol out should be a good first step in keeping the thugs out of the family environment. I certainly didn’t want my family to be where there were drive-by shootings in the parking lot!
I am so very excited about this business being re-opened! I have several children and they all love to bowl! We need a place that our children can have birthday parties as well as give the older kids an outlet that is safe.
Adults too.
Great idea! Suggestion: It might be helpful if the article included how to apply for a job….lot of people in Columbia w/out work!
How to apply for a job: Look for “Now Hiring” sign. Go there, fill out application.
good luck to Bruce DeWebber. Columbia certainly needs a family oriented recreational place. Yeah for no smoking and no alcohol!!
Kudos and good luck; this is an example of what I was talking aobut when I said that moralitcy can’t be legislated. It’s got to start on the level of the people and offering “clean” recreational activities. It’s gratifying to see that all of the comments have been positive.
I’ve also said for years that for a business to succeed in Columbia it was going to have to compete with Hattiesburg. Now if we could just get someone to open a Lenny’s Subs here… Closing due to drooling on my keyboard!
So far we had 2 alderman against a new business opening here in mayberry.Let see if CITYHALL will actively support a outsider in reopening a needed activities venue.
I really wish that with the difficult economic times that we all are experiencing that the city/county would consider giving anyone opening a new business or trying to re-open and old one a little break/discount on their taxes the first year or two. They are the most difficult years on business owners and the taxes are not cheap a discount would sure help them out. Good luck to you Mr. De Weber.
I agree, we need somewhere to take our kids to have fun in Columbia. But, the last owner is a good Christian Family man and he made sure security was in place when traffic was heavy. My family went there almost every weekend and we never experienced drive by shootings or gang activity?? A lot of people take what they HEARD and make it a fact….Congrats New Owner!!!! I’m really excited about dusting my bowling ball off. I’m just saying……
Great to hear that someone is reopening the Bowling Lanes. Let’s all get behind this business and support it in a positive manner. Maybe some businesses can get co-ed bowling teams together and compete for the fun of it…
I have bowl for years and when I moved here I was so excited to see a bowling lanes…..but after one trip there and seeing all the thugs that hung out there I decided it wasn’t a good family place to go.Thank God someone that has lots of experience is reopening the lanes.We need a good fun place to go in this town and can take our children without language,alcohol,smoking and drugs.I wish you the best and hope everyone will support your business.
I quit going to this establishment because some dead beat parents would take their young kids (4-5 years old) here and drop them off with older siblings (10-14 years old) to “watch”. They were not being watched!!! These young kids were all over the place. One actually picked up a ball and threw it down our lane. Yeah they weren’t being watched. The bowling alley is not your baby sitter.
I just told Bruce About all your comments. Im sure he really appreciates your support.