Fire closes Coquina Lanes 'until further notice'

 

Fire closes Coquina Lanes 'until further notice'

 

Date: September 19, 2012
by: Andrew O'Brien | Associate Editor

 

Coquina Lanes, the home bowling alley for Flagler's two high school bowling teams, will be closed due to a fire.

 

 

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Coquina Lanes — Palm Coast’s bowling alley — will be closed until further notice due to an electrical fire that occurred on Tuesday, according to officials.

General Manager Mike Weller confirmed Wednesday that a fire broke out in a circuit box in a storage room Tuesday. The fire was not in the bowling alley portion of the building.

According to real estate reporter Toby Tobin, a fire sprinkler was activated, and a portion of the building sustained smoke damage.

The bowling alley was closed Wednesday morning.

Tobin also confirmed that the current owners — an investment group — foreclosed on the property 10 days ago. The owner, Steve Blaha, was to be evicted on Wednesday morning, Tobin said.

Because of the fire, there is no power at the bowling alley.

“As soon as they can get the circuit box replaced/repaired, the investors plan to bring someone else in to operate the bowling alley,” Tobin said. “Their intention was for it to never go dark. It’s only dark because of the fire.”

With the bowling alley being closed, the two high school bowling teams will have to wait and see what happens, said Matanzas High School Athletics Director Kenny Seybold.

Matanzas was scheduled to have a home meet Wednesday, but it has since been canceled, Seybold said. Both FPC and Matanzas don’t bowl at home for another week, and so Seybold said they will wait and see what happens.

“It impacts us in a huge way,” he said.

But beyond impacting the high school teams, Seybold said a long-term closure of the bowling alley is unfortunate for Flagler County.

“It’s an icon, in my opinion, in this community,” he said.

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Currently 6 Responses

  • 1.
  • I'm new to Palm Coast, but I would like to say our family has been thrilled to have found Coquina Lanes, my 6 year old son and I were there every day to bowl his two free games he received through the kids program, Not one time have I come across a rude staff member, everyone has always been pleasant and helpful. we are saddened that this has happened and are patiently waiting for it to open again.
  •  
  • Mary Byrd
    Wed 26th Sep 2012
    at 2:06pm
  • 2.
  • As a League bowler at Coquina Lanes for the past three years, I do agree in part that the building itself needs updating. However, it angers me to read comments from people who, through their own words, are ignorant about what really does go on in that building! There were very often kids birthday parties being held; many, many families were there enjoying each other's company and patiently watching that ball make its way down to the pins before erupting with shouts and handclaps when it made contact. I disagree also with the statement that there were more adults at the bar than bowling........at midnight, maybe, but not when I was there during the day or in the evening league. It's the people themselves who make any place what it is and I, for one, am proud to be one of those who will continue to enjoy this sport right here in our town.
  •  
  • Linda Pouliot
    Fri 21st Sep 2012
    at 2:58pm
  • 3.
  • So let me get this straight, owner gets eviction notice and all of the sudden there's a fire??? WOW!!!...I hope new owner's fix up the place and replace management ASAP!!! I've never seen such rude and disrespectful staff as the one's @ Coquina Lanes. Place has potential but not with current staff. There use to be a very nice manager named Allen. Owner's need to bring him back!!! He actually treated my wife and i with respect and made everyone feel welcomed and at home.
  •  
  • Roger Niel
    Wed 19th Sep 2012
    at 7:21pm
  • 4.
  • For those saying the place needs work and a face lift, yes I'll have to agree. But to say the place never had business, your wrong! At least 3 nights out of the week there was a huge gathering after 10pm to 2amin the lounge. Business was booming! Great food, awesome drink specials and great service. Not to mention football season just started and every Sunday the bar was completely packed to wear you can not even find a seat. The BA brought all kinds of business, younger crowd and older crowd. Very loyal regulars come up to 6 times a week. I myself hopes the lounge opens up soon! As for the new owners coming in. I hope they keep the staff there around. They are doing nothing but pleasing they're customers and making us always wanting to come back. I hope nothing but the best for the place. ~IK
  •  
  • Kayleigh McClain
    Wed 19th Sep 2012
    at 5:21pm
  • 5.
  • That place was a fire trap anyway! Duck tape used to hold lighting fixtures outside together???? Always smelled like mildew inside, shabby lighting & poor conditions inside, was no more than a glorified watering hole. Always more older adults sitting around bar than any one bowling. For an Icon it was in serious despair! Perhaps now new owners will give it the face lift in desperately needed & families will start taking their kids there to bowl & even for B. Day parties again. Never understood how it hadn't been closed down by Fire Dept long ago? Just thankful it didn't become a death trap.
  •  
  • Patricia Zambrana
    Wed 19th Sep 2012
    at 1:14pm
  • 6.
  • This place has been in disrepair for many years. If this is an icon for Flagler county, it's a crappy one. Hopefully someone will buy the property that has a little buisness saavy. Anything will be an improvement.
  •  
  • John Smith
    Wed 19th Sep 2012
    at 12:53pm
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