Columbus bowling alley closes with little warning

A bowling alley and reception hall in the town of Columbus closed its doors Monday without a word to those planning parties there.

The Cardinal Ale House posted a sign on its door, saying it would be closed Feb. 2 until further notice. Some people who scheduled the reception hall for events say they’re now out of a venue and money after signing contracts and offering up a deposit.

April Ludwig booked the location for her October wedding reception months ago but is now uncertain for the future of her wedding day.

“It’s definitely panic mode,” Ludwig says. “We gave our credit card, signed the contract, we even have the papers for all the dates – and now we’re basically screwed.”

Ludwig learned of the alley’s closing via its Facebook page, where a picture of the locked doors popped up Monday afternoon. Immediately, angry customers who had booked events began commenting. The post has since been removed.

“I haven’t received any information from them – no emails, no calls, no texts, no nothing,” Ludwig said. “I didn’t sleep at all last night because I was like what do I do who do I contact next.”

Other customers are in need of an immediate answer. Haley Mains booked the Ale House for her daughter’s birthday on Feb. 22.

“Nobody called, nobody told me when I talked to them [first],” Mains said. “We were really excited to have this birthday party, went out and bought all this bowling stuff, and then to find out it’s closed was very disappointing.”

News 3 called the Ale House’s owners, managers and the LLC company behind the alley, King Pin. None of those calls were returned.

A “for sale” sign outside the alley says it is currently bank-owned.

Tower Lanes Bowling Alley in Beaver Dam has said it will honor as many of the parties scheduled for the Ale House as it can – but that location does not have a reception hall for weddings. 

The Ball Room in Portage also told News 3 it is willing to help out brides looking for a location.

The Better Business Bureau says anyone who signed a contract or lost a deposit with the Ale House does have legal rights in that situation. You can file a claim with the BBB by calling 1-703-276-0100 or online at www.bbb.org.