'It Breaks My Heart': Oak Forest Bowl Owner Says No Rebuild
OAK FOREST, IL — Keith Tadevich knows it was time. More than a year after a fire decimated his family's Oak Forest Bowl at 15240 S. Cicero Ave., a community gutted by the loss of the iconic business still wondered if—and hoped—he would rebuild. Barring a miracle, it's not happening, he said Thursday. He's mulled it for months, weighed the construction costs against the insurance funds, and considered the impact of rebuilding from the literal ground up at this point in his career. As the realities of a rebuild came into focus, so did a hard truth he's been reluctant to share. "It breaks my heart, but the truth is it’s not feasible at this point," Tadevich said. "I don’t see how it will become feasible."It's taken considerable legwork to reach this point, Tadevich said, and he's explored every option. The City of Oak Forest has been supportive, he said, and did what they could to help Tadevich resurrect his beloved, longtime family venture. In late-May 2023, Tadevich said he was taking it day by day, always feeling the heavy weight of fans' expectations. He knows people have been waiting for a grand announcement, and he had been hoping to deliver. "The City worked as hard as they could within their power," Tadevich said. Several factors came into play in his decision, Tadevich said, including discrepancies between insurance funds and the cost to rebuild, and Cook County building codes and requirements. But he's not throwing anyone under the proverbial bus, he stressed. "Oak Forest has done everything they could to support me, but a lot of things are out of their control, too," he said. Ultimately, it was risk versus reward. A rebuild is an undertaking Tadevich doesn't feel ready to face. With two other alleys—Burr Oak Bowl in Blue Island and Mardi Gras Lanes in DeKalb—his time and effort are already divided. Still, he knows how much Oak Forest Bowl meant to so many, and it did to him, too. "That was kind of my crown jewel," Tadevich said. He also considered the impact on personal lives—both his and his family's. In his family since 1997, the facility housed bowling and sand volleyball leagues, as well as cornhole and a sizable beer garden. It was a massive business with many components, financially and organizationally. "It’s sad, but I’m not going to do something to take three steps backward," Tadevich told Patch, of the financial impact. "... It's an emotional thing. It’s overwhelming. My heart’s not in it."The May 6, 2023 fire started in the bowling center's outdoor recreation area The Park, spotted first when one of two employees left after closing was taking the trash out to the dumpster just after 2 a.m. Closed earlier that night, The Park was empty. The employee spotted the flames outside, and alerted the manager inside. Over the next hours, the bowling center's roof would crumble, leveling the building to only charred remains—only partial walls and its tall, brick entryway sign were initially left standing. What was left of Oak Forest Bowl in late-May 2023. The debris has since been cleared. Courtesy of Ed Higgins, Above All Drone ServiceWhat was left of Oak Forest Bowl in late-May 2023. The debris has since been cleared. Courtesy of Ed Higgins, Above All Drone ServiceThe rubble has since been cleared, leaving only the cement foundation where the 32-lane alley, bar and grill once stood. The Park remains, nets pulled down and weeds sprouting in the sand volleyball courts. The fire was ruled accidental; the building's disappearance leaves a gaping hole on Cicero Avenue.The first few weeks after the fire were devastating for Tadevich, who often found himself at a loss of what to do next. "The first few days, I didn’t even think it was real," Tadevich told Patch previously. "Some days, I’m breaking down, and I’m emotional. Some days you’re busy and productive."The former sand volleyball courts at Oak Forest Bowl in June 2024. Courtesy of Jameson McCormiesThe space where Oak Forest Bowl stood, as pictured on June 27, 2024. Courtesy of Jameson McCormiesThe space where Oak Forest Bowl stood, as pictured on June 27, 2024. Courtesy of Jameson McCormiesNow further removed from the initial shock and realizing he's done his due diligence, he said he knows the community deserves an answer. Had this happened years ago, he said, it might be a different one, but this one is what it is. "If it was 10 years ago, my attitude would be a little different," Tadevich said. "It breaks my heart."Never say never, Tadevich chided, but it would likely take a miracle for him to try again at that location. He's just as disappointed as everyone who hoped to see it back. "There’s so many factors I had to consider," he said. "I wish it never happened. "I miss it every day. I did the best I could." The article 'It Breaks My Heart': Oak Forest Bowl Owner Says No Rebuild appeared first on Oak Forest, IL Patch.
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