Durbin's Offers Jobs For Displaced Staff Of Oak Forest Bowl

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — A local business is stepping up in wake of the loss of beloved business Oak Forest Bowl, following a devastating fire Saturday.

Little is left of the bowling center, 15240 S. Cicero Ave., after the massive blaze consumed the building. In addition to 32 bowling lanes, the business also offered food and drink at Jake's Pub and Grill. Outdoor recreation area The Park hosts sand volleyball leagues six nights a week, as well as several bean bag leagues. Many employees will be without jobs as owner Keith Tadevich weighs next steps.

Blocks away, Durbin's of Midlothian at 14753 S. Cicero Ave., welcomes Oak Forest Bowl staff to join its team for temporary positions.

"We along with the Oak Forest/Midlothian Community are completely devastated about Oak Forest Bowl and The Park," restaurant staff wrote on social media. "Staff members, customers, family members, even our own children loved Oak Forest Bowl.

<< SEE ALSO: Destruction At Oak Forest Bowl Captured In Drone Photos >>

"We are keeping the owners, staff, & patrons all in our thoughts and prayers. We understand a lot of employees who have worked at Oak Forest Bowl are out of jobs. We are offering temporary positions for as many employees we can staff until your jobs are available again. Midlothian Durbins would like to help in any way possible. We are looking forward to seeing Oak Forest Bowl reopen as Oak Forest will not be the same without it."

The blaze is under investigation by the state fire marshal, but initial reports indicate it started outside the building, in The Park, at 2:30 a.m. Saturday. It burned for hours, collapsing the roof. The brick entryway and electric business sign still stand tall, flanked by charred walls along Cicero Avenue. Drone photos show a blackened interior with only metal components and wiring left where 32 bowling lanes once were.

Outside in the adjacent recreation space The Park, the bar is gone, with just portions remaining of the railing overlooking the beer garden, bean bag areas and sand volleyball pits.

<< READ ALSO: 'The Park Is Gone, Keith': Staff Crushed By Burning Of Oak Forest Bowl >>

Oak Forest Bowl owner Keith Tadevich took to social media in the hours after the fire.

"Most importantly, we are glad no one was injured in the devastating fire that occurred last night at Oak Forest Bowl," Tadevich wrote. "Please give us some time to get things straightened out and process what has happened."