Owners Of Kenootz, Cooper's Bar Offer Jobs For Oak Forest Bowl Staff

OAK FOREST, IL — A neighboring business of Oak Forest Bowl has come forward to help support the staff after a devastating fire gutted the beloved bowling alley Saturday.

New to town, Cooper's Bar and Grill at 15158 S Cicero Ave., is one of two businesses captained by Ken and Dee Keeler, who also own Kenootz Pizza, 4659 147th St. in Midlothian.

"Coopers Bar and Grill want to offer our support to the staff and owners of Oak Forest Bowl," they wrote on social media. "We’ve enjoyed being your neighbors in the short time we’ve been open. Along with the entire community, we are shocked and saddened by the terrible fire that occurred.

"In conjunction with Kenootz Pizza, our other business in nearby Midlothian, we would like to help in any way we can. We are able to offer jobs to any employees from Oak Forest Bowl at either location until your jobs are available again.

"We look forward to Oak Forest Bowl reopening and stand ready to help any way we can."

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

Little remains 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.

Another local business—Durbin's of Midlothian—has also offered temporary jobs for displaced staff of Oak Forest Bowl.

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."