PEORIA — Landmark Recreation Center is closing in September, the business announced Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Landmark is on the verge of a change in ownership, pending sale of the property, which is more than 12 acres and roughly 174,000 square feet.
“We encourage you to visit our bowling center and lounge before our final day, and we look forward to seeing many familiar faces as we say goodbye,” the company said in a release. “We also hope you stay tuned as the new building owner renovates and brings something new and exciting to the Peoria community.”
The 12-screen movie theater complex and the 50-lane bowling center are being removed as part of a major makeover for the property’s lineup, said Ishmael Hicks, owner and operator of the U-Fitness athletic training facility inside Landmark Fitness Center.
Landmark’s fitness facility, owned and directed by the highly regarded trainer Hicks, will stay put and expand under the incoming ownership plan. U-Fitness will continue its normal business hours while the building goes through renovations.
“I’m thrilled to be working with the new ownership,” said Hicks, who declined to comment on the ownership identity. “U-Fitness is ready to go forward.”
Landmark’s iconic 50-lane bowling alley — which hosted PBA Tour events in its heyday — will close on Tuesday, Sept. 23 and be removed. It’s an emotional issue for Peoria’s bowling community, which had protest signs posted along Dries Lane outside the venue on Tuesday. That space will be absorbed by an expansion of U-Fitness and other sports and entertainment ventures, said Hicks.
“We thank you again for being part of our journey,” Landmark said in a release. “We will cherish the memories and community that Landmark has been fortunate to be a part of.”
Renovations have already been underway in the movie theater space at Landmark, where the old theaters have been torn out, the stadium-seating floors leveled, and the space was being prepared for an undisclosed new venture, said Hicks.
“My heart goes out to the 40-plus years of Landmark bowling,” Hicks said. “My family, your family, most of us have childhood memories attached to Landmark lanes, family friendly.
“In this new era the rebrand that’s about to take place, U-Fitness is excited to expand and continue family friendly, community-centered activity based around fitness, sports and entertainment.
“One great era transitions into another, and there are big things to come.”
The sale of the property has not officially closed, but Landmark bowling center manager Vince Pollard is the only remaining Landmark management team member. He declined to comment.
Landmark has been owned for nearly 40 years by Forrest Hill Development Company, a group controlled by the Ray Becker family. The property was put up for auction in 2022 with a starting price of $1.25 million, but was not sold.
The facility first opened in 1979 at an estimated cost of $2 million to $3 million, according to Journal Star archives.
G. Raymond Becker, who led development of the property as the president of Becker Brothers Inc., was also responsible for the Twin Towers apartment complex in downtown Peoria and the city’s Illinois Central College campus. He died in 2020.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Landmark Recreation Center is closing in September. Major changes ahead for the property
Reporting by Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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