After 57 years of business on West St. Paul's Robert Street, West Side Lanes will be closing down.
The bowling alley hasn't formally announced a closing, but its Facebook Page has several messages from longtime customers saying they are sorry to see the business go. Juette Holseth, whose family has owned and operated the business for 17 years, said it's expected to close at the end of May. She said there are no plans to relocate and declined to comment further.
The city acquired the building at 1625 S. Robert St. late last year for $1.3 million. Sherrie Le, acting city manager, said the property was in foreclosure and had gone back to the lender. "Somebody had to acquire it," she said.
City documents show that in January it applied for a Dakota County redevelopment grant, with plans to use some of the funds to demolish the bowling alley.

Community Development Director Jim Hartshorn said there are no firm plans for the property, but he denied rumors circulating for several months that it would be converted to additional parking for the city's new sports dome next door. "We will be working with a developer on plans for something that will complement the sports dome, maybe a nice restaurant," he said.
West St. Paul also recently approved the acquisition of two other nearby commercial properties, which it plans to demolish. A building housing A to Z Rental property will be demolished and turned into additional parking for the sports dome. The Car X will be torn down as part of the city's Robert Street revitalization program.