Stout aims for a strike at bowling alley

All Jeff Stout wants to do is give back to Green River.

Stout, the owner of both Club 86 and the Hitching Post Restaurant, said he doesn't need the money generated from his recent purchase of the city's sole bowling alley. He doesn't even bowl, saying the game hurts his knees.

What he wants is to give families a fun activity in Green River.

"I work full time, I don't need this," he said. "The city of Green River could use it. This is one of the few things for families to do."

He purchased the bowling alley in December, rechristening it as the Green River Bowling Center shortly after. However, he admits he's had his eye on the property long before that. He made a bid to buy the bowling alley when an out of state bank held the property in 2008. The global financial crisis that began in 2008 ultimately wiped out the bank that held the property and ended his bid to purchase it as another bank took ownership and sold to someone else. He heard unofficially the previous owner was interested in selling the property and decided to make a blind offer.

Stout said a lot of work has been done to the bowling alley and said other changes are planned, which include building a snack bar and working on the bar.

"It'll look a little different when bowling season starts next winter," Stout said.