With little discussion, Nottoway County Supervisors at their October 9th work session unanimously rejected all five bids submitted to buy the County owned Nottoway Lanes. The building has sat idle for more than a year.
The highest offer came from Blackstone native Winston “Winnie” Moss of Midlothian, who bid $350,000 with no contingencies. Moss in his offer said that after acquiring the building, he planned to conduct a feasibility study to “provide family entertainment” at the 12-lane facility or “develop the real estate to become a true asset to the County.”
Tony Ingram of Burkeville bid $325,000 — to be paid over the course of 30 months at 7% interest, which would result in the County being paid a total of $387,750 — if 30 months are required. Ingram also offered the County a $1,000 a month occupancy fee while using the building before paying the County in full. “Our intentions are to obtain an investor once Nottoway Lanes is up and running again.” Ingram’s proposed included an exterior putt-putt and arcade area inside.
Woodson Irby of Blackstone bid $320,000 and said he planned to acquire the 13,000 sq. ft. building for “speculative investment.”
Mothers Blessings LLC (Yunus Vohra), which is based in Henrico, bid $150,000 — with $50,000 to be paid at closing and $100,000 to be financed by the County over 3-5 years. The proposal included renaming the facility “Nottoway Family Fun Center” offering “safe, alcoholfree recreation for families including a restaurant. The offer included planned $450,000 for start-up costs and a Phase Two expansion of $850,000.
Council (Dean) Bryan, Sr., reportedly of Mecklenburg County, submitted a proposal that didn’t include a price or address. His offer included running the bowling alley with arcade games and a sports bar with karaoke nights.
Supervisors last December accepted a high bid of $430,000 from Kyle Houts of Blackstone, but that deal fell through.
The bowling alley took a big hit — literally — in September 2018 when a Blackstone woman upset with her then-boyfriend drove through the side of the building, with the car coming to rest in Lanes 8 and 9. Shortly after re-opening many months later, COVID-19 arrived and shut it down.
The facility re-opened in March 2023 under new management — Glen Allen-based Inception Amusement. But the County pulled its lease shortly after an August 2023 “American Studs/Ladies Night” event that featured scantily-clad male dancers, some of whom engagaed in intimate kissing with area women while others screamed in apparent delight.
The County built Nottoway Lanes on Rt. 40 in 2010, after fire in March 2008 destroyed the former Pickett Lanes in the County-owned area declared excess by the U. S. Army after the 1995 BRAC decision that “closed” Pickett. The Virginia National Guard assumed command in Oct. 1997.
County officials used insurance proceeds from the 2008 fire and chose the Rt. 40 location so it would be more accessible to area civilians, yet close enough for soldiers training at Pickett to enjoy it.
In so doing, County officials declined an offer from the Town of Blackstone to build the new bowling alley in the Town Square, created by the 2004 downtown fire that destroyed three businesses. Blackstone, which had acquired “the hole” with state grant money, offered its site to the County free-of-charge.
Supervisors at their Oct. 9th work session expressed interest in relocating the Dept. of Social Services and Health Dept. to the Nottoway Lanes building. Their rationale appears to be that the bowling alley already is paid for, and the price of court-ordered new construction at Nottoway Courthouse has been placed at $570 per sq. ft. But there are also now talks about moving Social Services to the former Burkeville Elementary School.
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