Future could be a gutter ball for Rodeo Lanes

Published 4:29 pm Monday, August 5, 2013

Pendletons Melanie Square is about to change hands, and the bowling alley there could close if the owners cant make a lease deal or find a different location by spring.

Neal Jones, of Gilbert, Ariz., lost the seven-acre Pendleton shopping plaza due to bankruptcy in 2012, according to court documents. Ed and Nancy LaRoque purchased the bowling alley, Rodeo Lanes, from Jones for $240,000 in 2008.

Ed, 75, and Nancy, 70, owned the previous bowling alley in Pendleton that burned down in 1995, then bought another in Cottage Grove. They believed they could return to Pendleton and make a successful run with a 16-lane center. They said their plan was to build up the business, make money and retire.

Instead, the LaRoques said they are in the fight of their economic lives because of Jones. He didnt pay for maintenance, so they sunk thousands of dollars into the business for upgrades and repairs. They showed a copy of a check for $16,556.83 from May 16, 2011 used to cover property taxes Jones didnt pay. Jones declared bankruptcy in Oregon and Arizona, and his legal woes also meant the LaRoques were forced to pay $10,000 to settle a deal with QuibicaAMF for bowling monitors and another $20,000 in lawyer fees.

Ed and Nancy LaRoque say they have a lease that is good until April 2014, which allows them to pay $4,000 a month in June, July, August and September, when the bowling business slows to a crawl. The next owners want $8,000 a month, every month, which is too much, the couple said. And moving the bowling alley would require the right space and cost about $150,000.

We want to stay, Ed LaRoque said. Were basically being forced out and would stay here in a heartbeat if we could negotiate with these guys.

These guys is the Corvallis-based Dickerhoof Properties, which is buying Melanie Square.

Darren Dickerhoof, partner in the family-run company, said the deal to buy Melanie Square should close in a couple of weeks. LaRoque said it should close next week.

Dickerhoof Properties built its business on acquiring old shopping centers and renovating them into modern retail spaces. Dickerhoof said thats the plan for Melanie Square in the spring of 2014, but he also said he couldnt give details about what will happen to Rodeo Lanes or other businesses at the site.

Melanie Square also is home to Rite Aid, RadioShack, Dollar Tree, an office of the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division, fast food places and more. Most of the businesses are corporately owned. Some managers said they didnt know what was happening and others didnt comment. Ed LaRoque said they dont want to talk out of fear they also will face higher rent.

Olympic Coast Investments, Seattle, had a lien on the property. Russ Findlay, trustee for the company, said the investment in Melanie Square was a total loss, but he didnt say how much that was. However, he pointed to the culprit.

Neal Jones swindled everybody out of a bunch of money, Findlay said.

Thats the LaRoques take as well.

We would have never ever come into this place if we would have known of (Jones) bankruptcies, Nancy LaRoque said.

Findlay said he didnt know whats in store for the anchor businesses at the site, such as Rite Aid, but theres always places for smaller mom and pop businesses, such as Pendleton Nails.

Melanie Square now is under the management of Kerr Commercial Group, Bend. No one from Kerr returned calls for comment. Neither did Jones.

Ed LaRoque said he first considered a bowling alley in Melanie Square seven or eight years ago, and designed Rodeo Lanes based on the one in Cottage Groove. The place has their money, sweat and heart in it, he said.

And while the future is uncertain, the LaRoques said they will operate business as usual as long as they can.

Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0833.