A Pismo Beach staple is feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pismo Bowl, which has been on the central coast for more than 80 years, survived the first COVID-19-related shutdown back in March, but the most recent restrictions released by the California Department of Public Health may be too much for the family-owned business to overcome.
"I know they were saying to bring the business outside like restaurants were doing with outdoor seating, but I can't bring bowling outside," said Steve Goldie, who has owned the bowling alley for 20 years.
California Governor Gavin Newsom's new tier-based reopening system calls for certain businesses in counties like Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo to cease all indoor operations unless they are serving food for takeout.
However, because the business primarily operates as a bowling alley, owners say selling food to customers does not bring in the same cash flow.
"Our food service is really geared to provide service to our bowling customers," said Goldie. "Without the bowling customers, it's a small fraction of what we normally would be doing."
On Monday Goldie launched a GoFundMe page called "Keep Pismo Bowl" asking community members to donate to keep the business alive.
By Friday afternoon, community members have donated more than $5,000.
According to the GoFundMe page, Goldie's goal is to reach $125,000.
Some Pismo Bowl customers said bowling is one of their main hobbies, and not having the chance to go out and socialize has been tough to deal with.
"I miss it so much. We look forward to seeing our friends. My mother really misses it. She's 83 and it's hurting a lot of us," said Louise Waterman, a regular bowler at the Pismo Bowl.
