First duck pin bowling balls tossed for Dorrbaker center in Beloit

BELOIT — The first duckpin bowling balls were tossed Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Henry Dorrbaker Pub and Play center.

The new center in the Ironworks Campus on Third Street in downtown Beloit, will feature games, food, drink and other entertaining attractions.

Rob Gerbitz, president and CEO of Hendricks Commercial Properties, owner of the new center, said the plan is to have the center finished by the first of November.

“We will be doing some tests before we open,” he said.

Jeff Whiteman, chief operating officer of Geronimo Hospitality, said the center will employ about 100 people when it opens.

Corporate Contractors Inc. (CCI) is the general contractor for the center’s construction and Angus-Young is the architect for the project.

The center will be located along the Rock River at the back of the Ironworks Campus, near the end of the “Spine” area.

The center will consist of about 20,000 square feet of renovated space and it will feature duckpin bowling, which is a bowling game using hand held balls and smaller pins. The center also will feature minigolf, arcade games, craft cocktails, and a variety of beers and food offerings.

There also will be a 5,400-square-foot outdoor patio area where outdoor games, a stage and bar will be featured.

The center’s name reflects a bit of Beloit history. Henry Dorrbaker was the owner of Beloit’s first bowling alley, which was established in 1899 at 426 State St. in downtown Beloit. Hendricks Commercial Properties has tipped its hat to Beloit’s history with other properties it has established in downtown Beloit, including the Wright & Wagner Lofts apartment building, and the Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint. The Wright & Wagner Lofts are named after the Wright & Wagner Dairy which once was located in downtown Beloit. The Merrill & Houston Steak Joint is named after Orson Merrill and George Houston who founded Beloit Iron Works, which later became Beloit Corporation.

Hendricks Commercial Properties hopes to offer a new entertainment venue for area residents with the Dorrbaker Pub and Play. Geronimo Hospitality will manage the center. Geronimo Hospitality manages several other businesses in Beloit, including Lucy’s #7 Burger Bar, Truk’t Street Tacos, Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint and the Velvet Buffalo.