Popular Iowa City Bowling and Arcade Center to Close

A downtown Iowa City hotspot known for bowling and arcade games will be closing for good this week. The announcement surprised everyone, including management.

Iowa City Bowling Alley to Close

Little Village is reporting that SpareMe Bowl and Arcade in downtown Iowa City will soon be closing. In an announcement on social media, SpareMe stated that it would close its doors for good when it closes this Wednesday night at 10 p.m.

With its bowling alleys and large selection of pinball and arcade games, SpareMe has become a popular hangout spot in Iowa City, especially for college students. The venue held regular pinball tournaments that drew large crowds, according to Little Village.

Closure Catches Management by Surprise

Heather Soseman, the general manager of SpareMe, told Little Village that she was officially informed of the closing last Thursday and stated, "I was utterly shocked, and beyond disappointed."

According to Little Village, Soseman was hired by Hawkeye Hotels to work on and then run SpareMe. Hawkeye Hotels also owns The Chauncey, a 51-room Hilton hotel that is directly above the two-story bowling alley and arcade. In April, Greenstate Credit Union filed foreclosure papers on The Chauncey and five other properties, according to Little Village. 

Soseman told Little Village that she was "under the impression that we weren't going anywhere." She stated that the upcoming holiday season was always the busiest time of year for SpareMe. Now, fans have until Wednesday night to say goodbye.