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HAYWARD – Crews on Friday battled a four-alarm fire at the defunct Holiday Bowl in Hayward.
The blaze was reported about 6:05 p.m., according to Hayward fire Capt. Don Nichelson.
Nichelson said crews initially made their way inside the building but were forced to retreat and battle the fire from the outside. The blaze was knocked down by 9:30 p.m.
“It’s completely destroyed,” Nichelson said about the Holiday Bowl.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Nichelson, however, noted that a blaze broke out at the building last month and was believed to be linked to homeless residents.
Closed in 2005 and now an eyesore, the Holiday Bowl at 29827 Mission Blvd. was once the largest bowling center in Northern California. It boasted 40 automated lanes, the Bashful Bull restaurant, a cocktail lounge, a pro shop, a nursery and a beauty salon.
In 1965, the banquet room was the site a campaign kickoff fundraiser for then-gubernatorial candidate Ronald Reagan. The Holiday Bowl was also featured in “The Darwin Awards,” a 2006 film by Oakland-born writer and director Finn Taylor.
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