Worcester is known as "birthplace of candlepin bowling." The sport was invented here, and now the last facility to offer it in the city is closing its doors.

Owner Nick Andreson built Colonial Bowling Center on Mill Street in 1960.

General Manager Paul Wambach says Andreson was debating closing before the pandemic, but the public health crisis has pushed them over the edge.

"It's so unpredictable what's going to happen in the fall, and that's when we have our league season start in September. We weren't able to get our summer league going the summer, so we're completely shut down. We’ve been shut down since the middle of March. It's too unpredictable. I think that, combined with his age, it made up his mind it was time,” says Wambach.

Wambach says the closest candlepin bowling alleys are in Webster and Spencer.