Valley Township Tavern, Bowling Lanes Destroyed in Fire

A longtime Armstrong County business that brought the small community together went up in flames early Tuesday morning.

CB’s Clubhouse, historically and well-known as the Greendale Tavern and Lanes, along Route 85 in Valley Township was engulfed in flames at about 3:30AM. Local fire fighters from more than a half-dozen units from Rural Valley to West Kittanning tried to salvage anything from the business even after the sun rose.

Nobody was hurt in the blaze. The business closed an hour before the fire 9-1-1 dispatch.

Fire fighters and state police troopers are investigating the fire -especially after it was later reported that an unknown male stole from the business less than five hours before the fire spread.

According to State Police Trooper Terry Geibel, an unknown male entered through an unlocked door at the business about 10:45 while the tavern was open, but cleaning up for the evening. The owner found the cash register in the dining room missing a short time later, and indoor video surveillance showed that the unknown male cut the wires to the cash register and walk back out into the parking lot, looking at the security camera as he walked out of the business.

Police describe the male as wearing a hood over his head, along with glasses and possibly a mask.

The business was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived on-scene early yesterday morning. No one was seen in the area, but video surveillance will be reviewed in the coming days.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Kittanning (East Franklin Township) at 724-543-2011.