Bowling and movie enthusiasts who financially supported a proposed entertainment development in East Hants should watch their mailboxes for a refund cheque.

East Hants Entertainment Ltd., the group behind the proposed movie theatre, bowling alley and arcade, has decided to call it quits — at least for now.

Terry MacFarlane, the group's president, told CBC News there simply wasn't enough financial support for the project.

"Contrary to the surveys and everything we had, we didn't get the stockholder input that we expected," MacFarlane said. "People were enthusiastic about it, but not many supported it."

Terry MacFarlane said he's not giving up on his dream of making the entertainment complex a reality. (Melissa Friedman/CBC)

The group has been working on the idea of building an entertainment centre for about seven years. It's been selling shares for $100 since December, and needed at least $250,000 worth of shares in order to qualify for a loan.

But the group only sold about $40,000 worth of shares, MacFarlane said.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to express my apologies that I'm not a sales person," read a note from MacFarlane on the group's website. "I have been unable to convince even people who expressed the understanding that this was a popular endeavour, and financial investment, to join with us."

Refunds issued

Roughly 80 people bought shares, MacFarlane said. Those investors can expect to receive a cheque in the mail soon.

"The money's being returned. The cheques are already in our hands," MacFarlane said. "Some of them have already been sent out. We're moving as quickly as we can on that."

The group had hoped to break ground on the project in Elmsdale this spring. While that didn't happen, MacFarlane said he's not giving up quite yet.

"We're looking at other possibilities. We're going to try to get something going."

MacFarlane declined to give details on those possibilities.

"We're looking into two other scenarios that may allow us to continue anyway. They're only in their preliminary stage right now," he said.

"We're a little bit stubborn."