Wheaton Bowl

This place is getting some poor ratings that are totally undeserved.
We went with six people on a Saturday night and had a great time.
Wheaton Bowl wasn’t sold out but it was well-​populated with an assortment of customers that looked like a nice cross section of people from the area.
Although no more than an old fashioned bowling establishment, it was clean and in no way smelled of cigarettes.
If we had a problem with a pin jam or a scoring problem it was taken care of quickly and with a smile.
The employees at Wheaton Bowl were very friendly and helpful.
I will be back!!!

This place reminds me of a blast of the past there is always nobody bowling and I guess that’s a good thing. The only exception of that is on league night then it is packed.

It’s Friday night at 7 PM and there are only 2 other people here. It’s REALLY outdated. This place hasn’t been redone since the middle of the 80’s, when it burned down. My opinion is kinda unbiased because my dad has been coming here since this place opened and knows all of the employees and owners. To those of who don’t know them, they can come off as grumpy or unhappy to be here, but when you get to know them they become nicer and become more personable :)

I know it’s outdated but i didn’t care to much about that. The lanes should at least be replaced. The last 2 frames of our Game we didn’t even bowl because it bowled itself. The 80’s scoring couldn’t keep up & kept reseting. Stood at the bar for 10 minutes before anyone came, no one wears a shirt that says staff or at least who they are. The shoelaces weren’t even full ones, i had half shoelaces, really?! little upgrade couldn’t hurt.

Balls worn without much variety making it difficult to find the right ball.
Very Cranky Manager,… he would not give the kids back the money they lost from the games that were broke, being out of service, without notes on the games stating this.
He flat old the kids then me, he is not responsable for kids loosing their money on the games that are under his roof, in his facility.
The only thing good about this place was Larry who was more then willing to help out with all issues we had including being close by at all times with clean ups etc… Very nice man, considering his boss is a real jerk!

I was tempted to give this two stars, but gave it an extra one based on what it used to be back in its glory days. Like most people say the staff is unpleasant, rude and terribly unhelpful. The lanes always break, and you have to wander around to find help. But it’s cheap and you never have to wait for a lane since no one comes here anymore.

Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my. Walking into Wheaton Bowl is like walking back in time. But not in a good way.
In a time when there are tons of bowling allies that offer up to date technology, good food and drinks, and fun atmosphere; places like Wheaton Bowl shouldn’t exist any more. On the plus side, it’s inexpensive. On the negative side, it’s cheap.
There were three of us bowling on a Sunday, $ 1 per person per game plus shoe rentals. That’s pretty inexpensive. The first lane we set up on was all messed up and we had to change lanes after about 10 frustrating minutes of trying to figure out who’s turn it was. That’s just cheap.
It’s been a while since I’ve been bowling, but I’m pretty sure the shoes shouldn’t be so slippery people fall over. I saw a couple people fall over. That’s sad, dangerous, and possibly comical.
I don’t think I’d go back to Wheaton Bowl again. Unless someone was paying me to and didn’t make me bowl, and brought along food for us. And maybe a tv or wifi connection so I could watch tv.
Yeah, pretty much just don’t go there.

I know everyone knocks Wheaton Bowl. Yes, it’s outdated. Yes, there’s a permanent cloud of cigarette smoke that permiates the premises even though the indoor smoking ban took effect in 2008. And yes, 9 times out of 10, it’s a ghost town. Wheaton Bowl is the only bowling alley I knew of for the longest time. Growing up in Wheaton, and attending WNHS, I spent both my weekends and mandatory PE class time here. And truth be told, I will spend my money here over all those «newer» alleys anyday.
If you want to bowl and not get run over by little kids, this is your place. I honestly cannot stand going to Brunswick Zones. THOSE are not bowling alleys. Every time you go to one of those, little kids bowling next to you stand right in front of your lane. Parents really need to teach their children bowling etiquette. At WB, I love being able to take advantage of the emptiness to work on my technique (I don’t really have one, but let’s pretend I do). I love the «real» lanes; I bowl much better here than at the newer places with the newer (cheaply made) lanes.
One thing I did like is the Bowl Your Brains Out (BYBO). For $ 6.00 per person and from 9:00 until midnight, you bowled as many games as you could. Shoes of course were extra, but come on! That’s a cheap date! One of the times I did it, my friend and I managed to get through 16 games in three hours.
I agree with others; yes it needs updating, remodeling, replacing, etc… As far as the «lack» of Cosmic Bowling– go to Brunswick for that obnoxiousness. WB used to have (maybe still does?) «laser bowling» and also I remember their candlelight bowling special.
I’m surprised that Wheaton Bowl has survived for as long as it has. However, I have a gut feeling that its days are numbered. It’s only a matter of time before it joins the ranks of Cock Robin, Round the Clock Café, and other nostalgic businesses that couldn’t keep up with the changing times.

As I sit within this bowling alley that time has passed by, I felt obligated to write how dreadful my experience has been thus far. None of these lanes work. Moved lane to lane, we have been hampered by technical difficulties and greeted by careless employees. And I’ve only been here here ten minutes.

I agree with most of the posts here in that the place is so outdated, it should just close. More often than not, there’s nobody here. The few customers they do attract they scare away with their nasty attitudes!
No A/​C when I had my kids birthday party there, (we were DYING in there!), no bumpers for the kids, no cosmic bowl, it reeks, rude employees… and who doesn’t have WI-​FI? This is almost 2014, not 1970!!!
No wonder why the lot is always empty. I really don’t know how they stay open at all, so poorly maintained, yet the family special just went up $ 10.00? Not a buck or tow, but $ 10.00? And the cranky rude old guy behind the counter needs to retire, because he has no clue how to get, or keep, customers. I’d rather go to Brunswick, thanks very much!

Old fashioned bowling alley. Doesn’t really have the charm of a great vintage place, so could use a makeover. Staff is less than cheerful and couldn’t crack a smile to save their lives.

A small bowling alley in Wheaton. Tere was like nobody working the bar and anywhere the day I went. The place looks like it can use some major remodeling. The place does have party rooms and evidently from the number of little rats running around thians is how they stay in business. League bowling is dead and drying up. They have a banquet also which is another reason the place seems less of a bowling ally and more of a party hoster.

These reviews are funny so I’m not going to compete. We had an hour to kill while the Jeep got a bath across the street (new detail shop rocks!).
That’s exactly what will happen, an hour of your life killed. Take a nap if you have a place to lie down. We di’int so we rolled some balls.
Over the line Smokey! (the Dude abides)

WOW! What a ghost town. Went there on an afternoon to kill some time. There were a couple of people «working» and maybe one or two other people bowling.
How can this place stay in business???
The balls aren’t organized in any fashion so it is hit or miss when trying to find one the right weight and size.
I guess if you are just looking for a super cheep place to go and waste time, here you go. The bowling is still bowling regardless.

Its a bit out-​dated. But really, the bowlings fine and stuff. And the pizzas good. Theres a tiny arcade area. Its… A-​OK… Exactly fitting into the 3 star description. So if you don’t care about looks, or are a bowling fantic, come on in. The price is pretty good.

Dive

Back in the early 2000’s, when you walked into Wheaton Bowl, you damn well knew it.
There was a constant cloud of smoke around the entrance ways and near the lanes. The employees were all surly and you could count the number of teeth between them all.
Nowadays, the smoke’s gone but everything else is the same. The employees are still as pleasant and accommodating as a Catholic school nun and the lane equipment still breaks down twice during each game. The bowling balls, décor, video games and bar patrons are all the same.
With so much consistency, I’d stay away from the vending machine candy and think of cotton candy and kittens as you slip into their rented bowling shoes.

Want to experience what it was like to bowl in 1976? Come here! Staff is ok, the same guys have been working here for years. The Illinois law that banned smoking really help «clean» this place up. In high school, everytime you would go, even if you weren’t near anyone smoking, you would have to wash your clothes!

The bowling alley itself is HORRIBLY out-​dated. It still looks (and feels) like it did when I was a kid and would come here with my parents.
However, there’s Pal Joey’s pizza here. And Pal Joey’s pizza is the most delicious thing in the Pizza World.
So a three for the out-​dated décor and technology, a four for the fun of bowling… and a five for Pal Joey’s and their Vortex of Awesome.
Equals out to a 4 star rating. Woot.

This place has been around forever and it looks like it. It could use a real face lift, if nothing else to get rid of the smoke smell that has permeated the entire place. There is no cosmic bowl here and the bumpers are assigned by lane, not by player, that would be too high tech for them.
We went here a lot last year thanks to the Wheaton Park District. They offered bowling at a great rate and the owner would come out to the lanes and give the kids pointers. The last day he had a pizza party for them with pop. It was very nice.
They have birthday parties here which include bowling, pop, pizza and some tokens for the few games they have here. They also have Bowl Your Brains Out where you pay a set fee and can bowl nonstop for a few hours.
The snack bar has Pal Joey’s pizza which is VERY good. I wish they would clean up this place so it could give the newer lanes a run for their money.