Bleeker's Bowling Lanes

I don't know how long ago all of you haters went to Bleekers Bowl but I was there Saturday for a birthday party for my niece & it was great!!! The bowling alley & bathrooms were very clean, the scoring screens were obviously new, there were plenty of bowling balls to choose from, the bowling shoes were new, the pizza was delicious & Kathy Sterk decorated the party room for my niece in a Hello Kitty theme that was absolutely fabulous!! The kids had so much fun both in the party room & bowling. Oh & the patio is nice & shaded to sit outside & have a drink or some food. more

sterk is a jerk! his empoyees are crabb.y because he is impossible to work for. I stopped going in there with neighborhood friends because he is always screaming at some poor barback or bartender. He has no people skills what so ever.. Wish someone would open another bar on 95th. By the way the food is horrible. go to Baraccos or Durbins. more

Give Bleekers another try! ARE YOU KIDDING!!! I went there this past weekend, January 30,2011 and it hasn't changed! Same old RUDE people at the desk, at the bar we where treated like outsiders (although we are actully from the neighborhood.) The shoes were raunchy, still no selection of house balls and the food was average to below at Best. Was this Tim Sterk writing that review? more

After recently hosting a small reunion at Bleekers Bowl in Evergreen Park, I felt compelled to write in and perhaps balance some of the harsh comments previously posted. \r Bleekers bowl has been greatly improved since Mr. Tim Sterk started managing the establishment. The beer garden is nice on summer and fall nights. Always nicely decorated for upcoming holidays. The bar is smaller, however, usually filled with friendly locals and can really be fun! Lanes are nice and clean, Desk attendant was friendly and efficient. Computerized scoring on all lanes and we had no problems with ball returns. Bumpers are also available for children and birthday parties. Party room is a real plus so you have some privacy for your food etc. \r Since putting in a top notch kitchen, Bleekers now sells food.\r And it is tasty! We had some appetizers; mini burgers, nachos, wings and beef sandwiches which were out of this world! We used the interior bar and had a wonderful time and everyone commented on the food. Let's face it, Chicago is a beef town and Bleeker's beef can stand up to the best. At least ten people asked me where I got the beef. It is made especially for private parties and is very good! Not dried out and over cooked like so many. All in all, it was a wonderful time. I know of no place else where you can get a private bar and bartender for your party for such a reasonable price. more

I have never expierenced a bowling center with such a lazy front desk clerk, if I was that lazy at my job I would no longer have that said job. growing up I have worked in several bowling centers, so I think that makes me qualified to know what it takes to run the front counter of a bowling establishment. What that woman does, I am sorry but it does not make sense why the proprieter keeps her around. This was my first and last season at Bleekers Bowling establishment. more

Old stools / dirty floor and bar area from the 50's / Ed Eber (knew him from softball) in that bar or driving around EP 24/7 / Sterk is always a crab ass and the store prices outrageous. The only time he perks up is when EP Government (I did not know they had such a thing in Arkansas, Illinois) comes in.\r \r We Bev guys need an alternative other than Western Ave.! Bring back Skips!!! Pros: Overall hot bartenders Cons: You have to see Ed Eber everytime you go in!!!!!!!!!! more

well, let me start by saying that as bad as this place is, you can still have fun with some of the regulars & a couple of the bartenders. that said, linda is probably the worst person to be in any sort of customer service role. my friends and i used to make sure we wouldn't be there at the same time that she was because she was guaranteed to make your time spent there miserable, just like she is. and she will never leave that place sadly! the owner is at times nice, but mostly a pompous guy who for some reason has a god-complex from owning a bowling alley. weird. no food there, but snacks behind the bar & in the liquor store. pretty much a giant dump, too bad really because it has potential to be really great, but its really gross and nasty in there. its a place to go to blackout, have a grammar school reunion, and hobnob with EPs elite (ha). bowling lanes are almost never available because of leagues. to be honest, all the reviews you have read are true, and there is no reason to go to this place unless you are in-training to become a full-time alcoholic. more

I just got back from investigating the claims that Bleekers is slipping down the slippery slope to obscurity. The league bowlers were playing. It reminded me of why people bowl in leagues; to meet with friends once a week and share a friendly diversion from the stresses of everyday life. I sat down in the bar, and watched the equipment and employees for a while. The bartender was very polite and friendly. I didn't see any malfunctions that would ruin the bowling experience. They have ample equipment to borrow. The bartender has Barracco's pizza by the slice at the bar. They also deliver Barracco's pizza to the bowling alley, no problem. The lady at the front desk told me that the alleys are 65$ for two hours for six bowlers per lane. She was also polite and actually stopped what she was doing to answer my question. The bathrooms and carpets were clean. I remembered the bar as being a little dark and seedy, but it was quite different when I went in there. The walls/windows were removed, giving a more open, friendly feel. Of course there was no smoky atmosphere, thanks to Gov. Blagojevich's recent smoking ban in Illinois! Doesn't this sound different from those scathing reviews?! Bleekers doesn't have a video arcade, or a big restaraunt, or any other diversions. It is a place people go to BOWL!!! Pros: Great place for people who want to bowl. Good pizza Cons: parking can be tight more

I love that bowling alley employees have the right to be rude. I called this place in hopes to schedule a Christmas Night Out for family and friends on Dec. 23rd. She got on the phone and I asked to speak with someone regarding a group bowling night. Before I finished my sentence she told me it was $50 per hour per lane and you can't have more than 6 people per lane. My response . . .""OK"" . . . .Then she said, well you really should call and make sure the date is avail. I asked her if she could do that . . . .(why else would I be calling). I told her the date and within 1.2 seconds her response was ""We're full, we have leagues"" . . .Not, what time were you thinking, how many people in your group, here's a few other nights that might work better . . . . nothing . . . .""We're full"".\r \r In these tough economic times bowling alleys must be doing fantastic because they NEVER EVER care to put forth an effort to satisfy the customer and in turn generate some cash for their business. Don't cry on my shoulder when these places shut down due to lack of business - It'll happen eventually.\r \r Annoyed more

The only good thing about this place is that it has a liquor store. Skip the bowling-we tried to bowl, but the equipment is so old that the return never worked, and the score keeping was always off. The bowling employee, an older cranky woman, was just awful!\r \r The woman we rented shoes from, Linda, could not have been more crabby or rude. She was angry she had to work. We went on league night (Wednesday) & called ahead to see if any lanes were available & we were told yes, 3 lanes are available. \r \r We arrived 15 minutes later & Linda told us sorry, no lanes, it's league night. I mentioned that I had just called & was told 3 lanes are available, and we only wanted 2. Her reply ""fine"". Linda didn't want to have to do the work of getting our shoes, etc. Other customers that went to the desk were complaining to me that she is always that crabby and ignorant. \r \r Linda was also annoyed that we asked for a lighter bowling ball for the kids. Linda continued to be annoyed that she had to work when we needed our lane fixed, because the pins were not cleaning up properly. \r \r Bottom line, go to any other bowling alley & you will have a much more fun night and you'll actually be able to bowl. Go to Brunswick Arena Lanes in Oak Lawn or to Centennial Lanes in Tinley Park and you won't have to deal with all the broken, old quipment that Bleekers makes you put up with! Pros: they have a liquor store-that's not saying much Cons: bowling employee is crabby, angry, rude more

Neighborhood, family feeling\r Not a big corporate bowling establishment\r Nice place to have a candlelight bowl\r No food however Pros: family, cheap Cons: no food more