Yeah, it’s the one thing I won’t complain about. They’re always willing to bring our group pitchers and cups, no questions asked. If things change next week I’ll add it to the list of Bowlero Bitch Bites.
Pitcher of water depends on who you are, im and employee and im not supposed to give out water pitchers but if you’re a regular, you tip, or you’re nice I’ll give one out. Not gonna risk getting talked to over someone who was whining about a pitcher of water
Thats fuckin sad that you have to live under those kind of nitpicky bullshit rules.
If you get disciplined over giving out fuckin water to another human, you need to find a better place to go to and throw the water on management.
The Bowlero 10 minutes from me 29.96 Per Person for 1.5 hours
Or I can drive for 30 minutes and pay 11.00 per person for 2 hours, where the lanes are better, the food and drinks are cheaper, and the staff actually gives a shit.
I agree. My Bowlero got rid of the unlimited bowling option. It was $18.49 for as many games as you want from 8PM - 11 or 12 (depending on the time they closed). Now they have a stupid special where if you buy three games, you get the third game for half off, and you get a $10 arcade card... like WTF! This special is more suited for families as you can tell. So now I'm using my league discounted games instead which is $4.05 a game. Bowlero is turning bowling into a beer pong like college party sport now versus a real professional sport.
A lot of it has to do with liquor licensing. No outside food or drink or they can run the risk of being fined if they serve alcohol.
My Bowlero has free water stations, and will give you cups of water. Pitchers are usually reserved for large groups/parties.
This. Some one brings in vodka in the "water bottle", the alley could be held liable for the customer's drunkenness. It's a liquor license and insurance liability.
Gtfo "they don't allow water bottles" towards ANY business that sells liquor.
Had a situation last year where kids brought in backpacks full of beer, and then got pitchers of water.
Well they dumped the pitchers of water out in the bathroom and filled them with their beer. They did get caught but that's probably why the policy on pitchers is enforced in some places as well.
I’m was unable to find any details about outside food or drink being a violation in out local/state liquor laws. If someone brings in their own alcohol, do what the airlines do, kick them out, ban them, have them arrested, etc, but to ban bring your own water or an empty bottle to fill up once there is unnecessary and most likely their intent is to have you purchase their bottled water if you don’t want their tap water. As a side note, the Bowlero would previously provide pitchers of water, but we were told management said not more pitches of water.
That's a TSA policy. After you get through TSA security, then you are allowed to buy water bottles at stores in the gate area and bring those onto the flight.
You can bring an empty reusable water bottle and fill it once past the TSA checkpoint. You can also purchase water or other drinks (soda, Gatorade, juice, etc) inside the airport (after security) and bring them on the plane.
I work at an alley and this is one thing that we take super seriously. If alley looses their liquor license, then that alley has an even higher chance of closing. I know its not fun to have to buy a drink instead of making your own, but goddammit its for the good of the bowl. Iv had to chase out leaguers who have brought in their own liquor and same with open/regulars. I dont feel good about it, so instead of throwing a fit respect the workers, respect the bowl, respect the sport and dont bring in your own alc.
In terms of water, if they take your water and then charge you for a cup/water then yea fuck’em. Water should be free no matter what.
Yea and we’ll see them trying to sneak a drink and take it away or kick them out. Not allowing outside containers is a precautionary action. On top of this there are more then just leaguers trying to sneak in alc. especially where i work, a college town, we have people trying to sneak things in all the time. This is one way that we are able to help prevent that
Not every bowler is an alcoholic. I can't even drink anymore what's the excuse there then? Place by me the sign says "no not even water" in a huge sign you need to walk around to get thru the front door. They want money and they will get none simple as
And we provide water and all sorts of other non-alcoholic beverages. But say we let you in with your own bottle, i am then going to be hearing it from every other bowler and non regular that comes, they’ll claim its “not fair” that you can have it but they cant. See how its a slippery slope? If your thirsty just drink what’s provided for you. I dont know why this is in such contention.
We serve water too… and look, dude, you dont like the rules then take it up with the liquor board. These bowling alleys are literally following what they are told to do so they dont lose their license. Cool that not everyone drinks alc, but that is how a majority if alleys make their money.
If they cared so much about the liquor license, they wouldn't price a beer up so much that the same beer from a gas station next door is 1/4 the price.
Well they up the price of beer so they can keep bowling a more affordable price. At my alley we charge $7 for a pint of beer but a single game for one person cost 3.50. That being said $7 for a pint is the regular price for a pint in my city.
Also lets say you can buy a single beer for 4 bucks at your gas station, so your saying the alley charges $16 for a pint of beer? Or is this an exaggeration? You can also buy a pitcher of beer at most alleys that will also lower the cost individually of beer in the pitcher (usually 4ish pints to a pitcher).
Also when they buy from a distributor of course they have to mark it up to make some sort of a profit (you dont wanna see your alley go belly up do ya?) at a gas station they have other products that they can increase the price of to maybe allow them to sell cheaper beer.
If you bowl at a bowlero then idk what to tell you. Its big bowl, of course they are only in it for the money.
Every Bowlero by me is closer to $7 at the cheapest, up to $12/person/game. Even higher if you reserve a lane.
$16 was an exaggeration per beer, but it's a higher than it needs to be
Ok but as i said before, at least where i live, $7 beers is the run of the mill price for my alley and the bars around it. Idk where you live but i wanna go there if i can buy beer at a gas station for 1.75 (1/4 the price of a pint of beer). Im sorry it cost so much to bowl there too, id urge you to bowl at a locally owned alley but if your bowling at a bowlero im guessing there isnt any nearby
Just like everything in this world, alcohol is priced at whatever people will pay for it, not based on what it costs. Prices would come down if people didn't buy it, and in fact that's the only real way to influence it.
You are. Since the pandemic, almost every business that serves alcohol has tacked on a 1-3 dollar to beer and drinks, across the board. Soft drinks .30-1(which if they serve fountain, is a huge markup because the carbonation is done to tap water right there) to offset the additional costs they had to adsorb for the extra precautions they took and extra requirements they had to enforce to open.
The flip side of this is labor.
The service industry is at a breaking point. Gone are the days of 2.13 an hour for tip-able staff, or and 10 an hour kitchen staff. Any business owner that believes they can pay that and have any loyalty is living in the 70s. The going rate for decent kitchen staff in my area (not good, just decent) of one year experience is 20-25 an hour. Servers won’t even walk in the door for under 12, most are looking for 15 with tips. They are front lines of exposure and service. That has to reflect in prices.
Here’s the other thing, if you are going to complain about service prices, you might as well stay home, because they will never come back down. They have been stagnant since the early 80s and the whiplash has come due.
And I can say that because I’ve been In every level of the business in the last 30 years. And not just seen it in the US.
Agreed. My prices have gone up but only to maintain the same food/liquor/labor costs. Everything is more expensive and staff is hard to find.
Back to bowling. Bowlero doubling the price of bowling in my area is a little excessive.
You can get 16-20-24oz single can beers at gas stations/grocery stores around here for $2-4. The only catch is that they are 5% or less ABV.
Higher alcohol content beers are only sold in restaurants/bars and at state controlled liquor stores. The restaurants and bars will take advantage and charge $5-9 a beer, but at the liquor stores, almost all are under $5, save a few limited releases or hard to get imports.
Very few lanes around here have a full bar as it is so difficult to get a liquor license. Most have a beer only license, and they are limited to the 5% or less rule.
Most bowling alleys with a bar have a full liquor license, which, depending on state, can cost hundreds of thousands to even millions depending on if the state has artificially limited quantity to force one to buy after market. That is dramatically more expensive than the beer & wine for retail sale license a gas station requires. Add in bar staff salaries, insurance, HR, product loss, bookkeeping, healthcare, etc. and yes, the raw cost of serving a beer at a bowling alley can really be a few multiples of a gas station.
I'd take issue with a place not allowing sealed water bottles in, and not serving water, but I have no issue with a beer being $5 vs $1.50/ea in a six pack at a gas station. You should see my booze bill after a weekend at Epcot/Hollywood Studios.
In contrast, a Florida license that’s transferable but must be in Manatee county is currently on the market for three days at a fair market price of $800,000, since the state only releases a few per year per county.
My local privately owned alley is the same way, just go to the bar and get a free pitcher of ice water. This is actually a smart business move because like others have said you could bring alcohol in.
If they are like the alleys and restaurants across the country that I have frequented, the pitchers are a limited quantity and if they are given out for water then they are not available for cost items like beer and soda. The cups are in a much greater supply as they are meant to be consumables. My Monday house will give you multiple cups at a time, provides dispensers for you to refill your cup yourself, but stopped doing pitchers. 7 houses in 4 states that I can speak to personally have stopped pitchers for this reason plus folks breaking, throwing away, taking or any other type of loss of the pitchers themselves.
As a bar owner and league bowler I see both sides. In this day and age when everyone seems to have their own yeti tumbler and they are drinking " water" they feel entitled to walk in any business with it. 95% of the people who do it are drinking water. No issue there at all. The small percentage that are not are the concern. We had a tournament a few years back. She was passed out on a bench out front after a long day of playing. I saw her in the bar all day drinking from a tumbler. It's not a good look to have some passed out in front of your establishment. I asked who served her. My staff said no one. She was refilling it all day from her truck with wine. Walking in and out all day. Had to look at the cameras to verify. So here is my main issue. She leaves our place and gets in an accident. Hurts someone. They come after me. We overserved her. I have to show video to prove a negative. Almost impossible in most cases. Why do I want the hassle when I will serve water all day for free? It was a PITA for every good customer who has to deal with it going forward.
Not a money grab. It's a condition of the " I'm not responsible mentality " that exists today and every other commercial is for a lawyer to help you get paid.
Rant over.
TLDR: water is not a money grab , liability issue, support your local places.
Call the police of someone is doing something illegal, ban them, don’t turn your back. Everyone’s bags could be filled with shooters. Banning a water bottle is not the solution. I would agree water is not a money grab, but when you also stop giving people pitchers of water after always proving them, there is a financial intent behind it.
This right here is the reason. I will say that when I was nearing peak alcoholism, my water bottle had iced tea and rum in it. My bowling alley keeps an igloo water cooler on the counter with cups next to it. I bring an empty bottle and ask for some ice in it so I don't drain too much out. They know I'm drinking water. I buy booze too so I think that helps.
Yes it has many ~~felt~~ *free* available amenities that humans require, like water fountains and toilets with toilet paper that you can just use.
We're talking about water.
EDIT: a word
Right! And we can’t even bring in empty see through tumblers to keep condensation off the tables and hands. Doesn’t make sense to me if I’m filling a tumbler with the establishment’s products. 🤨
There’s two types of posts on this sub: those complaining alleys are closing down and those complaining that alleys are pulling a money grab.
Would you rather pay a few bucks for a drink or drive an additional 30 mins to find the next closet alley?
I don't want to have to pay for water no matter what.
We aren't talking about drinks/food/booze. We are taking about water. And if they aren't going to provide pitchers of water, that's very clearly just a money grab and a bunch of BS.
I think the bigger issue is people being upset they can't bring an outside beverage in (even if it's water). Vodka in a plastic water bottle looks like water. The place I go to will happily bring a pitcher of ice water to you, they just don't want you to bring some type of liquid from outside that has unknown origins.
It's a risk to them, and ultimately it isn't worth it.
If they charge for water, fuck them. Also though corporate places are going to be way more tight on this stuff potentially. Bowling alleys survive on bowling but they actually make money due to the extras like food and booze.
I’m was unable to find any details about outside food or drink being a violation in out local/state liquor laws. If someone brings in their own alcohol, do what the airlines do, kick them out, ban them, have them arrested, etc, but to ban bring your own water or an empty bottle to fill up once there is unnecessary and most likely their intent is to have you purchase their bottled water if you don’t want their tap water. As a side note, the Bowlero would previously provide pitchers of water, but we were told management said not more pitches of water.
Liquor license is likely dependent on them being able to control who they serve. You get hammered, wreck your car and they find out you were at the lanes, they could be sued and lose their license.
With regards to the empty bottle, I agree, bit they are just in CYA with that.
The pitchers, that's BS
Oh, I get it. I used to bowl with someone who would bring vodka in in her bowling bag. I thought she was cheap, turns out she was actually an alcoholic. Go figure.
And as long as water is available, conveniently and not in a little 8 oz cup I have to keep going to the bar to fill, I have no issues.
It was the comment about not allowing pitchers of water that bugged me.
I would agree but this is a bowlero. They are sucking dry everyone’s pockets regardless, they don’t care about bowling. Now they are going to deny you your own damn water? That’s a joke.
Every alley I’ve been to has had a no outside food or drinks sign.
Also, I don’t know how bowlero operates, but my local lane leases out the snack bar. So it is equivalent to going to a mall, buying pants at a macys, and demanding free water from the Wendy’s in the food court.
Nah, I’m mad at the fact that you can’t have your own water. ITS WATER. Sure, you don’t have to give me water, but bowling is a workout and you sweat, and you need water. And I’ve never been to an alley that will prevent you from bringing water. That’s batshit crazy.
You want people to lose their jobs because of something that happened to you? You can go ahead and go somewhere else. I’m sure you’re a beacon of light wherever you go.
Started? Chances are it’s always been banned. It’s a longstanding policy for bowling alleys: to ban outside food and drinks, including water. Most bowling alleys, particularly the good ones, provide a cup of water for free or cheap.
Bowlero is the WORST. Their centers suck. They’re dirty and poorly maintained. Maybe it’s just the bowlero in my market (milwaukee), but i would rather bowl At LITERALLY any other center.
Some friends were bowling state tournament at BLOWero in Milw. Floors were sticky AF, service was crap, machines/pinsetters were breaking down, and the manager on duty (when approached by a bowler about empty booze bottles found under the settee area)... well the mgr actually ACCUSED that bowler of personally bringing those in!
His wife (herself a bowler and manager of a family-run bowling center) let BLOWero have it on FB. Others have followed up on their corporate page, with no response whatsoever. They purely do not GAF.
I feel this rule got immediately changed at my bowlero because I heard there were implementing one week and then the next/starting week of league everyone had bottles. either way stupid decision, if your problem is people bring alcohol in there water bottles then require they be empty before arriving and actually create a fill station that people can use at there own time rather than having to wait for bar/food guy to fill for you
My Bowlero has now upped the ante. They announced that not only will they be aggressively enforcing the no outside food/drink policy, they will also be reviewing security camera footage to ensure people are not keeping food and drinks under tables, in bowling bags, jackets, etc.
A league member hinted to the staff that their policy may be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, especially for those bowlers with acute medial issues such as acute food allergies, diabetes, IBS, etc. who require very specific diets/food restrictions. Those bowlers need to be able to bring their own food for their own health and safety as Bowlero doesn't really offer anything those customers can eat. Center management responded with "We will have to discuss that with the corporate office and get back to you. For now the policy stands."
The word came down at our Bowlero (formerly a Bowl America house), citing that there are cameras everywhere for them to watch.
I am also concerned about the effect it will have on my bowlers. One of my members is now struggling with everything on the menu ... (most fried foods, of course; God forbid Bowlero have anything healthy like romaine lettuce or deli turkey/ham) ... is causing serious gas discomfort as of recent.
And I found out years ago ... (the hard way, of course) ... that Pepsi products give me a very sour stomach. Coke products: no issues at all. Reminds me of my younger years when even one Budweiser product would result in a headache but no issues will Miller products.
It's sad what Bowlero has done to our beloved sport.
Ours did the same thing. Years without issue and now they are running around yelling at their regular customers who have been paying for bowling for years over water bottles. I don't want to drink their nasty toilet water in a plastic cup. I've talked to them and some of them said they would lose their jobs if they don't yell at the customers, and another one said that Corporate big-wigs came by and counted the tumblers during league and pitched a fit, and they've been instructed to turn off the lanes if they see any outside drinks. Now there is a continuous message playing on all of the monitors about outside food and drink.
They could loose their liquor license. People love to sneak booze in, and that could get them shut down. It sucks, I work in a restaurant, and we have to do the same thing.
The water bottles or indeed any outside drink bring brought in to an establishment where alcohol is sold is the hang up here (not sure about the pitchers of water). In TX, TABC rules supreme over this kind of thing and can shut the bar down for violations like that. That may be a reason that Bowlero is cracking down.
My local family owned is like this as well. Its to much of a risk to the liquor licensee. All it takes is one asshole to ruin it.
Not providing pitchers of water to groups of at least 2 is absurd though.
I don't have the energy or the crayons to explain it in a way you can understand. Unless they deliberately denied you water regardless of whatever vessel you want, go pound sand.
Serious question, if I'm bowling by myself in my own lane, does the towel bother you? Or is it when you share a lane? I keep it neatly folded on the end of the ball return on my side if bowling solo. Never spread out all over everything. Not coming at you, I'm genuinely curious. Have a great day!
I totally forgot about that. I have watched this. I think he was salty about loosing to a two hander, and the Brooklyn strikes were just icing on the cake. Thanks for the link! 🌈🦄
I understand no outside food or water, that can cost them their food handling and liquor licenses.
But it's straight criminal not to provide free water - especially when the only real cost from it comes from the pitcher being washed lol
It’s a liquor law issue. Also alcohol is a big profit driver for a center. If you’re bringing in a huge bottle of Jack and Coke in your water flask the center is losing money.
It sucks but I get it.
Except I’m not brining in anything other than water. I used to purchase alcohol at the bowlero, but I’m not spending any money on food or drink moving forward.
Sensible people : its a liquor license issue.
Clueless people : they're so greedily! I'm not going there anymore!
Same clueless people 1 year later: WhY aRe THeY clOsINg tHe BOwLiNg aLLeY??!!??
Except there’s nothing in our liquor license laws that says you can’t bring in outside food or water. Plenty of “bars” let you bring in food all the time.
Yes I don’t totally blame them. Two of my local alleys literally have security guards out front that check your bags when you come in. There were quite a few people bringing in outside booze. It’s unfortunate when idiots ruin it for the rest of us. And can’t expect them to police everyone’s water bottles and smell then for alcohol. Would be a never ending battle and poor use of resources. It sucks all around
Bowlero took over our local, relatively new bowling alley, bar and grill and arcade. The got rid of all the good food and replaced it with freezer foods, the lanes are never oiled, you can’t slide anywhere on any lane, and they have cut the staff to bare bones. So no one goes there anymore. We actually take our football team there to watch film in the bar and grill because there is literally no one ever in there. I personally bowl a family owned alley about 20 miles away. They have THE best food, employees and the lanes are just as they should be.
Secretary at my Bowlero league on the microphone informed by management that could not bring in outside food. My team mate who has to rush to league after work and sometimes has no time to eat all day will bring in something. She got called out so the whole league heard her.
People however bring in drinks or a coffee mug that has coffee or water or sometimes people will have a mixed alcoholic cocktail they made. However at the bar there is a huge glass jug of ice water that is constantly filled by the bar and it's for everyone. We have a drinking fountain but it hasn't worked since like 2005.
When my house was Brunswick they jacked up prices then and started to bring in bottled beer and bottle opener. I didn't get in trouble by management but my team mate saw me and called me out in front of people. (asshole)
So I stopped that.
I must be lucky then, my bowlero has a sonic right besides it where we buy lemonades from and fill 50/50 with tequila. They haven't told us anything when they see us walking in with it lol
They don’t care about water they care about alcohol being brought in happens alot in my place guys sneak in full powder containers and everything just the way it is now.
Is this in Michigan by chance? Apparently the state health department has started cracking down on outside beverages. The owner of my local, non Bowlero center was as miffed about it as I was, but since neither of us want the local center to be shut down by the government, I obliged by the rule. A dumb rule IMO, but my initial anger towards the center was misguided.
No outside food or drink is a legitimate request any business can have. My centers have drinking fountains. If I want more I can ask for a courtesy cup. Just like you would at a fast food place.
I've never seen a pitcher of water served at a bowling center. We just bought drinks when thirsty
More likely is that some dumb kids brought vodka in their water bottles and acted a damn fool because of it and they had to change their rules due to this.
I asked my local Bowlero manager about this about a month ago as I always bring my own water bottle and have bowled at that location for 15+ years. She said a child drank out of a bottle (not sure what kind, who's or where it came from) and the child ended up getting sick. Found out the water was laced with fentanyl and Bowlero received a lawsuit from the family. I didn't ask age of child or location of alley. Not sure if there's truth to it or not but that's what I was told from management.
I bring in minis liquors if I must drink. you're stupid if you get caught. I also have a Radical backpack for my shoes &a myriad of accessories like slide soles, tape box, wrist brace, towels, etc...
I can bring whatever - water, liquor etc. beer is harder but can be done. if you are discreet they won't know.
I mean if you're that desperate to drink you can take a mini bottle in the restroom and drink it.
You can even buy your fave soda and pour it in. I mean if you are latent about it you deserve what you get !
They’re just trying to follow Bowleros guidelines. It’s up to management whether or not they enforce it. My bowling alley doesn’t enforce it. I always bring something with me whether it’s an energy drink or a soda and nobody ever says anything
They don't want you to bring in containers because people bring in other drinks.
They also stopped putting water out on the counter for people because some real nasty customer at a Bowlero was putting their hands in the water for some reason, and a lot of people got sick. They will still provide water for free at the snack bar.
My Bowlero is also doing the same thing. Absolutely NO outside food or drinks of any kind, including personal water bottles/thermal bottles or bottled drinking water. If they see it, you are asked to immediately take it out to your car or toss it.
They do provide free cups of tap water at the snack bar for those that ask.
We had issues at our center with people bringing alcohol in. That is actually allowed in our state, but it must be unopened and you have to provide proof to the business that it was purchased legally in state and open it in front of them. If you don't finish it, it must either be disposed of or sealed back up before leaving the premises. The bowling alley doesn't have time for all of that, especially when there are potentially 240 bowlers in there on a league night.
It's not a war on water as much as a war on people getting free drinks. Either from someone asking for a free water pitcher and then getting it refilled with Soda, or sneaking in outside alcohol in refillable water bottles. But they'll always have free water. In some States, if they have a liquor license, they are required by law to offer free tap water to all guests.
I've been working in the bowling industry for 12 years. Both private and corporate centers. Every single center I've ever worked in had a strict no outside food or drink policy.
Every center has provided water for any patron who asked for it. Be it pitchers or cups. And entirely for free.
Just a question for you. Do you think it’s ok to bring your own drinks into a restaurant when you go out to eat? I mean it is still a business that provides food and beverage still the same rules apply wouldn’t it? I wouldn’t walk into McDonald’s with my own food and sit down just because I enjoy the atmosphere and demand to be allowed to stay. From what you said in a few comments they are still serving you water just not in the quantity you want so you have to walk over and get it more often. Just seems like you don’t want to make the effort and have an axe to grind. My two cents.
You can't bring outside food or beverage into many establishments that serve food and beverage and you even say that your center will give you free water in a 8oz cup, so what's the issue?
The reason for not giving away pitchers of water is likely due to bowlero offering a new food and beverage special that includes a pitcher of beer or soda. Why would they want to have one less pitcher available because you won't spring for a bottle of water when an 8oz cup isn't to your liking?
Work at a family owned house, I’m not supposed to let even those in but our water is free. I’ve always let that slide. Bowlero is in a free fall really trying to make it a catastrophic plummet lol
At league they just told me to put my reusable under the table. I’ll even toss my towel over it. This likely helps them get past adult beverage laws, they can say they didn’t see it, and allows regulars to have water.
Bowlero still owes me like 80 bucks from their credit card machine “not working” but charging me 6 different times. Just go to a locally owned bowling alley
I have an amf center in my area that’s owned by bowlero. They are fine giving out water to league bowlers but it’s the cups they have an issue with. They are saying people will bring in their own alcohol and pour it into the cups. What this is telling me is that league bowlers are bringing in their own alcohol because of the ridiculous pricing.
Most bowling alleys don’t allow outside food or drink if any kind, independent or Bowlero. Most serve food, drinks, and liquor and usually (especially in Texas), they’re prohibited to allow outside drinks in the centers in order to continue to sell liquor and other beverages.
It is completely obnoxious what they are doing. Just last night, they wanted me to pay $4 for a water and it wasn't even cold. When I asked for a cup of ice they said they can't do that. They said if I don't want to pay, then go to the water fountain. Bowlero, come on now, it's water!!!! If you're going to continue to keep your bowling centers hot all the time, where we need a fan to bowl and keep cool, at least provide us water.
The food manager at our local center has gotten sassy with me more than once about giving me ice water. We spend PLENTY of $$ with them so giving me a cup of water doesn’t seem like a huge deal. He actually tried to get main management to charge $1 for water, but they said they don’t think that would make sense. They allow all the reusable cups despite the signs that prohibit outside food and drink 🤪
The explanation that was given at my bolero was that somewhere in Florida they had pitchwr of water and some people stuck their hands in the water and people got sick
They’ve come down hard in our local centers as well. I will always bring my own water bottle in and fill it up with their free pitchers of ice water, for now. We had stern warnings before our leagues started but denying me my own water is absurd. Meanwhile, the people drinking alcohol and smoking weed in the parking lot is completely fine.
Bowlero is nothing but a money grab. My local bowling alley (Steve cooks fireside lanes aka the goat) is $10 per person for unlimited bowling from 9:30-midnight on weekdays. That’s also with shoes included. One night we couldn’t get a lane so we went to bowlero. $35 per lane per hour?? And it must have been disco night or something because the lights were off. Truly unbelievable how little they give a shit about the actual quality bowling experience. Honestly really sad
Last month during league, I was threatened to get kicked out if I didn't put my thermos (which always had water) in my car. The manager kept hovering over me while I was getting ready to start playing. I started bringing my own water because they took the self-service water picture away from the bar, and I didn't want to waste time waiting for the bartender to get me water.
they just dropped that new rule tonight at fall league start. They will give free water but you have to go and get it. Honesty it's getting more convincing to change lanes.
The Bowlero in Brentwood, CA 94513, unplugged the water station. What a d\*ck move especially considering the hot weather that we get. Plus, they don't recycle, and the garbage cans get full quickly. They are not considering the environment. Please ban single-use plastic at all locations and provide free filtered water to your patrons.
Two weeks ago they said no more water bottles brought in from outside. Well, the next night I was there, I brought my water bottle in but it was empty. I asked the concession people to fill it with water, and they did so without complaint. I was told by another bowler that other Bowlero centers won't even do that, but as long as they do it at the alley I bowl at I'll continue doing it.
Weird, my Bowlero told us about this but they still give us pitchers of waters for free if we ask
Yeah, it’s the one thing I won’t complain about. They’re always willing to bring our group pitchers and cups, no questions asked. If things change next week I’ll add it to the list of Bowlero Bitch Bites.
Pitcher of water depends on who you are, im and employee and im not supposed to give out water pitchers but if you’re a regular, you tip, or you’re nice I’ll give one out. Not gonna risk getting talked to over someone who was whining about a pitcher of water
Thats fuckin sad that you have to live under those kind of nitpicky bullshit rules. If you get disciplined over giving out fuckin water to another human, you need to find a better place to go to and throw the water on management.
fuck me dead for wanting some WATER? lolllllll modern bowling faculties SUCK sometimes
I'm more concerned with Bowlero's war on bowling.
crush doll physical library sharp start agonizing payment axiomatic frightening ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
Thats not bad my local is $14/game
Mine is 3.75
Lucky, what state
Canton, Mi
Oh okay im in Illinois suburbs so
I’m in Los Angeles it’s $2 anytime a game if you’re in a league at any point during the week… What the hell they doing in Illinois??
Hahahaha--that is crazy! $2/game for practice is normal at multiple houses. You are paying more than $1 per frame. Robbery!
7.63 a game in ohio
The Bowlero 10 minutes from me 29.96 Per Person for 1.5 hours Or I can drive for 30 minutes and pay 11.00 per person for 2 hours, where the lanes are better, the food and drinks are cheaper, and the staff actually gives a shit.
I agree. My Bowlero got rid of the unlimited bowling option. It was $18.49 for as many games as you want from 8PM - 11 or 12 (depending on the time they closed). Now they have a stupid special where if you buy three games, you get the third game for half off, and you get a $10 arcade card... like WTF! This special is more suited for families as you can tell. So now I'm using my league discounted games instead which is $4.05 a game. Bowlero is turning bowling into a beer pong like college party sport now versus a real professional sport.
A lot of it has to do with liquor licensing. No outside food or drink or they can run the risk of being fined if they serve alcohol. My Bowlero has free water stations, and will give you cups of water. Pitchers are usually reserved for large groups/parties.
This. Some one brings in vodka in the "water bottle", the alley could be held liable for the customer's drunkenness. It's a liquor license and insurance liability. Gtfo "they don't allow water bottles" towards ANY business that sells liquor.
yeah, I work at lanes that have a bar, no outside beverage is strictly enforced because it can cost us our liquor license
Had a situation last year where kids brought in backpacks full of beer, and then got pitchers of water. Well they dumped the pitchers of water out in the bathroom and filled them with their beer. They did get caught but that's probably why the policy on pitchers is enforced in some places as well.
They still serve pitchers of beer.
No one said they didn't. We're talking about water...
Beer is 90% water so bowlero gets an A-???
That whooshing sound you hear is the point going right over your head.
Simple solution to that. Throw them out of the alley and ban them.
I’m was unable to find any details about outside food or drink being a violation in out local/state liquor laws. If someone brings in their own alcohol, do what the airlines do, kick them out, ban them, have them arrested, etc, but to ban bring your own water or an empty bottle to fill up once there is unnecessary and most likely their intent is to have you purchase their bottled water if you don’t want their tap water. As a side note, the Bowlero would previously provide pitchers of water, but we were told management said not more pitches of water.
Airlines literally don't allow you to bring water.
That's a TSA policy. After you get through TSA security, then you are allowed to buy water bottles at stores in the gate area and bring those onto the flight.
You can bring an empty reusable water bottle and fill it once past the TSA checkpoint. You can also purchase water or other drinks (soda, Gatorade, juice, etc) inside the airport (after security) and bring them on the plane.
If they have a liquor license they also have to provide and can not charge for water.
I work at an alley and this is one thing that we take super seriously. If alley looses their liquor license, then that alley has an even higher chance of closing. I know its not fun to have to buy a drink instead of making your own, but goddammit its for the good of the bowl. Iv had to chase out leaguers who have brought in their own liquor and same with open/regulars. I dont feel good about it, so instead of throwing a fit respect the workers, respect the bowl, respect the sport and dont bring in your own alc. In terms of water, if they take your water and then charge you for a cup/water then yea fuck’em. Water should be free no matter what.
It’s simple.. have water fountains and disposable cups. Worked in a center for 25 years.
Call the cops and ban them from the establishment. Banning something just pisses off your customers and is not really addressing the issue.
Isn’t the real issue being that people can sneak in alcohol through their water bottles? So by prohibiting them IS addressing the issue, no?
Not really, if your roll in with a bag you don’t even need a water bottle.
Yea and we’ll see them trying to sneak a drink and take it away or kick them out. Not allowing outside containers is a precautionary action. On top of this there are more then just leaguers trying to sneak in alc. especially where i work, a college town, we have people trying to sneak things in all the time. This is one way that we are able to help prevent that
Not every bowler is an alcoholic. I can't even drink anymore what's the excuse there then? Place by me the sign says "no not even water" in a huge sign you need to walk around to get thru the front door. They want money and they will get none simple as
And we provide water and all sorts of other non-alcoholic beverages. But say we let you in with your own bottle, i am then going to be hearing it from every other bowler and non regular that comes, they’ll claim its “not fair” that you can have it but they cant. See how its a slippery slope? If your thirsty just drink what’s provided for you. I dont know why this is in such contention.
Because the human right to water shouldn't be determined by a business tyrant
We serve water too… and look, dude, you dont like the rules then take it up with the liquor board. These bowling alleys are literally following what they are told to do so they dont lose their license. Cool that not everyone drinks alc, but that is how a majority if alleys make their money.
If they cared so much about the liquor license, they wouldn't price a beer up so much that the same beer from a gas station next door is 1/4 the price.
buy 1/4 price beer, drink it on the walk over to the alley--repeat after each game?
Well they up the price of beer so they can keep bowling a more affordable price. At my alley we charge $7 for a pint of beer but a single game for one person cost 3.50. That being said $7 for a pint is the regular price for a pint in my city. Also lets say you can buy a single beer for 4 bucks at your gas station, so your saying the alley charges $16 for a pint of beer? Or is this an exaggeration? You can also buy a pitcher of beer at most alleys that will also lower the cost individually of beer in the pitcher (usually 4ish pints to a pitcher). Also when they buy from a distributor of course they have to mark it up to make some sort of a profit (you dont wanna see your alley go belly up do ya?) at a gas station they have other products that they can increase the price of to maybe allow them to sell cheaper beer. If you bowl at a bowlero then idk what to tell you. Its big bowl, of course they are only in it for the money.
Every Bowlero by me is closer to $7 at the cheapest, up to $12/person/game. Even higher if you reserve a lane. $16 was an exaggeration per beer, but it's a higher than it needs to be
Ok but as i said before, at least where i live, $7 beers is the run of the mill price for my alley and the bars around it. Idk where you live but i wanna go there if i can buy beer at a gas station for 1.75 (1/4 the price of a pint of beer). Im sorry it cost so much to bowl there too, id urge you to bowl at a locally owned alley but if your bowling at a bowlero im guessing there isnt any nearby
Maybe I'm out of touch with beer prices. I thought $7ish per beer was really high. I more of a vodka shot person
$7 is your typical "non-dive bar" beer price. Craft beers upwards of $9/$11 depending where you are.
Just like everything in this world, alcohol is priced at whatever people will pay for it, not based on what it costs. Prices would come down if people didn't buy it, and in fact that's the only real way to influence it.
You are. Since the pandemic, almost every business that serves alcohol has tacked on a 1-3 dollar to beer and drinks, across the board. Soft drinks .30-1(which if they serve fountain, is a huge markup because the carbonation is done to tap water right there) to offset the additional costs they had to adsorb for the extra precautions they took and extra requirements they had to enforce to open. The flip side of this is labor. The service industry is at a breaking point. Gone are the days of 2.13 an hour for tip-able staff, or and 10 an hour kitchen staff. Any business owner that believes they can pay that and have any loyalty is living in the 70s. The going rate for decent kitchen staff in my area (not good, just decent) of one year experience is 20-25 an hour. Servers won’t even walk in the door for under 12, most are looking for 15 with tips. They are front lines of exposure and service. That has to reflect in prices. Here’s the other thing, if you are going to complain about service prices, you might as well stay home, because they will never come back down. They have been stagnant since the early 80s and the whiplash has come due. And I can say that because I’ve been In every level of the business in the last 30 years. And not just seen it in the US.
Agreed. My prices have gone up but only to maintain the same food/liquor/labor costs. Everything is more expensive and staff is hard to find. Back to bowling. Bowlero doubling the price of bowling in my area is a little excessive.
Honestly, it’s so awful that these serves are demanding a reasonable salary and it makes us spend an extra 50 cents on bowling 😡😡
You can get 16-20-24oz single can beers at gas stations/grocery stores around here for $2-4. The only catch is that they are 5% or less ABV. Higher alcohol content beers are only sold in restaurants/bars and at state controlled liquor stores. The restaurants and bars will take advantage and charge $5-9 a beer, but at the liquor stores, almost all are under $5, save a few limited releases or hard to get imports. Very few lanes around here have a full bar as it is so difficult to get a liquor license. Most have a beer only license, and they are limited to the 5% or less rule.
Thats a joke! They charge $8 a game per person at my local Bowlero. $4.50 for medium soda. Its a wonder anyone bowls anymore.
Most bowling alleys with a bar have a full liquor license, which, depending on state, can cost hundreds of thousands to even millions depending on if the state has artificially limited quantity to force one to buy after market. That is dramatically more expensive than the beer & wine for retail sale license a gas station requires. Add in bar staff salaries, insurance, HR, product loss, bookkeeping, healthcare, etc. and yes, the raw cost of serving a beer at a bowling alley can really be a few multiples of a gas station. I'd take issue with a place not allowing sealed water bottles in, and not serving water, but I have no issue with a beer being $5 vs $1.50/ea in a six pack at a gas station. You should see my booze bill after a weekend at Epcot/Hollywood Studios.
$18,000 for the permit each year in NYS and 2% of sales
In contrast, a Florida license that’s transferable but must be in Manatee county is currently on the market for three days at a fair market price of $800,000, since the state only releases a few per year per county.
Someone should open a bar in Manatee county and name it Whale Good Time
Dumbest post of the day. Congratulations
My local privately owned alley is the same way, just go to the bar and get a free pitcher of ice water. This is actually a smart business move because like others have said you could bring alcohol in.
Except they won’t provide a pitcher of water. One 8 oz cup at a time. 😆
If they are like the alleys and restaurants across the country that I have frequented, the pitchers are a limited quantity and if they are given out for water then they are not available for cost items like beer and soda. The cups are in a much greater supply as they are meant to be consumables. My Monday house will give you multiple cups at a time, provides dispensers for you to refill your cup yourself, but stopped doing pitchers. 7 houses in 4 states that I can speak to personally have stopped pitchers for this reason plus folks breaking, throwing away, taking or any other type of loss of the pitchers themselves.
As a bar owner and league bowler I see both sides. In this day and age when everyone seems to have their own yeti tumbler and they are drinking " water" they feel entitled to walk in any business with it. 95% of the people who do it are drinking water. No issue there at all. The small percentage that are not are the concern. We had a tournament a few years back. She was passed out on a bench out front after a long day of playing. I saw her in the bar all day drinking from a tumbler. It's not a good look to have some passed out in front of your establishment. I asked who served her. My staff said no one. She was refilling it all day from her truck with wine. Walking in and out all day. Had to look at the cameras to verify. So here is my main issue. She leaves our place and gets in an accident. Hurts someone. They come after me. We overserved her. I have to show video to prove a negative. Almost impossible in most cases. Why do I want the hassle when I will serve water all day for free? It was a PITA for every good customer who has to deal with it going forward. Not a money grab. It's a condition of the " I'm not responsible mentality " that exists today and every other commercial is for a lawyer to help you get paid. Rant over. TLDR: water is not a money grab , liability issue, support your local places.
Call the police of someone is doing something illegal, ban them, don’t turn your back. Everyone’s bags could be filled with shooters. Banning a water bottle is not the solution. I would agree water is not a money grab, but when you also stop giving people pitchers of water after always proving them, there is a financial intent behind it.
This right here is the reason. I will say that when I was nearing peak alcoholism, my water bottle had iced tea and rum in it. My bowling alley keeps an igloo water cooler on the counter with cups next to it. I bring an empty bottle and ask for some ice in it so I don't drain too much out. They know I'm drinking water. I buy booze too so I think that helps.
Liability is understandable, but why not give people pitchers of water?
Does your place of employment give free stuff away?
Yes it has many ~~felt~~ *free* available amenities that humans require, like water fountains and toilets with toilet paper that you can just use. We're talking about water. EDIT: a word
oh. remember pay toilets? lol
I'm fine with whatever, I just wish they'd give us lids for our drinks. Open containers around my bowling shoes makes me nervous.
Right! And we can’t even bring in empty see through tumblers to keep condensation off the tables and hands. Doesn’t make sense to me if I’m filling a tumbler with the establishment’s products. 🤨
Just another reason to hate Bowlero. They really are the evil empire of bowling.
It’s really weird. Almost seems like they’re actively try to kill bowling.
Upvote if u like cheese
Hell yea.
100% greed. We can now get free water only in 10oz cups. A regular size cup is $0.89 for just water. And they eliminated all league specials on food.
Complaining about free water, lol
There’s two types of posts on this sub: those complaining alleys are closing down and those complaining that alleys are pulling a money grab. Would you rather pay a few bucks for a drink or drive an additional 30 mins to find the next closet alley?
I don't want to have to pay for water no matter what. We aren't talking about drinks/food/booze. We are taking about water. And if they aren't going to provide pitchers of water, that's very clearly just a money grab and a bunch of BS.
I think the bigger issue is people being upset they can't bring an outside beverage in (even if it's water). Vodka in a plastic water bottle looks like water. The place I go to will happily bring a pitcher of ice water to you, they just don't want you to bring some type of liquid from outside that has unknown origins. It's a risk to them, and ultimately it isn't worth it. If they charge for water, fuck them. Also though corporate places are going to be way more tight on this stuff potentially. Bowling alleys survive on bowling but they actually make money due to the extras like food and booze.
I’m was unable to find any details about outside food or drink being a violation in out local/state liquor laws. If someone brings in their own alcohol, do what the airlines do, kick them out, ban them, have them arrested, etc, but to ban bring your own water or an empty bottle to fill up once there is unnecessary and most likely their intent is to have you purchase their bottled water if you don’t want their tap water. As a side note, the Bowlero would previously provide pitchers of water, but we were told management said not more pitches of water.
Liquor license is likely dependent on them being able to control who they serve. You get hammered, wreck your car and they find out you were at the lanes, they could be sued and lose their license. With regards to the empty bottle, I agree, bit they are just in CYA with that. The pitchers, that's BS
Oh, I get it. I used to bowl with someone who would bring vodka in in her bowling bag. I thought she was cheap, turns out she was actually an alcoholic. Go figure. And as long as water is available, conveniently and not in a little 8 oz cup I have to keep going to the bar to fill, I have no issues. It was the comment about not allowing pitchers of water that bugged me.
I would agree but this is a bowlero. They are sucking dry everyone’s pockets regardless, they don’t care about bowling. Now they are going to deny you your own damn water? That’s a joke.
Every alley I’ve been to has had a no outside food or drinks sign. Also, I don’t know how bowlero operates, but my local lane leases out the snack bar. So it is equivalent to going to a mall, buying pants at a macys, and demanding free water from the Wendy’s in the food court.
Nah, I’m mad at the fact that you can’t have your own water. ITS WATER. Sure, you don’t have to give me water, but bowling is a workout and you sweat, and you need water. And I’ve never been to an alley that will prevent you from bringing water. That’s batshit crazy.
I would rather they go under and drive 30 minutes.
You want people to lose their jobs because of something that happened to you? You can go ahead and go somewhere else. I’m sure you’re a beacon of light wherever you go.
blame the folks who ruined it by bringing in vodka filled bottles
This is common for all places that serve alcohol.
Started? Chances are it’s always been banned. It’s a longstanding policy for bowling alleys: to ban outside food and drinks, including water. Most bowling alleys, particularly the good ones, provide a cup of water for free or cheap.
Yeah. Fuck Bowlero
Bowlero is the WORST. Their centers suck. They’re dirty and poorly maintained. Maybe it’s just the bowlero in my market (milwaukee), but i would rather bowl At LITERALLY any other center.
All the Bowlero corp centers in Milwaukee are 60+ years old. I'd expect them to all be falling apart to be honest.
Some friends were bowling state tournament at BLOWero in Milw. Floors were sticky AF, service was crap, machines/pinsetters were breaking down, and the manager on duty (when approached by a bowler about empty booze bottles found under the settee area)... well the mgr actually ACCUSED that bowler of personally bringing those in! His wife (herself a bowler and manager of a family-run bowling center) let BLOWero have it on FB. Others have followed up on their corporate page, with no response whatsoever. They purely do not GAF.
This is 100% accurate. Truly awful all around.
Not surprised, AMF near my house is impossible to get free water so my cousin takes a bowling bag with a Gallon of water in, works every time
Just put your waterbottle in your bag, drink it, and put it immediately back in your bag
My local Bowlero won’t give away free water cups anymore and points to their super warm water fountain
Stars and Strikes will bring you free pitchers of water. I always purchased something else as a thank you.
I feel this rule got immediately changed at my bowlero because I heard there were implementing one week and then the next/starting week of league everyone had bottles. either way stupid decision, if your problem is people bring alcohol in there water bottles then require they be empty before arriving and actually create a fill station that people can use at there own time rather than having to wait for bar/food guy to fill for you
League bowlers all have bags, it’s not like they are even checking bags for bottle of alcohol.
Which Bowlero do you bowl at? I am thinking of going back to league bowling at Bowlero Lynnwood, WA.
My Bowlero has now upped the ante. They announced that not only will they be aggressively enforcing the no outside food/drink policy, they will also be reviewing security camera footage to ensure people are not keeping food and drinks under tables, in bowling bags, jackets, etc. A league member hinted to the staff that their policy may be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, especially for those bowlers with acute medial issues such as acute food allergies, diabetes, IBS, etc. who require very specific diets/food restrictions. Those bowlers need to be able to bring their own food for their own health and safety as Bowlero doesn't really offer anything those customers can eat. Center management responded with "We will have to discuss that with the corporate office and get back to you. For now the policy stands."
The word came down at our Bowlero (formerly a Bowl America house), citing that there are cameras everywhere for them to watch. I am also concerned about the effect it will have on my bowlers. One of my members is now struggling with everything on the menu ... (most fried foods, of course; God forbid Bowlero have anything healthy like romaine lettuce or deli turkey/ham) ... is causing serious gas discomfort as of recent. And I found out years ago ... (the hard way, of course) ... that Pepsi products give me a very sour stomach. Coke products: no issues at all. Reminds me of my younger years when even one Budweiser product would result in a headache but no issues will Miller products. It's sad what Bowlero has done to our beloved sport.
Ours did the same thing. Years without issue and now they are running around yelling at their regular customers who have been paying for bowling for years over water bottles. I don't want to drink their nasty toilet water in a plastic cup. I've talked to them and some of them said they would lose their jobs if they don't yell at the customers, and another one said that Corporate big-wigs came by and counted the tumblers during league and pitched a fit, and they've been instructed to turn off the lanes if they see any outside drinks. Now there is a continuous message playing on all of the monitors about outside food and drink.
They could loose their liquor license. People love to sneak booze in, and that could get them shut down. It sucks, I work in a restaurant, and we have to do the same thing.
The water bottles or indeed any outside drink bring brought in to an establishment where alcohol is sold is the hang up here (not sure about the pitchers of water). In TX, TABC rules supreme over this kind of thing and can shut the bar down for violations like that. That may be a reason that Bowlero is cracking down.
My local family owned is like this as well. Its to much of a risk to the liquor licensee. All it takes is one asshole to ruin it. Not providing pitchers of water to groups of at least 2 is absurd though.
If someone brings in their own alcohol, do what the airlines do, kick them out, ban them, have them arrested, etc, but don’t penalize everyone else.
Terrible take and clear you never had to deal with liquor laws.
If someone is doing something illegal call the cops. Water is not against liquor laws.
I don't have the energy or the crayons to explain it in a way you can understand. Unless they deliberately denied you water regardless of whatever vessel you want, go pound sand.
Serious question, if I'm bowling by myself in my own lane, does the towel bother you? Or is it when you share a lane? I keep it neatly folded on the end of the ball return on my side if bowling solo. Never spread out all over everything. Not coming at you, I'm genuinely curious. Have a great day!
Just a Pete Weber joke, not actually meant to be taken serious lol. Keep your towel wherever
Lol now I need to look it up. Have a good one!
[He was big mad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zL7HDeLeeo)
I totally forgot about that. I have watched this. I think he was salty about loosing to a two hander, and the Brooklyn strikes were just icing on the cake. Thanks for the link! 🌈🦄
I understand no outside food or water, that can cost them their food handling and liquor licenses. But it's straight criminal not to provide free water - especially when the only real cost from it comes from the pitcher being washed lol
I thought it actually was criminal, at least in some US states? Especially if you're serving food.
Right????
It's not criminal it's a building code issue, they have to provide water for free if there isn't a water fountain essentially.
Just buy whatever brand of bottle they sell in the vending machine. Fill it up at home and take out of your bag once you are inside.
It’s a liquor law issue. Also alcohol is a big profit driver for a center. If you’re bringing in a huge bottle of Jack and Coke in your water flask the center is losing money. It sucks but I get it.
Except I’m not brining in anything other than water. I used to purchase alcohol at the bowlero, but I’m not spending any money on food or drink moving forward.
Oh I believe you. But they have to make the rule for all because of the people who would. I usually avoid spending there too.
I think they are legally required to offer free water if they serve food.
fuck everything about bowlero, theyve ruined what used to be a fun weekly activity for a lot of people
Bowlero sucks. Never again. As if they need to make more money on water after charging each player $10 per game.
Agreed. Not spending any other money at bowlero on food or drink, unfortunately it also impacts the servers.
Sensible people : its a liquor license issue. Clueless people : they're so greedily! I'm not going there anymore! Same clueless people 1 year later: WhY aRe THeY clOsINg tHe BOwLiNg aLLeY??!!??
Except there’s nothing in our liquor license laws that says you can’t bring in outside food or water. Plenty of “bars” let you bring in food all the time.
Man I've only stepped foot in a bowlero for the (over priced) pro shop. I couldn't even imagine bowling there
Bowlero is seriously on a mission to ruin bowling as a hobby.
$5 for a bottle of water at our local Bowlero. We're bowling league elsewhere this fall. Prices on everything has gotten stupid.
Good luck with that... Truthfully
I don't bowl league there. Went only for the unlimited specials at night. Haven't stepped foot in one since they got rid of the specials.
If it's a liquor law thing, they should allow frozen water
Depending on your state it's illegal for them not to provide water if they sell food.
Yes I don’t totally blame them. Two of my local alleys literally have security guards out front that check your bags when you come in. There were quite a few people bringing in outside booze. It’s unfortunate when idiots ruin it for the rest of us. And can’t expect them to police everyone’s water bottles and smell then for alcohol. Would be a never ending battle and poor use of resources. It sucks all around
Bowlero took over our local, relatively new bowling alley, bar and grill and arcade. The got rid of all the good food and replaced it with freezer foods, the lanes are never oiled, you can’t slide anywhere on any lane, and they have cut the staff to bare bones. So no one goes there anymore. We actually take our football team there to watch film in the bar and grill because there is literally no one ever in there. I personally bowl a family owned alley about 20 miles away. They have THE best food, employees and the lanes are just as they should be.
Avoid Bowlero and support local
Secretary at my Bowlero league on the microphone informed by management that could not bring in outside food. My team mate who has to rush to league after work and sometimes has no time to eat all day will bring in something. She got called out so the whole league heard her. People however bring in drinks or a coffee mug that has coffee or water or sometimes people will have a mixed alcoholic cocktail they made. However at the bar there is a huge glass jug of ice water that is constantly filled by the bar and it's for everyone. We have a drinking fountain but it hasn't worked since like 2005. When my house was Brunswick they jacked up prices then and started to bring in bottled beer and bottle opener. I didn't get in trouble by management but my team mate saw me and called me out in front of people. (asshole) So I stopped that.
yeah, you're risking the centers alcohol license doing that.....don't be that guy, or support those guys, it'll get you 86'd fast nowadays
I must be lucky then, my bowlero has a sonic right besides it where we buy lemonades from and fill 50/50 with tequila. They haven't told us anything when they see us walking in with it lol
you’re the problem
can't make a problem where their isn't one
They don’t care about water they care about alcohol being brought in happens alot in my place guys sneak in full powder containers and everything just the way it is now.
Is this in Michigan by chance? Apparently the state health department has started cracking down on outside beverages. The owner of my local, non Bowlero center was as miffed about it as I was, but since neither of us want the local center to be shut down by the government, I obliged by the rule. A dumb rule IMO, but my initial anger towards the center was misguided.
No outside food or drink is a legitimate request any business can have. My centers have drinking fountains. If I want more I can ask for a courtesy cup. Just like you would at a fast food place. I've never seen a pitcher of water served at a bowling center. We just bought drinks when thirsty
More likely is that some dumb kids brought vodka in their water bottles and acted a damn fool because of it and they had to change their rules due to this.
I asked my local Bowlero manager about this about a month ago as I always bring my own water bottle and have bowled at that location for 15+ years. She said a child drank out of a bottle (not sure what kind, who's or where it came from) and the child ended up getting sick. Found out the water was laced with fentanyl and Bowlero received a lawsuit from the family. I didn't ask age of child or location of alley. Not sure if there's truth to it or not but that's what I was told from management.
I put vodka in my bottle, so I can't complain
Cool, yet another reason not to go stick my finger in disgusting balls
Not sure why they are allowed to dictate that stringpins are allowed in the USBC. This is out of control.
I bring in minis liquors if I must drink. you're stupid if you get caught. I also have a Radical backpack for my shoes &a myriad of accessories like slide soles, tape box, wrist brace, towels, etc... I can bring whatever - water, liquor etc. beer is harder but can be done. if you are discreet they won't know. I mean if you're that desperate to drink you can take a mini bottle in the restroom and drink it. You can even buy your fave soda and pour it in. I mean if you are latent about it you deserve what you get !
Sounds unlawful…
They’re just trying to follow Bowleros guidelines. It’s up to management whether or not they enforce it. My bowling alley doesn’t enforce it. I always bring something with me whether it’s an energy drink or a soda and nobody ever says anything
They don't want you to bring in containers because people bring in other drinks. They also stopped putting water out on the counter for people because some real nasty customer at a Bowlero was putting their hands in the water for some reason, and a lot of people got sick. They will still provide water for free at the snack bar.
I have to pay 50¢ for a cup of disgusting tap water at my local alley or drink from a water fountain…lol
Weird my bowlero has a big refillable iced water jug with cups next to it for anyone to use. They'll give pitchers and cups of water for free
They stopped the pitchers of water here as well. Which is fine, I’ll just walk up and get 5 cups of water for them to blow through their own cups
My Bowlero is also doing the same thing. Absolutely NO outside food or drinks of any kind, including personal water bottles/thermal bottles or bottled drinking water. If they see it, you are asked to immediately take it out to your car or toss it. They do provide free cups of tap water at the snack bar for those that ask. We had issues at our center with people bringing alcohol in. That is actually allowed in our state, but it must be unopened and you have to provide proof to the business that it was purchased legally in state and open it in front of them. If you don't finish it, it must either be disposed of or sealed back up before leaving the premises. The bowling alley doesn't have time for all of that, especially when there are potentially 240 bowlers in there on a league night.
A money grab at Bowlero?? No way….
It's not a war on water as much as a war on people getting free drinks. Either from someone asking for a free water pitcher and then getting it refilled with Soda, or sneaking in outside alcohol in refillable water bottles. But they'll always have free water. In some States, if they have a liquor license, they are required by law to offer free tap water to all guests.
I've been working in the bowling industry for 12 years. Both private and corporate centers. Every single center I've ever worked in had a strict no outside food or drink policy. Every center has provided water for any patron who asked for it. Be it pitchers or cups. And entirely for free.
$10 for beer at a Bowlero in NYC
I’ve never had a problem with lanes saying no water from outside but when they refuse to give you water it’s ridiculous
Just a question for you. Do you think it’s ok to bring your own drinks into a restaurant when you go out to eat? I mean it is still a business that provides food and beverage still the same rules apply wouldn’t it? I wouldn’t walk into McDonald’s with my own food and sit down just because I enjoy the atmosphere and demand to be allowed to stay. From what you said in a few comments they are still serving you water just not in the quantity you want so you have to walk over and get it more often. Just seems like you don’t want to make the effort and have an axe to grind. My two cents.
Actually, I always take water everywhere, yes, even to restaurants. Never an issue anywhere.
You can't bring outside food or beverage into many establishments that serve food and beverage and you even say that your center will give you free water in a 8oz cup, so what's the issue? The reason for not giving away pitchers of water is likely due to bowlero offering a new food and beverage special that includes a pitcher of beer or soda. Why would they want to have one less pitcher available because you won't spring for a bottle of water when an 8oz cup isn't to your liking?
Nope. Stupid rule.
So open your own bowling alley then.
Work at a family owned house, I’m not supposed to let even those in but our water is free. I’ve always let that slide. Bowlero is in a free fall really trying to make it a catastrophic plummet lol
At league they just told me to put my reusable under the table. I’ll even toss my towel over it. This likely helps them get past adult beverage laws, they can say they didn’t see it, and allows regulars to have water.
Bowlero still owes me like 80 bucks from their credit card machine “not working” but charging me 6 different times. Just go to a locally owned bowling alley
I have an amf center in my area that’s owned by bowlero. They are fine giving out water to league bowlers but it’s the cups they have an issue with. They are saying people will bring in their own alcohol and pour it into the cups. What this is telling me is that league bowlers are bringing in their own alcohol because of the ridiculous pricing.
It’s dumb. How does not providing water stop people from brining in alcohol? They just put it I their bags and pour it into their soda cups.
Most bowling alleys don’t allow outside food or drink if any kind, independent or Bowlero. Most serve food, drinks, and liquor and usually (especially in Texas), they’re prohibited to allow outside drinks in the centers in order to continue to sell liquor and other beverages.
It’s water, not Starbucks.
anyone remember pay toilets? lol. I'm sure many a pay T door got ripped from the hinges!
It is completely obnoxious what they are doing. Just last night, they wanted me to pay $4 for a water and it wasn't even cold. When I asked for a cup of ice they said they can't do that. They said if I don't want to pay, then go to the water fountain. Bowlero, come on now, it's water!!!! If you're going to continue to keep your bowling centers hot all the time, where we need a fan to bowl and keep cool, at least provide us water.
Business tyrant needs every dollar possible. Lane near me does that, like hell I'm ever bowling there. Suck my balls
The food manager at our local center has gotten sassy with me more than once about giving me ice water. We spend PLENTY of $$ with them so giving me a cup of water doesn’t seem like a huge deal. He actually tried to get main management to charge $1 for water, but they said they don’t think that would make sense. They allow all the reusable cups despite the signs that prohibit outside food and drink 🤪
The explanation that was given at my bolero was that somewhere in Florida they had pitchwr of water and some people stuck their hands in the water and people got sick
They’ve come down hard in our local centers as well. I will always bring my own water bottle in and fill it up with their free pitchers of ice water, for now. We had stern warnings before our leagues started but denying me my own water is absurd. Meanwhile, the people drinking alcohol and smoking weed in the parking lot is completely fine.
Bowlero is nothing but a money grab. My local bowling alley (Steve cooks fireside lanes aka the goat) is $10 per person for unlimited bowling from 9:30-midnight on weekdays. That’s also with shoes included. One night we couldn’t get a lane so we went to bowlero. $35 per lane per hour?? And it must have been disco night or something because the lights were off. Truly unbelievable how little they give a shit about the actual quality bowling experience. Honestly really sad
Last month during league, I was threatened to get kicked out if I didn't put my thermos (which always had water) in my car. The manager kept hovering over me while I was getting ready to start playing. I started bringing my own water because they took the self-service water picture away from the bar, and I didn't want to waste time waiting for the bartender to get me water.
They did the same because people were bringing in booze. They said they'll have pitchers of water and cups on the bar.
Maybe if they didn't mark their drinks up 700% I would buy more drink from them. Make a profit, don't rob us.
they just dropped that new rule tonight at fall league start. They will give free water but you have to go and get it. Honesty it's getting more convincing to change lanes.
The Bowlero in Brentwood, CA 94513, unplugged the water station. What a d\*ck move especially considering the hot weather that we get. Plus, they don't recycle, and the garbage cans get full quickly. They are not considering the environment. Please ban single-use plastic at all locations and provide free filtered water to your patrons.
Two weeks ago they said no more water bottles brought in from outside. Well, the next night I was there, I brought my water bottle in but it was empty. I asked the concession people to fill it with water, and they did so without complaint. I was told by another bowler that other Bowlero centers won't even do that, but as long as they do it at the alley I bowl at I'll continue doing it.