Line ‘em up, and knock ‘em down. Ed Debevic sure loved to bowl. And he wasn’t alone–if you walk around Chicago, you’ll see a great many ostentatious bowling alleys dotting the streets of our city.

Strike!  

Bowling first came to Chicago in the mid-1800’s, when the German immigrants brought their beloved game to the North Side. By the turn of the century, it had spread to a couple hundred alleys across the city–everyone wanted to try their hand at the game. Leagues and tournaments sprouted up. Bowling alleys flourished in the 1950’s, when bowling officially became a cultural mainstay in our country. There was even a popular TV show covering bowling leagues,  Championship Bowling on WMAQ -TV.

Classic alleys

Chicago wouldn’t have half its flair if you took away the brightly colored, whimsically decorated bowling alley facades that you can find in any part of the city. For example, there’s the famous Waveland Bowl in the North Center neighborhood, the classic Habetler Bowl in Jefferson Park, The Diversey River Bowl in Logan Square, Lucky Strike downtown, and our personal favorite: Timber Lanes, a hidden gem in Irving Park.

The legacy lives on 

As you can see, we’ve got plenty of places that still keep the culture alive. The footwear is the same, the lanes are waxed, and the bowling balls are heavy. Now order up some fries and beer and show us what you can do. Nostalgia? Not a chance–this is here and now! We just wish you could still smoke inside.