Tivoli Bowl — Attraction in Downers Grove

Just what I was looking for! These are the types of small businesses that need our support right now!

Recently moved out to the burbs -- hopefully temporarily, lol -- and was looking for a place to bowl. Haven't bowled regularly since my league got canceled due to covid in march. I used to bowl in the city at Timber Lanes (8 wood lanes) and Fireside (20 lanes? not wood tho) and this place basically feels like a mix of the two. A step back in time to the 20th century, with wood lanes and a small footprint... not corporate at all. Also felt reminiscent of the alley at the Illini Union, which is also downstairs and only 16 lanes itself.

With covid on people's minds, the staff was wearing masks and they were only booking every other lane to keep distancing in effect. I use my own equipment, but they had a separate rack marked for used balls to be cleaned by the staff, so you can tell they are trying to provide the cleanest possible atmosphere.

The lanes, approaches, and returns are in excellent condition, especially considering they are wood... not sure when they were installed, but certainly taken care of. Good pin action too! If I weren't rusty, I could have been in the mid 200's one game. Will certainly be back to try. And idk if these are new prices due to limited business in these times, but you can't beat $10 all you can bowl every night of the week and $4 craft drafts. I'd give it 10...

We had high expectations for our kids birthday party here given all the good previous reviews. That said it looks like we had a different “host”than the others given the names mentioned. The bowling area was clean and organized and what I’ll rate the 2 stars for, but that’s about it. Everything was unorganized. We constantly had to ask for service (with the shoes, the electronic boards, the drinks, the food etc) while staff openly used cell phones and complained of being understaffed. The room was filthy when we arrived, covered in food scraps and with sticky tables. It was topped off when half the pizzas we paid for were served badly burned to the point of inedible and they wanted to reconfigure our room in the middle of the party.

Update: I am pleased to say that the General Mgr, Raphael, reached out to me today for feedback, offered a refund for the burned food. and a complimentary family bowl, and apologized for the attitude of the staff that day, so I added a star for that. It is unfortunate that some staff left us with a poor experience the day we went, but I’d be willing given Raphael’s professionalism to give them...

I have worked the Downers Grove Rotary Festival for 3 years and I always have lunch at the Tivoli . . . I don't Bowl anymore I find the place just so fascinating and cozy just a few lanes but the place is huge clean stuff is real friendly assistant manager Scott made me feel like I was at the old cheers I walked in Roxy hey everybody knew me that was pretty cool we worked a lot a lot a lot a lot of long hours out there on that Carnival and to be able to go downstairs and sit at the Tivoli bowl and have lunch and have a cold soda it was such a reprieve the management management all the way down to the newest employee to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making us feel so welcome can't wait till next year definitely recommend five stars anybody gets a chance to go through Downers Grove Illinois stopping at the Tivoli Bowl it's a quaint small but family owned awesome bowling alley you'll love it want to give a special minute mentioned to manager Scott the conversations were absolutely awesome please don't forget to read the book Into The Fringe into the Fringe buddy let me know...