Hopewell Bowling Center — Local services in Hopewell

This was me and my boyfriend’s first time coming here, we are looking for a regular spot to visit on our days off after moving to Hopewell. The first game was fun, the guy working gave me pointers and was really helpful. The second game was paused midway through because our balls were stuck in the machine behind the pins, after we asked for help we were told to not use light balls anymore and to increase our ball weight. I use 6lb balls because I bowl for fun, im not a pro, I’m not used to heavy weight on my wrist and hands. We go bowling less than once a month so I’ve never been to a bowling alley thats told me I’m no longer allowed to use the lightweight balls that THEY PROVIDE—if I’m not allowed to use them, then why are they up there for use? After my boyfriend decided to increase ball weight help follow their requests we seemed to be doing good and no issues with our lane so after our second game we went ahead and bought a third game. Halfway through our third game, the guy comes up and tells us we have to take turns with the woman he has set up next to us. I wasn’t sure if this was just bowling etiquette that I wasn’t aware of—there were no signs indicating that we had to take turns, there was no intro when we started—like I said I’m not a pro we just go bowling every few months for fun. I had tried to speak to the woman next to us during our second game since we were sitting in the same lane booth but she had her headphones in and didn’t hear me or just ignored me so I assumed she didn’t want to be bothered and was just enjoying her own time. Fine by me I was just there to have fun with my boyfriend. So halfway through the third game we are moving marginally slower, waiting for this woman to throw her ball when she is not even paying attention to us or when we are throwing. I am now having to track my throws and like are we throwing one ball each time or are we taking both of our 2 turns at the same time then giving the other person a chance? I couldn’t tell and the woman wasnt even looking at us so I didn’t bother to ask because I was shut down the first time I tried to talk to her. I was looking around us and no one else was taking turns, there were tiny children bowling on slides, old people and young people all bowling beside each other at the same time, why did we suddenly have to take turns? My fun had been completely sucked out and I wanted to leave but my boyfriend said we only have 3 turns left let’s just finish. Ok fine, but then another man who was working there decided it was a good time to bombard me with bowling advice and when I told thanks I’ll try that he said just watch her (the woman next to us) and watch her and watch how she does it. Afterwards he goes and talks to her and I hear she is in a bowling league. Ah, ok, bingo 👍 If this woman is a professional bowler, why set her up next to us? Why not set her up on an empty lane? Or have special practice nights just for pros? Or have separate lanes set up for pros? I did not come here to watch professional bowling, I came here to drink a few beers and throw a ball down a lane and hopefully knock some pins down while enjoying some quality time with my boyfriend on a date. I have no interest in watching this woman who also had no interest in talking to us. I was there for fun thats it, i didn’t appreciate the micromanaging from employees to customers. Just have a sign with all your rules. And when I spend $50 on games and beers I don’t expect to have to adjust my experience just because you’re specially catering to your beloved pros. Next time I’ll just take the trip to uptown alley or some other commercial establishment because at least there I know that they’ll cater to the average Joe customers and the...

Girl behind the counter acts like she doesnt want you there, and with group rates being the only way to bowl per the hour it's not worth it to come solo. Checked website for price before coming and merely said "call for pricing on special" or something. I went in and nobody told me anything about how rates had recently changed or explain anything about prices- just said we would settle it after. Usually when you buy something the patron it supposed to tell you how much it is. Had I known they were only charging group pricing for hours of bowling I wouldnt have paid $22 for less than an hour (they were closing early and kicked everyone out). It's one thing if youre rude each time I've come in and I still get a cheap rate for an hour of bowling, but it's an entirely different thing if you decide to f me over then tell me "oh the prices are on the wall". As a small business providing a leisure activity-one that is dying and monopolizing- don't bea frigid. A smile goes a long way- maybe I wouldn't feel as bad about getting fd! B] Instead I'm told it's all my fault.. Hmm fun. I had fun tonight bowling and getting fd after my date...

Update as of June 20th 2024:

My kids really wanted to try this place out again, while I had my reservations. We came back and it was open. We bowled one game as it was just too many people in my family for one round. They have automatic bowling barriers where they can go up or down depending on the bowler. You gotta let them know up front before you start bowling and after you've entered in all the bowlers. The bowl was good, the food was good too. Great experience this time. The gentleman working that day did his thing as best he could with taking the food orders and new bowlers. It's a small establishment so be sure you call first to make sure if you're going to have a large group they have the space for you.

June 1st: Waited til 1:16 pm and still not open on a Saturday. We brought the kids and everything. It's almost a 30 minute...