4th Street Bowl — Local services in Joplin

It had been at least a few decades since I had been here. The upgrades were needed, yet certain things brought back memories of my childhood, like the swinging second set of doors on the east side.

Gone are the huge scoring tables where we used to keep score (probably inaccurately) as fourth and fifth graders in the 1970s. I can only imagine the number of cigarettes those ashtrays held before being banished for small keyboards. A positive for me and my allergies is the no smoking policy.

The nice thing about this place are the sheer number of alleys. This means most anybody can get a lane.

For the first time, I had a beer while I bowled. It was cold. It was good.

The food is quite good for being a bowling alley. The chips in the nachos were warm and made me think they made them there?!? Probably not but still good. Hamburgers are tasty and greasy, which is exactly what you want while bowling. Anytime something goes wrong, blame the greasy burger.

The staff was pleasant and helpful. The atmosphere is nostalgic. I had fun and...

I've got a mixed review that leans heavier in the positive direction!

Good: Food options are awesome for a concession stand-style. I regularly ate here for weekly bowling leagues and tried plenty on their menu. Always loved the burgers (BEST BURGERS), chicken strips, and personal pizza. Obviously, it is not 5-star cuisine. It's a bowling joint. But its nostalgic. :) Well priced, too. Spacious for family and friends to play and be loud without disrupting others. Plenty of ball selections. They run summer programs to allow for free kids bowling, run weekly specials, and host tons of local bowling leagues. Great spot for picking up a hobby or enjoying family time.

Not-So-Good: Standard pricing here is pretty steep. Unless you come on a night they're running a special, expect to pay upwards of $50+ for a couple people and a couple games. It is definitely old school. The building hasn't seen much in terms of renovations or any modernizations, but some people like...

I usually try to find a positive in most all situations, but our experience on August 4, 2022 was the worst here at the bowling alley. The young man running the counter COULD NOT stop picking his nose while taking our money & giving shoes out. Our bowling lane kept breaking down & I asked to be moved to another alley (which they did), but the second alley was just as bad! I asked for a refund towards our second prepaid game & they would not do that! Two games should not take almost 3 hrs to play! Cost for two game was over $40 for one adult & two children. Wished there was a manager there that cares. Won’t spend money there...