Elk Grove Bowl

For almost 60 years, Elk Grove Bowl was a beloved family-run bowling alley and entertainment venue at the southeast corner of Arlington Heights Road and Higgins Road in Elk Grove Village. It first opened in 1962, built by Lewis Handler and Marc Auerbach, and remained in operation under three generations of family ownership, making it one of the village’s true local institutions.

A Hub for Fun & Community

Elk Grove Bowl was much more than just a place to knock down pins. Throughout its decades of operation, it served as:

A gathering place for families, friends, and neighbors — from casual weekend bowlers to serious league competitors.

A host for youth, adult, and corporate bowling leagues, where regulars formed friendships and traditions that lasted for generations.

A venue for birthday parties, celebrations, and casual nights out, complete with a bar, concession counter, billiards, and arcade games that added to its welcoming, down-to-earth vibe.

Kids and adults alike remember the simple pleasures it offered — the clatter of pins, neon lights during cosmic bowling, and the way it brought people together in a relaxed, friendly setting. Neighborhoods

Closing & Legacy

In April 2022, after nearly six decades of operation, Elk Grove Bowl closed permanently when its third-generation owner retired and there was no next generation interested in running the business.

The Village of Elk Grove Village purchased the property and later demolished the building as part of a planned redevelopment of the gateway intersection, marking the end of an era for the corner that had been defined by bowling for generations.

Even after its closure, residents continue to remember Elk Grove Bowl with fondness — as a place where countless frames were rolled, friendships were forged, and everyday fun became cherished community memory.