I gave it one star because "Zero" stars are not an option. RUDE, CRASS, NON-APOLOGETIC, too!!! My autistic sister and her friend were set on challenging me to bowl against them. : ) I called ahead, though, out of precaution. Also, to check out the prices and availability of lanes. I chose here bc I assumed Westgate Bowl would be full! They usually are more hopping!
It was early that evening. I called Winona Bowl first to ask if they were full or going to be at some point that evening. The kid on the phone says, "No, come on in!" "Really?! I said. "Okay, great! But what are the prices for each game..and shoes?" He gave me the prices and said "Come on in and we'll get ya going." I said, "Wow, and you're sure it's not that busy?" (it was a day with a lot of people in town) "Nope," he assured me. "You are all set, I can tell you we WILL have a lane for you. There's nothing going on, everything is clear here." So, we headed over. My sister talking smack the whole way there. lol
We get there and wait for the guys behind the counter to finish with a family that was leaving. While we were waitining I noticed some college students arriving and setting up a table by the door. I thought, "Oh,ok. They must be having some school event. Cool." We then approached the guys and told them our shoe sizes. He said, "Are you guys students with WSU? I said, "No. But we are ReAdY to bowl," looking at my sister daringly. The guy said, "Well, if you guys aren't students with Winona State, you can't bowl here. This is only for Winona State." I said, "Yes, I understand students are here. We can bowl alongside them. See, I JUST called and someone assured me there would be at least 'A' lane for us. He said it would be no problem, to come right over. That he would get us going." The young guy just stared at us, looked over to his friend also behind the counter and shrugged. I said, "He said it was clear to come over, there would be room for us. I just talked to him about 25 minutes ago." "Yea well. Doesn't matter. This is only for WSU students and if you're not with them you need to leave. You guys shouldn't even be in here!"
I was sooo surprised at how flippant he was. I said, "This is not what I was told on the phone. We planned on this night and bowling. Someone just told me it was ok. Where is he? Why wouldn't he just tell me about this before telling me to come on over?" I pleaded. They both just looked at me lamely. "It was probably one of us that you talked to," as they looked at each other and looked back at me dismissingly. "Sorry. You can't bowl here. What do you want?? You can't be here. You are not allowed to bowl here. This is only for WSU students." he kept repeating. I said, "That's fine. I understand, we'll leave. But why wouldn't one of you have mentioned this to me on the phone? Now I am here and you completely change the message and kick us out? Why would you do that to us right now. We would only use ONE lane, for ONE game." He stares at me and then shrugs. He disregards me as he asks someone else, "What shoe size??" We turned to leave. I was embarrassed and felt so low. I wasn't a student for WSU so we got turned away. I am a grad student up in the cities. And he almost crushed my sister. One last try, we headed to Westgate Bowl. We go in. It was crazy busy. Zach is the Westgate guy who takes me name and says as soon as something opens up! 5 minutes later, they got us all set up!!!!!
I KNOW I WON'T EVER BE GIVING MY BUSINESS TO WINONA BOWL, BC OF how I WAS TREATED THAT DAY. And maybe the owner has no idea, but good job on hiring two kids who don't care to say sorry sincerely or answer for letting someone down. You have two kids who don't care about your customers-and therefore, must not care about their jobs. read more
