Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
-
Jins123
- Library Board
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:02 pm
Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Outside signage, with coming soon on it, indicate a bowling alley/bar setting will be in the stand alone building across the street from The Red Lion and The Colonial Hotel Apartments. Something new and different for the area
Outside signage, with coming soon on it, indicate a bowling alley/bar setting will be in the stand alone building across the street from The Red Lion and The Colonial Hotel Apartments. Something new and different for the area
-
ita
- County Board
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2018 4:11 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Is the address 3724 Farnam St.? That will be a good addition to the neighborhood.Jins123 wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:55 am Outside signage, with coming soon on it, indicate a bowling alley/bar setting will be in the stand alone building across the street from The Red Lion and The Colonial Hotel Apartments. Something new and different for the area
-
nativeomahan
- County Board
- Posts: 6013
- Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:46 pm
- Location: Omaha and Puerto Vallarta
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
A bowling alley? I thought those went the way of skating rinks and print newspapers.
-
Jins123
- Library Board
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:02 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Yes!ita wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:15 pmIs the address 3724 Farnam St.? That will be a good addition to the neighborhood.Jins123 wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:55 am Outside signage, with coming soon on it, indicate a bowling alley/bar setting will be in the stand alone building across the street from The Red Lion and The Colonial Hotel Apartments. Something new and different for the area
-
Athomsfere
- Planning Board
- Posts: 2300
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:03 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
My friends and I do the bowling thing once a year. About this time actually. It's a great way to end the best season, and welcome fall (the destroyer of dreams).nativeomahan wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:25 pm A bowling alley? I thought those went the way of skating rinks and print newspapers.
Besides, everything old becomes new and cool again eventually.
-
BIGO88
- Library Board
- Posts: 467
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2018 7:16 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Looks like this is gonna be called Bob & Willies Wonderland and is actually gonna be "Mini Bowling"
https://www.wonderbowlomaha.com/about
https://www.wonderbowlomaha.com/about
-
Omaha Cowboy
- The Don
- Posts: 1013714
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:31 am
- Location: West Omaha
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Hmmm..BIGO88 wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:24 pm Looks like this is gonna be called Bob & Willies Wonderland and is actually gonna be "Mini Bowling"
https://www.wonderbowlomaha.com/about
This is interesting.. Marketing as “Omaha’s first mini bowling alley”..
Pardon my ignorance, what is mini bowling?…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
Go Cowboys!
-
NEDodger
- Parks & Recreation
- Posts: 1356
- Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2014 1:19 am
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Might be the same as duckpin bowling?Omaha Cowboy wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:49 pmHmmm..BIGO88 wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:24 pm Looks like this is gonna be called Bob & Willies Wonderland and is actually gonna be "Mini Bowling"
https://www.wonderbowlomaha.com/about
This is interesting.. Marketing as “Omaha’s first mini bowling alley”..
Pardon my ignorance, what is mini bowling?…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
-
Busguy2010
- City Council
- Posts: 7323
- Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:32 pm
- Location: North Central Omaha
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
My initial thought exactly... It'll be interesting to see what kind of crowd this would would draw... Mini bowling...Omaha Cowboy wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:49 pm Pardon my ignorance, what is mini bowling?…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
-
Garrett
- County Board
- Posts: 4684
- Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:29 pm
- Location: New York City
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Sounds like it’s basically gonna be a bar with a gimmick. Bars in Omaha have Bocce or board games or arcade games or darts. Why not a casual scaled down bowling that’s not so serious?
OMA-->CHI-->NYC
-
Uffda
- County Board
- Posts: 4618
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 9:52 pm
- Location: Land o Lakes, FL
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
I Had to look it up and it looks like Omaha is behind the times. And catching upOmaha Cowboy wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:49 pmHmmm..BIGO88 wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:24 pm Looks like this is gonna be called Bob & Willies Wonderland and is actually gonna be "Mini Bowling"
https://www.wonderbowlomaha.com/about
This is interesting.. Marketing as “Omaha’s first mini bowling alley”..
Pardon my ignorance, what is mini bowling?…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
[youtube] [/youtube]
We are the people our parents warned us about.
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
-
Omaha Cowboy
- The Don
- Posts: 1013714
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:31 am
- Location: West Omaha
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
So this is a sort of fun “gimmick” theme to traditional bowling in a Bowling Alley..Plus, like Electronic English Mark Darts, you select multiple games..Uffda wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:55 amI Had to look it up and it looks like Omaha is behind the times. And catching upOmaha Cowboy wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:49 pmHmmm..BIGO88 wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:24 pm Looks like this is gonna be called Bob & Willies Wonderland and is actually gonna be "Mini Bowling"
https://www.wonderbowlomaha.com/about
This is interesting.. Marketing as “Omaha’s first mini bowling alley”..
Pardon my ignorance, what is mini bowling?…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
[youtube] [/youtube]
I can see where this would be appealing…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
Go Cowboys!
-
skinzfan23
- City Council
- Posts: 11624
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:26 am
- Location: Omaha/Bellevue
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Wasn’t Aksarben Village supposed to get a kingpin bowling place about 10 years ago?
-
Omaha Cowboy
- The Don
- Posts: 1013714
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:31 am
- Location: West Omaha
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
That I don’t remember..skinzfan23 wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:28 am Wasn’t Aksarben Village supposed to get a kingpin bowling place about 10 years ago?
But now that you mention it, Aksarben Village would also be a nice spot for one of these “mini bowling” theme places..
It’ll be interesting to see how this spot works out in the Blackstone District. My instinct tells me the place will be a hit, a nice niche entertainment alternative…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
Go Cowboys!
-
Athomsfere
- Planning Board
- Posts: 2300
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:03 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
My guess too, I feel like Blackstone, Benson or even Little Bohemia might be the perfect area for something like this.Omaha Cowboy wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:57 amThat I don’t remember..skinzfan23 wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:28 am Wasn’t Aksarben Village supposed to get a kingpin bowling place about 10 years ago?
But now that you mention it, Aksarben Village would also be a nice spot for one of these “mini bowling” theme places..
It’ll be interesting to see how this spot works out in the Blackstone District. My instinct tells me the place will be a hit, a nice niche entertainment alternative…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
-
ita
- County Board
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2018 4:11 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Their claim that it's the first in Omaha is false. You want to try mini bowling, go to Amazing Pizza Machine. Haha. We went there for one of my boy's birthday and noticed their mini bowling alley in the lower level. The kids tried it out and they had a lot of fun. Five frames, tiny bowling balls, strung up pins. I think Bob & Willies can safely say they are Omaha's first mini bowling alley bar though. Anyway, it should be a nice diversion in Blackstone that pretty much anyone can participate in.Omaha Cowboy wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:49 pmHmmm..BIGO88 wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:24 pm Looks like this is gonna be called Bob & Willies Wonderland and is actually gonna be "Mini Bowling"
https://www.wonderbowlomaha.com/about
This is interesting.. Marketing as “Omaha’s first mini bowling alley”..
Pardon my ignorance, what is mini bowling?…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
-
ita
- County Board
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2018 4:11 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
So that was a quick turnaround:
https://www.ketv.com/article/wonderbowl ... e/38784903
https://www.ketv.com/article/wonderbowl ... e/38784903
Bob and Willie's Wonderbowl started with an idea.
"It just clicked and the more investigated the more fun it looked. Here we are eight months later and Wonderbowl is open," Chad Schoeman said.
...
Patrons can also break from the lanes and play arcade games. Schoeman said there is also a full bar. Once it gets warmer, Wonderbowl has plans for the parking lot.
"We have a full-sized 1,500-foot patio outside and a full-time food truck," he said. "We're taking the whole parking lot and astroturfing it to make it an event space with bags, bocce ball, picnic tables and enjoy the weather."
Wonderbowl's grand opening is Monday and Schoeman said they are ready! Wonderbowl will be open seven days a week from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
-
Omaha Cowboy
- The Don
- Posts: 1013714
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:31 am
- Location: West Omaha
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Indeed. Seems like we just talked about what that type of bowling game it was..Good to see it realized so quickly…
Ciao..LiO…Peace
Ciao..LiO…Peace
Go Cowboys!
-
Brad
- Photographer
- Posts: 1036529
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
- Location: Omaha, NE
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Went to "Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl" yesterday afternoon and had a Great time!
Corrections on a few things mentioned above:
This is not like the pizza machine bowling, the pins are not on strings
This is not like the video posted above, the lanes are raised to just blow your knees.
The inventor of this bowling system has only built 14 lanes and 6 of those 14 are in Omaha, creating the largest "alley" of this type of machine. There is a window in back where you can see the pin setters operate. Looks like a miniature version of a real bowling ally to me.
We played for 2 hours. We had 3 people on a lane and played 5 or 6 games in that two hours. Appetizers were good. Nice beer selection. Garage doors along the west side were open yesterday letting in fresh air. Patio is complete but not open yet.
Photo of me bowling, you can get an idea on the size of the lanes.
Corrections on a few things mentioned above:
This is not like the pizza machine bowling, the pins are not on strings
This is not like the video posted above, the lanes are raised to just blow your knees.
The inventor of this bowling system has only built 14 lanes and 6 of those 14 are in Omaha, creating the largest "alley" of this type of machine. There is a window in back where you can see the pin setters operate. Looks like a miniature version of a real bowling ally to me.
We played for 2 hours. We had 3 people on a lane and played 5 or 6 games in that two hours. Appetizers were good. Nice beer selection. Garage doors along the west side were open yesterday letting in fresh air. Patio is complete but not open yet.
Photo of me bowling, you can get an idea on the size of the lanes.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Omaha Skyline Photos, Omaha Aerial Photos, and More.
Website: www.bradwilliamsphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bradwilliamsphotography
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bradwphoto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bradwilliamsphotography
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@bradwilliamsphoto
-
omaha79
- Parks & Recreation
- Posts: 1635
- Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2015 3:46 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
It feels like the love child of bowling and skee ball to me. Could be fun though. The prices are what put me off. I can bowl enough to have fun. So, I'd always lean to real bowling vs. something like this.
-
TitosBuritoBarn
- Planning Board
- Posts: 3267
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:08 pm
- Location: St. Louis
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
It is indeed an inconveniently placed edge from which I would expect to end up with injured knees.Brad wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 10:10 am This is not like the video posted above, the lanes are raised to just blow your knees.
"Video game violence is not a new problem. Who could forget in the wake of SimCity how children everywhere took up urban planning." - Stephen Colbert
-
Brad
- Photographer
- Posts: 1036529
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
- Location: Omaha, NE
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
I don't remember hitting my hand on ski ball, but 2 of the 9 people in our group managed to hit it. One hit their fingers and the other hit it with the ball.

Omaha Skyline Photos, Omaha Aerial Photos, and More.
Website: www.bradwilliamsphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bradwilliamsphotography
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bradwphoto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bradwilliamsphotography
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@bradwilliamsphoto
-
iamjacobm
- City Council
- Posts: 10809
- Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
- Location: Chicago
-
OverlookedFarm
- Home Owners Association
- Posts: 176
- Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:13 pm
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
Beer games and patio.iamjacobm wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 6:14 pm Closing.
Being replaced by this https://www.jaysblackstone.com/
Could be the laziest bar concept yet for Omaha.
Bold move for a city that has maybe 5 mo max of patio time, oversaturation of bars, scarce parking and a generation of clientele less and less interested in sportsball and alcohol.
If you were telling me you were actually bringing back the The Jay, now, that is a different story!
-
Louie
- County Board
- Posts: 4933
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:23 pm
- Location: Dundee
Re: Bob & Willie's Wonderbowl (3724 Farnam)
To be fair, this is a bar that will be opening in a construction zone (one that will stay as a construction zone for some time as the streetcar gets built). The lower the overhead and initial investment, the better chance they have to survive the interim. But who knows. And enough about parking geez.