I love this place! Pretty great bowling alley equipped with a full bar room with awesome drinks, good food for a bowling alley, vending machines, jukebox, pool table, plenty of washrooms, bowling shop and bowling ramps for those with disabilities (they have two). Habetler’s service is very good considering that they are short staffed because good help is hard to find nowadays. They host different leagues, groups and on Fridays Chicago Park District does their bowling program for people with disabilities of all kinds.
So the real star of the show…Sang in the bowling shop. Last Friday, I came here with my neighbors/friends to stay with Jocelyn at her weekly bowling for disabled people. I bought her her own Superman bowling ball & bag for her early Christmas gifts. Ball wasn’t drilled with holes and so I decided to walk into Habetler’s bowling shop and asked if they drilled holes (which probably was a dumb question LOL). I explained that Jocelyn has severe Cerebral Palsy and doesn’t really need the holes because she pushes the ball down a ramp to bowl. Also, that these were early Christmas gifts and she just wanted the holes to feel like everyone else she bowls with. Sang said he still wanted to measure her hands and fingers for the holes.
I proceeded to ask Sang how much it would cost. He initially gave me a price and said he can make the time right away to measure her and have the ball ready in ten minutes. I than brought Jocelyn and her mom into the shop and Sang measured her with such care and professionalism. He than said to all of us, “I’m not going to charge you all anything. This is my Christmas gift to her.” I still offered to pay several times but he refused. I almost busted out in tears. Super unexpected and heartwarming.
Sang came back out to where we were waiting to
bowl and asked if we wanted him to inscribe her name on the ball. We both got excited and said a big ol’ “YES!”. He asked what name she wanted and how to spell it. I asked how much would he like to do that and again he refused any of my offers. Ten minutes later he brought the ball out very nicely drilled and inscribed. He’s clearly amazing at his craft and an incredibly awesome human being.
He walked to the washroom and I stopped him when he came out. I thanked him so much and told him she absolutely loves the ball, his work and that she’s bowling even better than ever. He told me he was so happy to see her smile and that it is contagious. His kindness, generosity, his skills and professionalism are the real gifts.
Please consider supporting a small local business and get your bowling needs met by Sang. I’m sangin’ his praise, as we’re so grateful, touched. We will always remember the kindness of a stranger for a young disabled girl that just wanted her own bowling ball and to bowl with the rest of the other people she likes and loves.