Two things most folks who’ve spent a decent amount of time in Savannah over the past three decades could likely agree upon (with varying degrees of excitement) would be this city’s extreme lack of both live music venues with professional quality sound systems and stage lighting, and places for adults to engage in moderate-level physical activity while simultaneously enjoying alcoholic beverages.
That is, unless you count Rodney’s Good-Time Glam-Rock Pool Hall out on Montgomery Cross Road. But, in all fairness, that over-the-top and ill-fated venture was only in operation for less than a year in the late 1990s. And, other than the infamous “Dee Snider chicken biscuit incident” which led to the club’s untimely closing, virtually none of the other concerts that took place in that cavernous, low-ceilinged space are even worth recalling in 2025.
However, one celebrated local entrepreneur has recently focused his efforts on opening just such a hybrid business, and the unexpected result is flying ―quite literally― under the radar.
Broughton Street Bowl & Brew is the brainchild (say that three times fast!) of Atlanta-raised restaurateur and bar owner Harley Krinskey, whose other popular, attention-grabbing destinations in the Hostess City include the Congress Street Social Club (which he opened in 2011), Sorry Charlie’s Oyster Bar (which he opened in 2015) and the Bamboo Room Tiki Bar (which opened in 2020). If you include the Bowl & Brew, which is tucked away (and almost hidden) in the basement of a large, historic commercial building on the corner of Abercorn and Broughton Streets that once housed a massive Woolworth’s department store, all of Krinskey’s establishments are all contained within a seven block stretch of the downtown “entertainment district,” just a few minutes’ walk from each other.
The venue offers an unusual duo of attractions: live music and duckpin bowling. Both are accompanied by craft cocktails, beer, wine and a menu of elevated, upscale bar food entrees, side items and desserts.
Not familiar with duckpin bowling? Think of it as a more compact version of a standard bowling lane, with smaller pins and lighter weight balls. The games are shorter as well. It’s a faster-paced variation on traditional bowling that’s as easy for kids as it is for adults. Which is one reason Bowl & Brew is open to all-ages until right around 8 p.m., at which point it transitions to a 21+ establishment. It was designed to be a family-friendly alternative to the bars and adult-oriented retail shops that blanket the area north of Liberty Street.
It’s true that Moodright’s Bar further south on Abercorn Street near Victory Drive offers duckpin bowling as well, but the duckpin setup at that intentionally retro and Northeastern blue-collar bar is decidedly DIY and non-standardized, whereas Bowl & Brew’s is a slick, commercial setup comparable to any traditional, commercial bowling lane you might have patronized in the past. Want to rent a lane for your friends or family to enjoy? That’s just $40 an hour.
For those who don’t fancy bowling, there are also billiard tables, Skee-Ball, and pinball and arcade games available.
However, it’s the bar and restaurant’s live music setup that really sets this establishment apart from any other spot in the area.
Despite the space’s relatively low-ceiling (it was a basement, after all) It boasts a 12′ by 14′ stage, a dedicated in-house professional PA system and a motorized stage lighting system. A few nights each week, DJs and live rock, indie, bluegrass, funk and jam-bands can be found entertaining the patrons ― at the very same time some folks are bowling or playing other games.
While this particular combination of distractions has never been offered in Savannah before, it’s nothing new.
In fact, the Rock’n’Bowl in New Orleans has been offering almost the exact same amenities since 1989 ― as has the Corbin Bowl in Tarzana, Ca., Victory Lanes Entertainment and Events Center in Mooresville, N.C., and the Eastside Bowl in Nashville, Tn. The above establishments hold anywhere from 150 people to 1,000.
But it’s the somewhat iconic 600-person NYC venue known as the Brooklyn Bowl that served as Krinskey’s main inspiration for his own take on the format.
That beloved spot has seen such superstar acts as Guns N’ Roses, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, The Roots, Stevie Nicks, Aaron Neville, Paul Simon, and Snoop Dogg grace its stage, making it one of the Big Apple’s “go-to” concert spots.
“Brooklyn Bowl was obviously at the top of my mind when we created this,” explains Krinskey. “These activity-based drinking concepts are jumping up all over the country, and Savannah deserves to have one too.”
He says he (and no doubt his business partner Chris Godfrey) had been thinking about this project “for a long time,” and that the only thing that held them back from attempting it sooner, was “finding the right space.”
“Once we did that, it took a little over a year for construction,” he relates.
So far, all of their nighttime events, such as live DJs and musical acts have been strictly limited to patrons 21 years of age or older. But Krisnkey says there is always the possibility that could change on down the road.
“We’re playing with a bunch of different formats, so it’s quite possible some events will be open to those under 21,” he says. “Right now we’re throwing it all against the wall to see what works in the room. But what really hits is just having a real club venue downtown ― which is something we’ve lacked for some time now…”
The legal capacity of Bowl & Brew is right at 300, which is over twice the legal capacity of the original location of the sorely-missed Congress Street club the Jinx, and just slightly over the projected capacity of the new and improved version of that alternative music venue that has yet to open, but which been under construction for some time now in the Starland District.
In a somewhat surprising development that hopefully portends an impressive array of live musical acts to come at Krinskey’s ambitious new multi-purpose space, on July 25, Bowl & Brew plays host to a rare local appearance by the internationally-known psychedelic jam-band Perpetual Groove (or PGroove as they’re known to their fans).
The group, which formed in 1997, was originally based here in Savannah, before relocating almost a decade later to the music mecca of Athens, Ga. Perpetual Groove maintains a rabid following of diehard fans in our area, and for more than two decades now, whenever the group has performed in our city, they have played extremely large rooms, like the 1,200-seat Lucas Theatre or the 700-capacity Victory North.
For them to appear in a 300-seat bowling alley/restaurant is a decidedly unusual scenario, and it will allow their followers to see the group up close in a far more intimate and approachable setting than might otherwise be the case.
Krinskey credits his personal relationship with the group as being a key factor in them playing his new venue. “I’ve been a friend of the band for a long time and it’s a real treat that they’re going to be playing there,” he enthuses. “I’m really excited about that show, and I’m sure it’ll be a sight to see.”
“Everybody seems to really enjoy the space,” he says. “I’m just glad we can be offering a wide array of food, drinks, bowling and entertainment. (The trick is) getting the word out that we’re a huge space, because we don’t have a lot of (street) frontage. We’re just trying to let people know what we do and that we’re out here to have fun.”
Tickets for the Perpetual Groove show are selling fast, so if you want to be one of the lucky 300 to see the group’s return to a packed Savannah club, it would be wise to reserve yours as soon as possible.
WHAT: Perpetual Groove
WHERE: Broughton St. Bowl & Brew
WHEN: July 25, 2025
TIME: 8PM
AGES: 21+
COST: $25
TICKETS: www.eventbrite.com/e/perpetual-groove-tickets-1367449591539
INFO: broughtonstreetbowlandbrew.com, pgroove.net
