Chicago-based eatertainment company WhirlyBall is celebrating its grand opening today at Brookfield Square.
The 45,000-square-foot, two-story venue was recently developed at the southeast side of the property, adjacent to Marcus Theatres’ new Movie Tavern, which will open on Oct. 11. Both concepts are part of an ongoing multimillion-dollar redevelopment of the former Sears store site at the mall.
WhirlyBall is named after a game that combines basketball, lacrosse, hockey and bumper cars.
The Brookfield location houses two WhirlyBall courts, where teams of four to 10 players can compete for 10 minutes at a time on the main level. Eight bowling and Hyperbowling lanes are situated in between the two courts. Lounge and table seating offers a views of both game areas.
Its main level is also home to WhirlyBall’s first bar and sit-down restaurant concept, The Pivot Room. Its 75-seat dining room is decorated with vintage sports memorabilia, wall art and neon signs as a nod to the “heydays of the 1980s.” The Pivot Room’s bar area features 24 draft lines that serve a rotating selection of craft brews including local favorites from Third Space Brewing, Milwaukee Brewing Co. and Raised Grain Brewing Co. among others.
Items on the Pivot Room’s menu, all of which are available to order throughout the venue, range from small plates like nachos, Gutter Balls (chicken fried cheese curds) and pretzel bites to entree-style dishes like flatbreads, salads and sandwiches.
WhirlyBall’s second level includes a VIP area with four additional bowling lanes, a 30-person laser tag arena, a 200-seat private event room and 20- to- 60-person conference or meeting space. It also has another bar that focuses on craft cocktails and bottled beer.
“We’re thrilled to join the Brookfield and Milwaukee communities with the opening of WhirlyBall and The Pivot Room,” said Adam Elias, WhirlyBall’s vice president of strategic planning. “Our first location was founded over 25 years ago with the mission of providing memorable experiences and premium offerings for our guests. We look forward to continuing this tradition in Wisconsin for locals and visitors to enjoy.”
WhirlyBall at Brookfield Square is the company’s first Wisconsin location, and its fourth-ever location since launching 25 years ago.
