Pool Room - What Gets You in the Door?

nice atmosphere. ie: music at a reasonable low level! enough space between tables to play without being in the way of the other tables and well kept tables!

For me, its well maintained tables and the lack of a younger not-serious-about-the-game crowd. I love to see kids in pool halls..... only if they are playing serious and trying to learn. Oh, and one more prerequisite..... if there is a jukebox, it can NOT have the Macarena on it.
Chuck

What gets me in the door is clean, well maintained equipment, good food and music at a reasonably low level.

All of the above, but at the top of the list is "action".

Pretty girls with black lipstic & dogchain necklace.

If you are asking from the stand point of an owner, or perspective owner looking for ideas to get people in the door, I'd say make sure to have something to do besides just play pool. I noticed in the rooms I worked in years ago, that people sometimes just want to hang out. We played chess, or gin, watched a match video etc. Have something to do while waiting for a game, or just relax.

as far as the "pool" part goes, IMO to call a place a "pool room" the equipment MUST be well kept. You don't need brand new perfect tables, just keep the cloth clean, fast, and replace it when worn out.

I've seen this kind of thread a million times, and it seems to me there are "pool rooms", and there are "arcades". When you try to have both it never seems to work. I used to play at a bowling alley that had a ton of action, and nice equipment. Someone had the bright idea to remove the wall between the arcade and the pool area. Like flipping a light switch the pool room went dead. The next week after removing the wall, I went in to see whats up and the owner was there. He asked where everyone has been ,and if I wanted a table? I looked at the pool area with little kids running around, and crawling under the tables and I just had a sad feeling. Kind of like when your best friend moves away.

Another room I worked in put in a small arcade in the back area that was just annoying enough to start to drive players away. The owner got wind of it and made a private "action" room out of it instead, that is still there today.

Gerry

It takes a harmony of all factors to make a Great room.

1) The owners and staff have to understand how players are, new players thru Pros and how to deal with each on a personal basis. If you treat the new player as well as the pro you will create a good customer base to grow with. Drunks are poison to any public place and should not be allowed at any time.

2) Location is a big factor also. It pays to have easy access from all areas of town.

3) Parking should be plentyful with good lighting for security purposes.

4) Major name well cared for equipment. The tables should be layed out in a way that a player doesn't feel cramped with good side tables and chairs/stools to relax in.

5) Good food! If you have good food at a decent price players will love you.

6) Atmosphere is another big factor...... Have enough TVs in the lounge area for sports fans to relax and watch their favorite sporting events.

7) A good Pro-Shop with a nice selection of supplies and a good cue repair Tech is a ++.

I have traveled the U.S. for a living for decades and been in all of the big name rooms and thousands of others. I have managed some rooms, played the Pro Tours (still do), and even built rooms that have been on the cover of P&B Mag.

There is no one thing that makes a room prosper.

Best Wishes

9balllvr

I got you thinking

As stated previous, well maintained tables are key. Music is good but not to loud. Good Food, pleasant staff. I think a big key is having all the size tables represented. I hate playing at a place that only has 1 size table. A sectioned off area for "action or serious play is a must to be able to have leagues, tournaments or gambling and not sacrifice play for the bangers and such.

NineBallNut said:

As stated previous, well maintained tables are key. Music is good but not to loud. Good Food, pleasant staff. I think a big key is having all the size tables represented. I hate playing at a place that only has 1 size table. A sectioned off area for "action or serious play is a must to be able to have leagues, tournaments or gambling and not sacrifice play for the bangers and such.

Click to expand...

Believe it or not, I am in the process of writing a business plan to open a pool room/ restaurant which seems to be the likely choice for the area I am in. I had thought of getting 9 foot tables and a few 8 footers (I saw that in a Hard Times in Virginia).

Nineballnut: when you say "all size tables" do you like to see 6 and 7 footers as well?

Thanks,
Craig

Irish634 said:

Believe it or not, I am in the process of writing a business plan to open a pool room/ restaurant which seems to be the likely choice for the area I am in. I had thought of getting 9 foot tables and a few 8 footers (I saw that in a Hard Times in Virginia).

Nineballnut: when you say "all size tables" do you like to see 6 and 7 footers as well?

Thanks,
Craig

Click to expand...

Don't need six footers but I know a lot of people that like to play on barbox's. A place I go to gamble has 9, 8, and 7 footers, It's nice to choose what size table you want to gamble or play on. A lot of people will only play certain games on certain tables. I just like the challenge of playing on different size tables. The room I would go to would need to have a 3 cushion table as well...

The place I go in grand rapids often has mostly 9 and 7's with a couple of 8's sprinkled in. The 7's get a lot of action.

Good quality 9 foot tables, well maintained.

No smoking.

Professional player/players that hang out there. When the pro's are at the hall, EVERYBODY stays/plays longer. At our recent IPT tune-up, there were several tables of bangers in the hall that would watch the pro's, and would only shoot when the pro's were between shots or racking - their games were taking FOREVER.

I like to play on 7 and 9 foot tables. 7 foot tables will be needed for APA league play. Drink specials and promotions will draw a crowd. Food is also a good addition. Locally they do Texas holdem tournaments, NTN trivia, UFC pay per view fights, with other sports also. Side Pockets is a very large venue usually 20,000 + square feet with lots to do, with a seperate dining bar area.

Just a thought

I have been in alot of real nice rooms .Alot with all the things
you would want in a pool room .Action, nice tables , good equipment,
mid to soft music, food , bar, etc......However , the two places I have
enjoyed the most have a friendly staff and nice people who kinda take you
into the scene if ya know what I mean .One place I went to in Fort Lauderdale
(Classic Billiards on University dr) I walked in and 5 minutes later I was talking and playing some sets with some of the regulars there .By the end of the night I was made to feel really welcome . This was not the biggest or plushest place in the area , it's kinda packed to tell the truth and tables are a bit close for my liking, but I have played in some of the bigger nicer places here in GA and in FL that could gain alot from just that one thing . Pool is
fun , competetive, and yes about the money but to me I get a kick out of meeting new folks and God knows we have alot of characters in this sport .I like the people as well as the sport .......most of the time .
So if I had a big nice pool room I think there should be a way of getting more people in the game .If ya see a guy standing around not drinking not eating , with a pool cue case in hand or on shoulder .Maybe you should ask him if he wants some help finding a game or whatever . Cause if he is like me
and he cant find a friendly face and all the tables are slammed , he will probably move on down the road and not buy any food , drinks, or table time.Also if he is not in there playing he cant win any money or loose it . I don't mean to rant but 2 things .Classic Billiards in Ft Lauderdale will always have a thumbs up from me because even though the place was packed they welcomed me in and made sure I had someone to play with and made me feel welcome . Pete @ The Pool Room here in Georgia does a nice job with that kinda thing too but they moved him from Marietta to Duluth .... Last the people in the room are what is sooo important .Keep em happy ask them questions about what works and not .Just my 2 cents

For me it comes down to atmosphere ...i can deal with not so neat tables..although i do like nice equipment..i want the people that run the place to understand pool and what pool players want... a crowd that doesnt presure to you play for money but its always willing to bet it up.. a place that has local heros those guys who you love to watch shoot...a plaace that has a repair shop inhouse..that is just a dream...and for GOD sake chairs that can accomidate big guys...i look like a squished up mashmellow in some of the chairs in the pool rooms.. The playing field in Richmond va has a great atmosphere..matter fact im going there in a few...talked myself into shooting some pool.

9balllvr said:

what makes a pool room better than another? in a nutshell, what makes one more successful than the other just down the road? is it the rates, the location, the tables, the atmosphere, food, drinks, the owner/employees, etc.

any thoughts are appreciated.

thanks.

9balllvr

Click to expand...

I think the answer is THE OWNER, paying particular attention to what the paying customers want and need; responding in kind. Customers like anyone else want to be appreciated and want to spend quality time doing their thing, whether it is playing pool, sweating the action (both pool and the people), socializing or just eating and drinking.