is not so much that Pool is dying, but the decline is simply a by-product of a dying National economy. People have to use their money more for necessities, and luxuries and entertainment are put on the back burner, so to speak.
What was the excuse three years ago? Or ten years ago? The economy may be a contributing factor but it doesn't really have much to do with it. If anything, now may be a good time to invest in a pool room. Maybe pick up some equipment at a good price and buy or rent a building at a dirt cheap price. A pool room is a simple bottom line formula. Most pool rooms closing are closing because the nut was just plain too high in the first place. They never could survive any down turn in business for what ever reason. The best part is, the economy will not stay like it is today. When it picks up a new room will be set to profit on the next boom.
I remember when Don Carter built a bowling alley in the middle of no where. People thought he was nuts. He bought the property for $175,000 (would have cost him $3000,000.00 in just a few years later) and put up a state of the art bowling alley. In just a few years he was in the middle of a thriving area with a 24 hour business that was a gold mine. Even before the growth he was open 24 hours and had leagues bowling in the middle of the night. The place made money right from the start.
Someone starting a pool room today with a manageable overhead in this economy would be ahead of the curve. I would even suggest buying a building. At some point in the future you can even sell the business and become the landlord. Anyone who has ever owned a poolroom knows what I am talking about. It is a formula business and today may be an excellent time to take a plunge. As an example, I know where I can buy a building for what it would have cost me to rent for just one year, only a few years ago. There is a lot of opportunity out there and pool is not a fad. People will play pool no matter what the economy is.