Question About A New Poolroom?

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
If I was to open a poolroom in you’re town with just 8 Diamond or Valley 7’ tables, beer & wine, and some type of snacks (finger food?), would you play in it? I’m trying to figure out if there is a demand for a room of this type. Thank you in advance for answering yes or no. Please, no bar box bashing. Tables would rent by the hour. Johnnyt
 
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Johnnyt said:
If I was to open a poolroom in you’re town with just 8 Diamond or Valley 7’ tables, beer & wine, and some type of snacks (finger food?), would you play in it? I’m trying to figure out if there is a demand for a room of this type. Thank you in advance for answering yes or no. Please, no bar box bashing. Johnnyt
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Nope- but that dont mean a thing.
 
No and maybe. You're not in my town, there are three or four, at least and I don't go to them. Maybe, if I knew you;)
 
If I were to play in a tournament that was being played on bar boxes I would, but it wouldn't be "my base".
 
Doubtful.

There is a room in El Paso just outside Fort Bliss (Players) that has all bar tables, but they also have a full service bar - and I believe many leagues - probably every night.

It's so tough these days to cover the overhead by just offering beer, pool and peanuts. You'll attract the die hard crowd, but in my experience the money crowd is not there for the pool.
 
Absolutely not.

If I lived somewhere that I didnt have access to any other rooms with big tracks and I couldnt fit one in my own house... maybe then.
 
Only if I could rent the tables by the hour. I won't pay quarters to play when I can run off a rack in a few minutes... especially 9ball.
 
I don't drink, so there would have to be something to bring me in there, like tournaments. Other than that, you prolly wouldn't see me.

But, I think you are asking a crowd here that for the most part are big track players, not the masses in general. It could be very successful if run right and you can attract all the barbox league players in.
 
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Sure
On other days I might go to play on a big table but I would have no problem meeting some friends, playing some pool and have a few cold ones.

Truth is that the average banger(money spender) doesnt care. Have a good fun atmosphere and good prices and people would come.

There are always groups of people that dont want to go to the larger rooms.

One suggestion would be to have 6 bar boxes and two big tables. You might find some of the guys in your area that are looking for good big tables not in a large room coming by.


I am actually thinking about trying to open something similiar to what you are saying. I am thinking 6 barboxes and 2-4 big tables or 8 bar boxes and 2 big tables. Decent food but nothing fancy and good prices. A small operation that is managable and provides good equipment, good food, good prices and some kind of tournaments and defintely league play.
Trouble is finding a location that is right and is affordable enough.
 
Nope, sorry I need the 9 footers to keep me happy.

I would visit on some occasions if you had a decent tournament though for something to do.

Good luck if you do decide to open a poolroom. A lot of people do like the bar tables in this day and age.

Kevin
 
most likely no. While i dont drink, i like having access to 9ft's. + i dont think you could make enough money to stay afloat.
 
Yes, I live in the college town of Clemson SC and there has not been a true pool room in this town in 13 years. There are at least half a dozen bars with pool tables but they are not kept up very well.

"If you build it they will come"
 
How many tables are you thinking.

Yes, but it would also need to be a sports bar with good food.
You would have to have a very heavy league presense and run Tournaments.
I have seen many places like that on the east coast of Florida especially in the West Palm area. Full bar would be nicer.
 
To be completely fair, Clemson University has an excellent gameroom, with lots of 9' tables...and the last time I was there, they had a bar with beer, attached to the gameroom, with a couple of barboxes in it. I understand if you don't want to go to a college poolroom, although in the 20 years I lived in Bozeman MT, Montana State's gameroom was the only place to play on 9' tables.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

gregthcarpenter said:
Yes, I live in the college town of Clemson SC and there has not been a true pool room in this town in 13 years. There are at least half a dozen bars with pool tables but they are not kept up very well.
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mongoose- said:
Only if I could rent the tables by the hour. I won't pay quarters to play when I can run off a rack in a few minutes... especially 9ball.
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Yes it would be by the hour. I just put that up on the thread. Thank you. Johnnyt
 
selftaut said:
I don't drink, so there would have to be something to bring me in there, like tournaments. Other than that, you prolly wouldn't see me.

But, I think you are asking a crowd here that for the most part are big track players, not the masses in general. It could be very successful if run right and you can attract all the barbox league players in.
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Yes, I thought of that. Johnnyt
 
There was a little place in Texas, that did just what you're saying, 'cept the didn't server alcohol. (had not been able to get their license yet), but had some food, and an dance floor.

It's not some place I would have normally gone to, but there was a tournament there that weekend. (Some BCA event) There was a scotch doubles event on Friday, and then singles for both men and women on Friday and Saturday. The turn out was very good. They had 9 7' diamond smart tables.
When the tournament stopped for the night (around 8ish on Saturday, the place was packed with the locals. Mostly bangers that were there to have fun.
We stayed there most of the night (midnight or so) and it never let up. There wasn't an empty table in the room. People were able to bring in their own alcohol, and the owners would supply the sodas for a reasonable price.
Tables were a dollar a game. With bangers, you might get 3 dollars an hour out of a table on average (20 minute games) 3 X 9 = 27, 27 X 9 = 243. That's not to say they may not have done more, but that's the conservative numbers.

I have no idea what the week nights were like.
So... if you're only going to have 7 tables, it's going to take a lot to pay those off. You will probably get people to come in that are not players, but those will be the people that are there to have fun, and drink. That's where you'll make most of your money. To supplement that, hold small weekly tournaments on the weekends, and then a big monthly one that's a 40 or 50 dollar entry. Advertise is well here on AZ, and you will bring in players.

my $.02
 
Neil said:
If you kept the tables in decent shape,and had a reasonable table time price, yes.
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Exactly what I was going to say... except that I would add that you need to keep the balls clean. Everywhere I go anymore has dirty balls. :frown: I don't even care if the restrooms are clean, as long as the table and balls are!
 
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