New room in Downtown Denver

[Otto Floto]

Dropped into the new Zanzbar earlier this week at 2046 Larimer. Interesting place, but I'm guessing it's gonna be a dating spot, not a players' room.

You walk in from Larimer to find a long, elegant bar running the length of the room to the left, and on the right a dozen tables all in a row. Looked as though a few of them were Gold Crowns, but I wasn't there to inspect equipment.

At 2 in the afternoon, I was alone at the bar with the bartender, a cute little thing who doesn't play pool and has no interest in the game. Meantime, every table was vacant. And I was discouraged by the price of libations: Four bucks for a glass of Guinness. I live in a brewery town (Golden) and I'm spoiled by cheap beer, which this ain't.

On the flip side, table time is free is you're ordering drinks. That's a huge bonus. Nurse a few beers and you play for free all day long. Unsure if this offer applies at night, but it's worth checking out, at least for the practice time.



All the Denver action, or what's left of it, seems to happen at Pete's on the north side; and on the south, Table Steaks. If there's another room in Denver that's happening, I'm unfamiar with it.

 

[IntoTheRail]

Is 4 bucks for a Guinness an unreasonable price? Doesnt really sound like much for a high quality import on draft. I normally pay 4-5 for a pint of Newcastle.

Sounds like a cool place to practice during the day though.

 

[Otto Floto]

Is 4 bucks for a Guinness an unreasonable price? Doesnt really sound like much for a high quality import on draft. I normally pay 4-5 for a pint of Newcastle.

Sounds like a cool place to practice during the day though.

You're right, it's just that I'm a penny-pinching geezer who's reliant on Social Security disability to get through the month. (That, and whatever nickels and dimes I can hijack at the pool halls.)

Anyway, the same deal -- free table time if you're drinking -- is available Downtown at Wynkoop Billiards during the day. That's the joint where Melissa Little is the house pro. Melissa's main man, Mark Haddad, also parks his cue at the Wynkoop when he's not on the road.

I should have noted the the new place, Zanzbar, is operated by the same people who run another Downtown joint, Tarantula Billiards. Nice bar, nice tables, but mostly a date place.

 

[Cuebuddy]

You're right, it's just that I'm a penny-pinching geezer who's reliant on Social Security disability to get through the month. (That, and whatever nickels and dimes I can hijack at the pool halls.)

Anyway, the same deal -- free table time if you're drinking -- is available Downtown at Wynkoop Billiards during the day. That's the joint where Melissa Little is the house pro. Melissa's main man, Mark Haddad, also parks his cue at the Wynkoop when he's not on the road.

I should have noted the the new place, Zanzbar, is operated by the same people who run another Downtown joint, Tarantula Billiards. Nice bar, nice tables, but mostly a date place.

I have always wondered about Tarantula billiards. I have seen the sign and it looks cool but never been in the joint. I used to go to Shakespeare's, Paradise, Pinky's ,Colorado cue club and a few more that have gone by the wayside or changed ownership. Oh I guess I should not forget The Velvet rail. Thanks for the down town up date:wink:.

 

[Otto Floto]

I have always wondered about Tarantula billiards. I have seen the sign and it looks cool but never been in the joint. I used to go to Shakespeare's, Paradise, Pinky's ,Colorado cue club and a few more that have gone by the wayside or changed ownership. Oh I guess I should not forget The Velvet rail. Thanks for the down town up date:wink:.

I was a devotee of several Downtown spots, going back to the old Arcade on Welton Street, run by a houseman named Whitey and frequented by some solid players. And I've heard stories about Sarconi's in the 1930's, considered in those days a stop for road players.

Civic Center Billiards was a good room in the 60s and 70s, as was York Billiards, just up the hill on York Street.

 

[Cuebuddy]

I was a devotee of several Downtown spots, going back to the old Arcade on Welton Street, run by a houseman named Whitey and frequented by some solid players. And I've heard stories about Sarconi's in the 1930's, considered in those days a stop for road players.

Civic Center Billiards was a good room in the 60s and 70s, as was York Billiards, just up the hill on York Street.

I have never heard of Sarconi's before, but I did find the old phone number and the owners names. This listing is from 1911.

SARCONI'S BILLIARD ROOM (Tony Sarconi, A Abbott), 1642-46 Welton.



http://www.einstein-nine.com/

 

[cuesblues]

New Room

Thanks for the update in Lodo, I will check it out.
Do they have the tables from Shakespeare's?
I know that Jerry lost most of his tables because of the deal he had with his lease.

I was at Table Steaks all night and they just downsized.
Moving out tables while we were plsying.
In the corporate world we call it "reducing the footprint".
Half the room is being turned into a computer store and although it's disappointing, Frank's got to do what he's got to do to stay alive in this economy.