Fon for two weeks, now back to bar boxes. yuck.

[Marie's husband]

My job took me to Virginia Beach for the last two weeks and I had the chance to hang out at Qmasters almost every day. Seemed like I was there more than my at work, but don't tell my boss. lol.

It was my second time in the past two years of me being able to hang out there. It still makes me feel feel like a kid in a candy store with all the history that is hung up throughout the pool hall. Really made me feel like a tourist when I walk around reading all the US Open tournament announcements and all the news articles posted throughout the building. One night during league night I walked around just checking all the news articles posted on the walls. A lot of the league players sort of looked at me with a "what the heck is this guy doing" look which gave me the impression that the locals league players seem to not understand how good they have it because its the same old scene for them. But once I got BSing with the real pool hall regulars that hang out in the back room it really showed me how much they appreciated the history of Qmasters. Dave, Sal, Edwin, and the rest of the crew really have some good stories to tell about the open, and other action that has happened, I could probably sit there all week and just listen to them.

IMHO if you are ever within a couple of hours drive of Qmasters then I strongly recommended making the trip, its almost like your going to the hall of fame for pool.

Thank you all at Qmasters for your Hospitality and it was a real joy playing and BSing with all the regulars that hang out there.


Thanks Again,
Paul


PS, I don't know how Barry does it, but the waitress's all look like they left Hooters to come work for him, and they all do good job which really surprised me.

 

[sfleinen]

QMasters is a shrine to the history of our great sport

My job took me to Virginia Beach for the last two weeks and I had the chance to hang out at Qmasters almost every day. Seemed like I was there more than my at work, but don't tell my boss. lol.

It was my second time in the past two years of me being able to hang out there. It still makes me feel feel like a kid in a candy store with all the history that is hung up throughout the pool hall. Really made me feel like a tourist when I walk around reading all the US Open tournament announcements and all the news articles posted throughout the building. One night during league night I walked around just checking all the news articles posted on the walls. A lot of the league players sort of looked at me with a "what the heck is this guy doing" look which gave me the impression that the locals league players seem to not understand how good they have it because its the same old scene for them. But once I got BSing with the real pool hall regulars that hang out in the back room it really showed me how much they appreciated the history of Qmasters. Dave, Sal, Edwin, and the rest of the crew really have some good stories to tell about the open, and other action that has happened, I could probably sit there all week and just listen to them.

IMHO if you are ever within a couple of hours drive of Qmasters then I strongly recommended making the trip, its almost like your going to the hall of fame for pool.

Thank you all at Qmasters for your Hospitality and it was a real joy playing and BSing with all the regulars that hang out there.

Thanks Again,
Paul

PS, I don't know how Barry does it, but the waitress's all look like they left Hooters to come work for him, and they all do good job which really surprised me.

Paul:

Very nice post -- enjoyed reading it, and I'm envious that you've been to QMasters more recently than I. I hope to play in the U.S. Open this year, so I'll definitely have the opportunity to visit this wonderful place.

I have a long history with QMasters, dating back to the mid-1980s when it used to be located on Sewell's Point Road in Norfolk. (I was stationed aboard the Spruance-class destroyer, U.S.S. Briscoe, DD-977, at the famous D&S Piers in the Norfolk naval station there.) That place burned down to the ground long ago, but I still have fond memories and mental pictures of what that place looked like, all my gambling matches in the famous "back room" with bleachers, and nice tidy sums won, and lost. I was such a regular at QMasters, befriending Barry, and when I left the Tidewater area to begin my new I.T. career after my obligation with the U.S. Navy concluded, I'd hoped to see Barry again one day.

A couple SBEs ago, it was nice to finally bump into him once again, with him instantly recognizing me. What a great memory he has! He even asked me about the cues that I bought from him those many years ago, a couple Meucci Originals (back when in the Meucci heyday when they were great cues), and a very special Mali original. Although I'd sold those Meucci Originals long ago (going on nearly 20 years ago, when I'd put my cues away "for good" [or so I thought] to concentrate on my I.T. career), I kept the Mali because it was custom-ordered. (The Meucci Originals were straight out of the display case in his pro sho.)

I still have that custom Mali to this day. It is almost 30 years old, and has a lot of sentimental value to it. Wood-to-wood joint (my favorite, because the hit "talks" to me with a nice woody resonant "ponk" sound), a very interesting dyed figured birdseye maple forearm, and rear-balanced just like a carom cue (which I prefer). Yes, it has the original green Mali logo, and is the last of the truly American-made Malis before Mali went overseas for manufacturing.

When I visit QMasters in October for the U.S. Open, I plan to bring this Mali cue, and the original sales receipt signed by Barry, to show him. I hope it will inspire some nice conversation and reminiscing!

In all, I agree with you -- those that have never visited QMasters, if they ever find themselves within a couple hour drive or less, should visit. It's very special.

Thanks for this great thread -- it got me reminiscing about those old days!
-Sean

EDIT: oh, and btw -- I wonder if Barry picked up all those waitresses that were out of a job when Boston Billiards closed almost all its locations? J/K, of course -- obviously that's way too far to commute for a new job.

 

[Marie's husband]

qmasters

Sean,

I have been fortunate with the Navy sending me to areas in the last few months that it gave me the chance to Visit two of the best pool halls in the United States IMHO. In May, I had the chance to visit Hardtimes in LA and if you ever get the chance to go there, I strongly recommend it. Now if I can talk the Navy into going somewhere close to Fargo, I think that would pretty much rap up the Top 3 in the US.

As for going to the US Open in October, man would I love to be at Qmasters during that time of year. I hear they stay open 24 hours a day and its just amazing to watch the top players playing in action. I can only imagine how much fun it would be to be sitting in the bleachers listening and watching what all transpires.

Hearing you talk about your old Meucci made me go and look at mine, havent played with it in probably 15 years. I think it is an old model 84-d if I remember right, bought it when I was 18 from West Penn Billiards in Pittsburgh. Also it brings back memories of when I first saw a Mali cue, and you are right, they do have a distinctive hit to them and they were good cues until the went oversea's.

Well have fun in October and good luck in the Open. Oh yeah, the food at Qmasters is actually pretty good too, and yes, the traditional Barry Burger is a great burger.

Thanks
Paul