Poolroom Franchising...could it work?

[Johnnyt]

Has there ever been any poolroom franchising, if so did it work before the economy took the dive? If there haven’t been any, could it work? I know there are a few on here that have or had franchises and there are plenty on here with a lot more recent business hands on than me. CJ is one, but there are many more on here.

My idea is for the franchise to have several levels or models. One could be a small Mom and Pop type room, 8-12 tables with some kind of a mix of 7’ coin and 9’ tables with or W/O beer and wine. Another could be the small type sports bar 8-12 tables mixed with full bar. My thinking is there are a lot of small rooms owned by hardcore pool players, with no business experience, and a franchise would give them some training on how to run a room and what works and what don’t.

I know it’s not that hard to run a small room, but a lot of them go under because they don’t know how to run them correctly. When I had my nine-table room you could have put a bunch of tables in a tent and it would have took off. The whole idea is to get more small rooms all over and give them the tools to stay afloat. I believe the small rooms are and always have been the backbone of the poolroom industry. Johnnyt

 

[336Robin]

Franchising

Has there ever been any poolroom franchising, if so did it work before the economy took the dive? If there haven’t been any, could it work? I know there are a few on here that have or had franchises and there are plenty on here with a lot more recent business hands on than me. CJ is one, but there are many more on here.

My idea is for the franchise to have several levels or models. One could be a small Mom and Pop type room, 8-12 tables with some kind of a mix of 7’ coin and 9’ tables with or W/O beer and wine. Another could be the small type sports bar 8-12 tables mixed with full bar. My thinking is there are a lot of small rooms owned by hardcore pool players, with no business experience, and a franchise would give them some training on how to run a room and what works and what don’t.

I know it’s not that hard to run a small room, but a lot of them go under because they don’t know how to run them correctly. When I had my nine-table room you could have put a bunch of tables in a tent and it would have took off. The whole idea is to get more small rooms all over and give them the tools to stay afloat. I believe the small rooms are and always have been the backbone of the poolroom industry. Johnnyt

I agree with you Johnnyt. I think the time is right to start introducing the idea of putting Rooms back in all the small towns where there used to be one. My first idea was to do it as an extension of the Senior Center run with volunteers, but open to youth and the public but more along the lines of private.

I learned to play in Recreation Centers and maybe that is the model. I don't see how involving alcohol is going to help much though.

In my thinking if a group of investors got together and did a room and created community activity then someone in that community would get the idea they wanted to buy the room then it could be sold them for a small profit and the money rolled into the next project.

This could be done in several places at once. One corporation wouldn't be effective at having much effect on pool if it were in one state but a collective effort on a model that did work could. You would have to train people who were interested in doing the same thing to do it in their states.

Since this is obviously going to be a low margin affair...who is going to be interested? Because its a lot of trouble. I don't see it happening unless someone forms a Union of Support somehow. In my line of thinking the things in pool that survive do so because of MONEY. So there has to be money involved and it has to be to someone best interest to do so.

 

[Shaft]

Is Fox and Hound
1. a franchised restaurant with pool tables, or
2. a franchised pool room that serves food?

Either way, when I travel, I stop in at the local Fox and Hound if there is one.
Maybe not the best tables, but like McDonalds food, I know what I am getting.

 

[Cornerman]

Has there ever been any poolroom franchising, if so did it work before the economy took the dive? If there haven’t been any, could it work?

There were several poolroom franchises after the Color of Money... And many of them closed doors due to the economics downturn. So your question has already been answered. Surely you've heard of Jillian's, Boston Billiards, Click's, Dave & Busters....

My idea is for the franchise to have several levels or models. One could be a small Mom and Pop type room, 8-12 tables with some kind of a mix of 7’ coin and 9’ tables with or W/O beer and wine.

Your idea is to franchise a Mom & Pop business model? Good luck.

Freddie <~~~ economics disaster

 

[wrickyb]

Two that I know of

There are two that I know of, first Fox and Hound / Bailey's Sports Grill that have tables and usually have league play. The other one which I think is out of business was Jillian's. Then there is the franchise pool table chain Pool Tables Plus +

 

[macguy]

Has there ever been any poolroom franchising, if so did it work before the economy took the dive? If there haven’t been any, could it work? I know there are a few on here that have or had franchises and there are plenty on here with a lot more recent business hands on than me. CJ is one, but there are many more on here.

My idea is for the franchise to have several levels or models. One could be a small Mom and Pop type room, 8-12 tables with some kind of a mix of 7’ coin and 9’ tables with or W/O beer and wine. Another could be the small type sports bar 8-12 tables mixed with full bar. My thinking is there are a lot of small rooms owned by hardcore pool players, with no business experience, and a franchise would give them some training on how to run a room and what works and what don’t.

I know it’s not that hard to run a small room, but a lot of them go under because they don’t know how to run them correctly. When I had my nine-table room you could have put a bunch of tables in a tent and it would have took off. The whole idea is to get more small rooms all over and give them the tools to stay afloat. I believe the small rooms are and always have been the backbone of the poolroom industry. Johnnyt

Back in the 60''s I played in a place I think was part of a franchise called "The House of Lords billiards".

 

[BeiberLvr]

There were several poolroom franchises after the Color of Money... And many of them closed doors due to the economics downturn. So your question has already been answered. Surely you've heard of Jillian's, Boston Billiards, Click's, Dave & Busters....



Your idea is to franchise a Mom & Pop business model? Good luck.

Freddie <~~~ economics disaster

Never heard of Jillian's or Boston Billiards. I have heard of Dave & Busters but I always thought they were more of an adult Chuckie Cheese.

I have been to a Click's when I was living in FL. Not the best place, but it works if there's no where else to play. According to their website, they have 14 locations across 5 states.

 

[336Robin]

Recreation Centers

Back in the 60''s I played in a place I think was part of a franchise called "The House of Lords billiards".

The more I think about it. I keep thinking that maybe its a good time to come with Recreation Centers again.

You just have to make it cheap enough that kids can actually come play, and what would be wrong with some pinball machines and a few things of that nature. Make them a place where they could hang out and have fun. You have to pay the rent and you have to do it every month and you have to pay someone to run it.

Im thinking the economy might be ready to let it happen if the right rents can be found.

 

[SJDinPHX]

Has there ever been any poolroom franchising, if so did it work before the economy took the dive? If there haven’t been any, could it work? I know there are a few on here that have or had franchises and there are plenty on here with a lot more recent business hands on than me. CJ is one, but there are many more on here.

Johnnyt

As others have mentioned Johnny, there have been quite a few franchise operations...I believe 'Click's' was one of the largest...Most were upper end sports bar "yuppie" type places..I believe there are still many still functioning..However, I don't know of ANY that were owned by top 'pool player's'...Most were owned by investor's, who may have hired pool player's to run them !..We all know there are very few player's, who are capable of running a bar and restaurant, so I don't know how many still exist..There are 3 or 4 still open in Arizona.

Dick

PS..Are you still doing any writing ?

 

[Johnnyt]

As others have mentioned Johnny, there have been quite a few franchise operations...I believe 'Click's' was one of the largest...Most were upper end sports bar "yuppie" type places..I believe there are still many still functioning..However, I don't know of ANY that were owned by top 'pool player's'...Most were owned by investor's, who may have hired pool player's to run them !..We all know very few player's, who are capable of running a bar and restaurant, so I don't know how many still exist..There are 3 or 4 still open in Arizona.

Dick

PS..Are you still doing any writing ?

Thanks for the info Dick. No, I don't write anymore. Fingers don't work that good anymore...arthritis. John

 

[jimmyg]

There are two that I know of, first Fox and Hound / Bailey's Sports Grill that have tables and usually have league play. The other one which I think is out of business was Jillian's. Then there is the franchise pool table chain Pool Tables Plus +

That's what they get trying to capitalize off using a name similar to that of a famous old pool room on East 14th Street in NYC, Julians, where I played as a youngster and which was the home room of George Makula, a well known 300+ ball straight pool runner and somewhat a mentor to Ginky later at Chelsea Billiards.

J

 

[336Robin]

That's what they get trying to capitalize off using a name similar to that of a famous old pool room on East 14th Street in NYC, Julians, where I played as a youngster and which was the home room of George Makula, a well known 300+ ball straight pool runner and somewhat a mentor to Ginky later at Chelsea Billiards.

J

I don't know but he might have named the place after someone named Jillian! and it might be a she!

 

[Johnnyt]

That's what they get trying to capitalize off using a name similar to that of a famous old pool room on East 14th Street in NYC, Julians, where I played as a youngster and which was the home room of George Makula, a well known 300+ ball straight pool runner and somewhat a mentor to Ginky later at Chelsea Billiards.

J

Do you remember about what year Julian's closed? Didn't Jackie Gleason play there once in awhile? Johnnyt

 

[jimmyg]

I don't know but he might have named the place after someone named Jillian! and it might be a she!

Could be, but then I wouldn't have had a story worth posting. :smile:

Too close to be an accident, IMO.

J

 

[336Robin]

Could be, but then I wouldn't have had a story worth posting. :smile:

Too close to be an accident, IMO.

J

Got ya, well I hope that if someone finds a success in pool and its worth copying someone else business model so much that a whole bunch of places spring up out of it. That would be good wouldn't it? Especially if the model worked.

 

[jimmyg]

Do you remember about what year Julian's closed? Didn't Jackie Gleason play there once in awhile? Johnnyt

I don't really remember Johnny, I stopped playing regularly sometime in the late sixties for about 30 years. I did find an interesting article, but I believe that it may not be 100% accurate. I recall at the time Julians having many more than 29 tables, including 2 snooker, and several billiard tables. But,then again, it's been a while.

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/26/nyregion/manhattan-pool-halls-fade-in-bloom.html

J

 

[336Robin]

I don't really remember Johnny, I stopped playing regularly sometime in the late sixties for about 30 years. I did find an interesting article, but I believe that it may not be 100% accurate. I recall at the time Julians having many more than 29 tables, including 2 snooker, and several billiard tables. But,then again, it's been a while.

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/26/nyregion/manhattan-pool-halls-fade-in-bloom.html

J

29 tables Man what a place. I remember a place in Charlotte, NC that boasted 50 tables on Morehead Avenue. Morehead Billiards it was under where an old Bowling Alley used to be. Great Place.

 

[nobcitypool]

I suspect having a franchise available is not the problem. Finding enough people stupid enough to invest their money in a pool room franchise would be the primary issue. Seriously. Who in their right mind would invest six figures in a pool room right now? I guess if you love the game and have tons of money to burn. However, if you need a decent ROI, there are many, many better opportunities than a pool room. You may as well open a tobacco/cigar shop as well.

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Dooly's In Canada.

http://www.doolys.ca/

 

[doitforthegame]

I suspect having a franchise available is not the problem. Finding enough people stupid enough to invest their money in a pool room franchise would be the primary issue. Seriously. Who in their right mind would invest six figures in a pool room right now? I guess if you love the game and have tons of money to burn. However, if you need a decent ROI, there are many, many better opportunities than a pool room. You may as well open a tobacco/cigar shop as well.

I agree. That is the whole thing. Why would you invest? A pool rooms business has to be developed locally. Why would you pay someone that wasn't a part of developing that business anything? Why would you need a franchise partner? I actually think a cigar shop is a better investment now. They certainly are viewed the same way by most city governments as well.