Let’s call it 10% pool and 90% everything else … how many room owners would dance the Charleston on the highway while blindfolded if they could increase their income tenfold … even twofold.
Is Now the right time to open a pool hall
- Thread starter Bigdaddi44
- Start date
If I open a bar in a town of 100,000 to 200,000 people . iyo am I better off to make it a bar with dancing.....live entertainment .....or pool tables?
Bar if you can get a license
I don’t like retail biz’s. Can’t scale them. They are a job at best.
But gun to my head, liquor over pool. Ideally both
Sorry I wasn't clearer. We both agree it's a bar, would you add pool. Or entertainment /dancing in some fashion with extra floor space, or just make the thing a bar period?
I’d add everything that would draw people. Trial and error. Live music, sing along machines, contests, pool, what ever works. Sports on a bunch of TV’s. I wouldn’t just open a alcoholic’s bar. A fun festive atmosphere where the party is as. And good front of house staff-good looking girls & guys for all job positions. Positive vibes. What your selling is “fun”. Make the joint a fun joint and your dollars per sf of sales will be a better number each month.
So many people miss that.
Happy customers return.
Happy customers stay longer.
Happy customers spend more, both in total and per hour.
If one wants a successful business, the best advice I can give:
- The customer will never be treated better by your employees than the employee is treated by you.
- Pay fairly, supply fair benefits, give training which encourages success, treat people well … it does pay off. The productivity of people who are happy vs unhappy is substantial.
- Never forget that the customer is paying for everything a successful business does. The customer pays the heat, lights, phone, cable, Wi-Fi, mortgage, taxes, salaries, benefits, advertising, licensing yadda yadda yadda.
- If you are, after becoming established, paying part of this out of your money … you aren’t successful, at least not yet.
- Anything which is not growing/supporting the business needs to be cut and the monies reinvested or taken to the bottom line. And to come full circle, any bottom line profit is paid by the customers.
- Want more profit? Find more paying customers, keep good employees, provide a good/service people are willing to pay for.
- Realize that each week contains only 168 hours. In one way or another you must spend all of them that week. Spend them wisely.
Thanks, but one thing I forgot that has worked for me ... and that is dealing with the 'BAD' employee.Very well said!
I always considered it a company and personal failure if I had to discharge an employee ... with one exception. I WOULD FIRE A THIEF INSTANTLY AND WITHOUT HESITATION! And, don't ever lie to me ... jokes and such aside.
I fired a guy who went to college with me over stealing $40.00. My primary business mentor once fired a guy over a $2.00 gas receipt. He explained it this way. Everyone can be dishonest for the right amount under the right circumstance ... but the guy who would steal $2,000,000 wouldn't likely ever steal $2.00, but they guy who would steal $2.00 is likely stealing just because they can.
Every employee knew there I stood.
Be honest with me and I'll stand up for them at all times. If things are rough, talk to me. I might not take you to the CHOP HOUSE ... winner of the El Duya seal of approval ... but neither will I allow you to go hungry, but don't ever mistake kindness for weakness.
I went through 68,000 employees in the credit biz from 96-08. Call centers have very high turnover. My executive staff of 40-45 people I had almost no turnover.
It took me probably 10 years of being a biz man to really learn how to be a good employer. Now it’s automatic, but man did it take a long time and a million mistakes to learn that skill set. Possibly the most important part of being a biz man.
I’m not a shop keeper. I rarely go to my businesses or job sites. I just get my daily numbers and progress pics etc and go from there.
Getting in front of problems by hiring the right people at first is the real trick. And that’s the hardest part to learn. Reading people. Student of human moves/nature thing.
Carrying myself as a leader and being respected is key as well. Also I’ve never bounced a payroll check on my life. Payroll was $350,000/week from 2000-2007. Never missed once. That matters a lot too. I tend to over pay people just a hair. Holds them better.
Best
Fatboy
I honestly believe right now I am part of managing one of the highest earning and nicest places with more than a dozen tables in it that is in the country. It was quite the process these past 5 plus years fine tuning it to what it is today and we continue to learn stuff and make changes. I believe that is the thing to do is make the changes as needed to reach the numbers you would like. It started out as Freezer's which was more a poolroom and we later become more of a sports bar which worked a bit better. Now I would consider us an adult entertainment center where grown folks can come and have lots of fun, kid friendly early on and date friendly too.
I think a traditional poolroom with chips and soda isn't going to cut it in this day and age. Remember cheap air sucker water drinking complaining pool players are not customers but problems taking up space. I would go the sports bar route and have some pool tables along with darts. You need a full liquor license, lots of TVs, music, great staff and one of the most important things is great food. You can have a hole in the wall and if the food is good you will have people beating down the doors. Location is certainly important along with parking. We have nearly 200 parking spots and many times we use them all up but thankfully we have some extra parking from the bank across the street which we got permission for.
The place is 16,000 square feet, seating for over 400 people and have around 80 TVs, full bar and full menu, arcades and darts. We also have some free gaming like ping pong, foosball, shuffleboard and cornhole. For pool there are 12 seven foot Diamonds and 10 nine foot Diamonds, when we started we had over 30. League 4 nights out of the week but never on Friday and Saturday night and no tournaments on those nights. There is a waiting list most Friday and Saturday nights and its drinkers and fun players with no serious players there which we like because these people spend money.
The real money is from parties and events since we have so much to do there and alot of space. We do multiples on each night from birthday parties to corporate parties. Since we are near ASU we also do college nights and it can be quite interesting with 400-500 kids showing up to party so we will have a good amount of security to handle that. I think one big key thing is if you can own the building or get a very good price per square foot renting. I think for many that is the biggest nut to crack. Make it a place that ladies like to come and the men will follow with their wallets. Staffing and turnover is high especially when near a college but you put your aces in their places and it makes running things much smoother.
Here are some images of our place now. Our owner Jason Chance is no longer with us as he passed away not long ago. I learned a good deal from him as he was a great businessman with a heart of gold which you don't see that combination very often. He certainly is missed.
I think a traditional poolroom with chips and soda isn't going to cut it in this day and age. Remember cheap air sucker water drinking complaining pool players are not customers but problems taking up space. I would go the sports bar route and have some pool tables along with darts. You need a full liquor license, lots of TVs, music, great staff and one of the most important things is great food. You can have a hole in the wall and if the food is good you will have people beating down the doors. Location is certainly important along with parking. We have nearly 200 parking spots and many times we use them all up but thankfully we have some extra parking from the bank across the street which we got permission for.
The place is 16,000 square feet, seating for over 400 people and have around 80 TVs, full bar and full menu, arcades and darts. We also have some free gaming like ping pong, foosball, shuffleboard and cornhole. For pool there are 12 seven foot Diamonds and 10 nine foot Diamonds, when we started we had over 30. League 4 nights out of the week but never on Friday and Saturday night and no tournaments on those nights. There is a waiting list most Friday and Saturday nights and its drinkers and fun players with no serious players there which we like because these people spend money.
The real money is from parties and events since we have so much to do there and alot of space. We do multiples on each night from birthday parties to corporate parties. Since we are near ASU we also do college nights and it can be quite interesting with 400-500 kids showing up to party so we will have a good amount of security to handle that. I think one big key thing is if you can own the building or get a very good price per square foot renting. I think for many that is the biggest nut to crack. Make it a place that ladies like to come and the men will follow with their wallets. Staffing and turnover is high especially when near a college but you put your aces in their places and it makes running things much smoother.
Here are some images of our place now. Our owner Jason Chance is no longer with us as he passed away not long ago. I learned a good deal from him as he was a great businessman with a heart of gold which you don't see that combination very often. He certainly is missed.
On my way! Wow that looks great. I need a trip to Phx anyways. When I’m back I’ll figure it out.
I met Jason, he was a hell of a nice guy. I was very sad to hear he passed. I didn’t know what happened to the room. I saw scott 10-12 days ago in Vegas but I didn’t ask. I thought there was some drama there, wasn’t sure. Scott & I are cool. Didn’t want to ask a weird question.
Looks like a formula for a modern era room that will be successful. The ASU idea I always thought was the best insurance policy for that room, when I first heard of it.
Happy your there Lenny, I wasn’t sure if that either. Sorry I didn’t call you, I missed my flight to Wyoming about a year ago. 8 hours at the airport
. And I didn’t get on the plane.
I have a couple pics from a long time ago I’ll txt you when I’m back or maybe sooner. Nobody has them. I don’t post pics online of friends etc ok hot girls I do
.
Take care,
Fatboy
I met Jason, he was a hell of a nice guy. I was very sad to hear he passed. I didn’t know what happened to the room. I saw scott 10-12 days ago in Vegas but I didn’t ask. I thought there was some drama there, wasn’t sure. Scott & I are cool. Didn’t want to ask a weird question.
Looks like a formula for a modern era room that will be successful. The ASU idea I always thought was the best insurance policy for that room, when I first heard of it.
Happy your there Lenny, I wasn’t sure if that either. Sorry I didn’t call you, I missed my flight to Wyoming about a year ago. 8 hours at the airport
. And I didn’t get on the plane. I have a couple pics from a long time ago I’ll txt you when I’m back or maybe sooner. Nobody has them. I don’t post pics online of friends etc ok hot girls I do
.Take care,
Fatboy
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I LOVE IT!!! I AM SERIOUSLY GOING TO FLY OUT TO THIS PLACE!! Hats off to you sir!!
TFT
IM IN< LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GOING!!On my way! Wow that looks great. I need a trip to Phx anyways. When I’m back I’ll figure it out.
I met Jason, he was a hell of a nice guy. I was very sad to hear he passed. I didn’t know what happened to the room. I saw scott 10-12 days ago in Vegas but I didn’t ask. I thought there was some drama there, wasn’t sure. Scott & I are cool. Didn’t want to ask a weird question.
Looks like a formula for a modern era room that will be successful. The ASU idea I always thought was the best insurance policy for that room, when I first heard of it.
Happy your there Lenny, I wasn’t sure if that either. Sorry I didn’t call you, I missed my flight to Wyoming about a year ago. 8 hours at the airport
I have a couple pics from a long time ago I’ll txt you when I’m back or maybe sooner. Nobody has them. I don’t post pics online of friends etc ok hot girls I do
Take care,
Fatboy
TFT
A side note: Anyone looking to open a room: I HAVE 14 9' Brunswick Gold Crowns ready for custom restoration!
TFT
TFT
Bigdaddi44
Registered
send me pictures if you have some. Where are you located?
Bigdaddi44
Registered
Well since I never received a reply, I'm going to assume you don't have them anymore
I did in fact reply to you via PM. You responded a minute after that, so that confirms it. You being in California is not an issue. Opening a room is very very expensive, especially in California. Are you planning on buying a building? Leasing is a hard option.
TFT
Phoenix on the Westside of town would be great opportunity for someone to open a room.
Westside of town west of 101 has nothing. Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, or Buckeye have only people.
But I do not think this will happen because rent sre nuts.
Westside of town west of 101 has nothing. Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, or Buckeye have only people.
But I do not think this will happen because rent sre nuts.
The best rough for smart person is form syndicate of Pool loving fools, do you thing with their money. If your sucessful you are hero, if you fail only thing your out is your time.
From my number crunching in the Valley of the Sun Poolis not in growth mode, more places closing, then opening.