Name a pool hall you wish was still open today
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Zerksies
Well-known member
2002-06
I escaped to Colorado in 1991.
When did the Ballroom close?
Zerksies
Well-known member
No clue, I kind of stopped seriously playing around 08.
GentlemanJames
Well-known member
Rich Duffy's 'West Chester Billiards', West Chester, PA - Pristine and super clean 17 table room (2 rooms actually, had a much smaller partitioned-off 5 table overflow/weekly 9-Ball tournament room) with GC's with 860 flawlessly kept, perfect lighting, endless free coffee, and casino quality cushy carpeting, BYOB with two complimentary full-sized refrigerators. A super-friendly and working balance between an Upscale room and a Shooter's room (with plenty of 'quiet' action); though 9p-12a Fri/Sat nights would get a bit more 'date night/4 friends night out after dinner' traffic, yet it all blended really, really well. This place enjoyed a 20 year run.
Russel Parson's 'Diamond Billiards', Price's Corner, DE - Purely a Shooter's/Action room. First time I ever saw the Camel colored 860 used on GC's in a commercial joint, which some feel let's you see the balls better and casts less shadows. Had some double and some triple shimmed tables for the One-Pocket players. Unfortunately, this place did not last very long. Was located in the rear of an older shopping center on the 2nd floor in a warehouse space; and, my guess was that it was simply under capitalized from the very start. While all a shooter really needs is tables, lights, chalk, a hot dog griller, coffee maker, and a john, it just wasn't enough and too spartan to get the "family" or "date" type traffic to pay the rent. It's a real shame, as this place could have become absolutely legendary as an action room, IF it had ever grabbed the proper amount of 'straight traffic' to keep the lights on.
Q Stix Billiards, Newark, DE - Basement shopping center, purely a 'Recreational Players' room near the University of Delaware. Had a couple dozen Robertson Black Max 9' tables - which was a mid-level design copy of the Brunswick Anniversary - and, high-traffic and frequented mostly by loads of young college-aged guys (walking ATM's). Was a very cool layout, nice and dark and kept cool in a great 'basement' location. I can't imagine why this place closed, for if you wanted a cash business which was set-up to make money off of an endless conga-line of college students - as opposed to a "respected" Shooter's Room - the guy who had this room certainly had the right formula and atmosphere for that. Would love to learn the story behind the closing of this one, purely from a business perspective. I think he had about a 10 year run before the doors were closed.
Russel Parson's 'Diamond Billiards', Price's Corner, DE - Purely a Shooter's/Action room. First time I ever saw the Camel colored 860 used on GC's in a commercial joint, which some feel let's you see the balls better and casts less shadows. Had some double and some triple shimmed tables for the One-Pocket players. Unfortunately, this place did not last very long. Was located in the rear of an older shopping center on the 2nd floor in a warehouse space; and, my guess was that it was simply under capitalized from the very start. While all a shooter really needs is tables, lights, chalk, a hot dog griller, coffee maker, and a john, it just wasn't enough and too spartan to get the "family" or "date" type traffic to pay the rent. It's a real shame, as this place could have become absolutely legendary as an action room, IF it had ever grabbed the proper amount of 'straight traffic' to keep the lights on.
Q Stix Billiards, Newark, DE - Basement shopping center, purely a 'Recreational Players' room near the University of Delaware. Had a couple dozen Robertson Black Max 9' tables - which was a mid-level design copy of the Brunswick Anniversary - and, high-traffic and frequented mostly by loads of young college-aged guys (walking ATM's). Was a very cool layout, nice and dark and kept cool in a great 'basement' location. I can't imagine why this place closed, for if you wanted a cash business which was set-up to make money off of an endless conga-line of college students - as opposed to a "respected" Shooter's Room - the guy who had this room certainly had the right formula and atmosphere for that. Would love to learn the story behind the closing of this one, purely from a business perspective. I think he had about a 10 year run before the doors were closed.
There was this 2 story bar (yup, that tall) pool hall. 20+ tables with a mix of 7-8-9 footers and 1 Billiards table.
Second story was lined with several tables around the perimeter. Jump a ball off to the lower level you MIGHT get banned for life.
I don't believe there was a girl on a swing, seen that video today. One or two back rooms had 9 ft with doors for money games.
1st time walking in the front door I stopped, took one long look. WOAH! Had that Portillo's kind of feel.
That was back in the early-mid 1980s, can't find any info I guess they closed long ago.
Texas, W.N.W. of Grand Prairie about 5-7 miles, too long ago to find on a map. Place was called Mickey Finn's.
Second story was lined with several tables around the perimeter. Jump a ball off to the lower level you MIGHT get banned for life.
I don't believe there was a girl on a swing, seen that video today. One or two back rooms had 9 ft with doors for money games.
1st time walking in the front door I stopped, took one long look. WOAH! Had that Portillo's kind of feel.
That was back in the early-mid 1980s, can't find any info I guess they closed long ago.
Texas, W.N.W. of Grand Prairie about 5-7 miles, too long ago to find on a map. Place was called Mickey Finn's.
another nice place in indianapolis back in the 80's that i miss is ..... Bruces pool hall
Pickwick …Dayton Ohio…Russ Maddox owned it back in the 60s. sometimes visiting royalty would drop by…like George Rood.
gCs….in top shape…one 3-cushion table.
Russ eventually sold it and moved south…the new owners relocated farther east …and renamed it Airway….and then it moved to the east side of I-75…where it is still there to this day.
gCs….in top shape…one 3-cushion table.
Russ eventually sold it and moved south…the new owners relocated farther east …and renamed it Airway….and then it moved to the east side of I-75…where it is still there to this day.
GentlemanJames
Well-known member
RHONTZ914 - Is Drexeline closed??
GentlemanJames
Well-known member
Woah... So do you know what became of Flordia Bob and their tables? - GJ
GentlemanJames
Well-known member
I'm stunned.
Drexeline was more than just a pool room, it was a Delco institution. - GJ
Yes, Cue-Nique was Jerry Briesath's room on W. Gorham St., and home to his "The Pool School." That room is gone, but I think Jerry has carried on with his school at a different location in Madison in the summer and in Phoenix in the winter.
Bartersage
New member
yea, there wasn't any viable locations available which were not in an industrial park. Even the old Kmart on MacDade (still vacant ) wasn't willing to budge on the premium square footage price. I still haven't settled on a "substitute". Any recommendations? I'm in the heart of delco...
My Dad used to shoot at Delco Billiards Academy and many bar leagues. *I grew up in Drexeline Billiards...Wish I still had all my dads trophies...
*Thinking about it, I actually spent more time in local bars than Drexeline. As did every other family in the Softball, Darts, and Pool Leagues in during the 90's.
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