Hard Times Bellflower

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jjohnson

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I've been thinking of making the trip to the old Hard Times building in Bellflower just to see what, if anything, is going on there.
If anyone can shed some light and save me the trip I'd appreciate it.
I've also been wondering if the first owner I knew of was either Kenny or Kinney. Driving me crazy wondering.
Well, I found this old webpage with lots of information about Hard Times Bellflower.
Like the founder was Chuck Markulis.
And the second owner was Ken Thomason: Kenny! Yay!

Here's the old but still great and never to be forgotten link from 2018:

 

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back in the 60,s and 70's when all the best players hung out in bellflower billiards it was the place to go to learn who not to play when you ran into them in the bars or a room. and never play yourself as most were all knockers.
same as congress in miami.
 
Saved you a trip. The whole block was slated to be razed a while back. Honestly, I was surprised to still see it there on Google Maps. Curious what happened to the development plans.

Front:
Screenshot 2025-11-04 at 6.23.18 AM.png


Back:
Screenshot 2025-11-04 at 6.26.07 AM.png
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
BellFlower California was always a pit, no place to go on purpose.
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There was a cool falafel stand on Alondra. A place called the Magic Cork had Prime rib for a couple bucks. Giant ribs were a buck each or so. Italian restaurant with 29 cent spaghetti (never got around to that one) besides the Palace and then Palace2 and then Hardtimes.
 
rexus31 said:
Saved you a trip. The whole block was slated to be razed a while back. Honestly, I was surprised to still see it there on Google Maps. Curious what happened to the development plans. ....
Click to expand...
I've been told that commercial rents had a severe decline after Covid. There is a local room that was similarly slated for closing in Oakland and being developed into condos or something. It is still open two years later because the developer hasn't been able to get financing together. In the case of Hardtimes in Bellflower, the owner could have been collecting rent for the last several years. Hardtimes seems to have closed in 2022.

Here is a previous thread from just after it closed:

Bob Jewett

Thread 'Hardtimes, Bellflower, California'

Well, it seems to be gone now. This was stolen from FB.

hardtimes2.jpg

Thanks to Jay Helfert.

I watched one seven-handed golf game on the tough 6x12 snooker table that must have taken three hours.

They had a tournament room with five or six rows of built-in seats on one side.
  • Like
 
The building is currently being renovated as is most of Bellflower Blvd. If you went inside you wouldn't recognize the place. A lot of people broke in and stole various things. Copper thieves busted walls and ceilings. The stands were torn out. Majority of the tables gone. The business 2 doors down pumped milions of dollars into renovating their location, Ironfire Workspaces (you can see it on google maps). The old 98 cent store next to Hard Times has been renovated and is now a Auto Zone auto parts store. I have heard stories for the last 4 years that various groups are going to reopen it as a pool hall. I think it's all B.S. Previous ownership groups had a below 50 cents a square foot, long term lease. Which expired around the time the pandemic started. Today, sq. ft. on Bellflower Blvd. is $2.00 and up. With a massive lease payment, no chance at a liquor license or even beer and wine, no kitchen to cook food (besides pizza); I just don't see it happening.
 
C
Bob Jewett said:
I've been told that commercial rents had a severe decline after Covid. There is a local room that was similarly slated for closing in Oakland and being developed into condos or something. It is still open two years later because the developer hasn't been able to get financing together. In the case of Hardtimes in Bellflower, the owner could have been collecting rent for the last several years. Hardtimes seems to have closed in 2022.

Here is a previous thread from just after it closed:

Bob Jewett

Thread 'Hardtimes, Bellflower, California'

Well, it seems to be gone now. This was stolen from FB.

hardtimes2.jpg

Thanks to Jay Helfert.

I watched one seven-handed golf game on the tough 6x12 snooker table that must have taken three hours.

They had a tournament room with five or six rows of built-in seats on one side.
  • Like
Click to expand...
Circa 1988 I believe. We had to go to a city council meeting and plead our case to receive permission to open a poolroom there. I spoke on behalf of the Markulis' and pointed out their success nearby with Varsity billiards. That was a well run room that catered to a family type atmosphere. The people in the photo were ones who supported us at the council meeting and voted for us to get licensed. The one concession was there would be no liquor sales of any kind, including beer and wine. The woman who owned the large apartment building behind Hard Times was a prominent member of the community and she insisted on this stipulation. Also we were required to provide security in the parking lot between our building and hers while we were open.

Chuck tried several times to buy out the small restaurant that was next door to Hard Times so we could expand our tournament room (with seating on both sides) and have a kitchen. We never could make a deal.
 
jay helfert said:
C

Circa 1988 I believe. We had to go to a city council meeting and plead our case to receive permission to open a poolroom there. I spoke on behalf of the Markulis' and pointed out their success nearby with Varsity billiards. That was a well run room that catered to a family type atmosphere. The people in the photo were ones who supported us at the council meeting and voted for us to get licensed. The one concession was there would be no liquor sales of any kind, including beer and wine. The woman who owned the large apartment building behind Hard Times was a prominent member of the community and she insisted on this stipulation. Also we were required to provide security in the parking lot between our building and hers while we were open.

Chuck tried several times to buy out the small restaurant that was next door to Hard Times so we could expand our tournament room (with seating on both sides) and have a kitchen. We never could make a deal.
Click to expand...
What was the thinking?
L.A. County and Orange County are big places with lots of people.
With no alcohol and no kitchen, why Bellflower, of all places?
 
straightline said:
The street side looks identical to the main entrance. :ROFLMAO:/:cry:

How's Little Al doing? Do his sons still play?
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He’s doing well. He was just returned to LA from visiting family in New Mexico for a few weeks.
Johnny doesn’t play much - he was a gifted player when he’s was young - busy teaching now.
Al Jr plays a little more when he’s with Little Al at Gardena Bowl.
Both of his sons were very talented players when they were young.
 
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jay helfert said:
C

Circa 1988 I believe. We had to go to a city council meeting and plead our case to receive permission to open a poolroom there. I spoke on behalf of the Markulis' and pointed out their success nearby with Varsity billiards. That was a well run room that catered to a family type atmosphere. The people in the photo were ones who supported us at the council meeting and voted for us to get licensed. The one concession was there would be no liquor sales of any kind, including beer and wine. The woman who owned the large apartment building behind Hard Times was a prominent member of the community and she insisted on this stipulation. Also we were required to provide security in the parking lot between our building and hers while we were open.

Chuck tried several times to buy out the small restaurant that was next door to Hard Times so we could expand our tournament room (with seating on both sides) and have a kitchen. We never could make a deal.
Click to expand...

Never knew that. Hard Times Bellflower was already one of the best rooms ever - hard to imagine it could’ve been even better. A kitchen and more seating would’ve turned it into the total package.
 
Hard Time is Alice n well in Tomato Town, aka Sacramento. This location offer same amities as Bellflower on the Auburn Area stroll, Hookers, Drug Dealers, crap neighborhood, and another are policed by local Sheriff’s Department.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Hard Time is Alice n well in Tomato Town, aka Sacramento. This location offer same amities as Bellflower on the Auburn Area stroll, Hookers, Drug Dealers, crap neighborhood, and another are policed by local Sheriff’s Department.
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Sounds like a compliment to me. 🤣

I like how both places had/have a street side “storefront” if you will but the back is where most of the parking and is still sort the main entrance. Sacramento uses both as entrances and Bellflower didn’t use the street side entrance later on as far as I remember.
 
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