If you could build your dream room that actually has a chance to stay in business…

[DynoDan]

As opposed to what? Crackheads, meth dealers, degenerate gamblers, whores, and other such criminals? Cause look where that got pool in the US.

You just described the last Chicago Bensingers clientele .
A private club can provide a serene environment, but the only new blood are those invited as guests by members.
A room open to the public, but well policed is preferable. Those that appreciate a great/well managed room will obey the local rules of conduct to avoid being expelled/barred.

 

[Island Drive]

I’ll give my dream/vision later when I have some time, but how would y’all do it. Layout. Rules. Attractions. Dress code. Security.etc.

From what I’ve observed in successful/not places is… it comes down to the girls. If you make the place girl friendly where they feel safe (big one) and actually enjoy the time there, guys will come and you stay busy, and hopefully turn a profit.

Girls have to feel safe and enjoy the food and atmosphere.

A room filled with old timers and sketchy just out on probation types… dead. Forget about it.

Again, details to come.

Room layout and parking.
The Corner Pocket Franchise.
Their layouts were the nuts.
Also designed for handicap players to get around easily.
The La Montana corp I think was the name corp., hired on Frank McGowan a pro player of his era, he was involved in that part, room layout/spacing/bar/bathrooms/TD area, they were successful.

 

[hang-the-9]

I’ll give my dream/vision later when I have some time, but how would y’all do it. Layout. Rules. Attractions. Dress code. Security.etc.

From what I’ve observed in successful/not places is… it comes down to the girls. If you make the place girl friendly where they feel safe (big one) and actually enjoy the time there, guys will come and you stay busy, and hopefully turn a profit.

Girls have to feel safe and enjoy the food and atmosphere.

A room filled with old timers and sketchy just out on probation types… dead. Forget about it.

Again, details to come.

I read your post up to "... it comes down to the girls." and through, yep, cute girls working and going to the place will make it popular. Then I read more... LOL

I have had quite a few guys talk to me about why they go to one place vs the other, and often it's "this place has no girls/women going to it, I want to go to a place I have a chance of getting laid in", basically. And of-course, the bartenders/wait staff being good looking is never a bad thing.

Some other things to make an all-around good place to go, plenty of parking, safe area, nice equipment, a lot of clear information about things like specials, events, tournaments, good pro shop, knowledgeable staff (several people knowing what a good tip or chalk is to buy vs just taking money and giving you a drink), respectful people going there (I don't want to sit through several almost fights or fights a night in a place, or a bunch of loud people hotting and yelling through the place all night. I have left several places like this due to other customers being belligerent or way ignorant that there are others around them).

 

[jtompilot]

I didn’t read all the responses but let’s get real. Here’s the four best rooms I’ve played in that have been around a while. No particular order. Study them and figure out what works best in your area.

California Billiards
Iron City Billiards
Hard Times Sacramento
Q-Master

Combination of 9’ and 7’ tables. Leagues and Tournaments.

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Study them and figure out what works best in your area. ...

So far as I can tell, the common factor is exceptional owners.

 

[Bavafongoul]

CA Billiards and Hard Times are excellent examples of a successful pool room.
Sierra Billiards in Fresno is also flourishing and is doing a tremendous bar business.

When I’m there next, I’ll photo their drink menu. People are paying incredibly
high prices for alcohol that rival the Beverly Hilton in LA….$100+ for a 1 oz. shot
is nothing……some liquors they carry are double that price. And there’s a waiting
list for pool tables before 8pm. On Wed., Fri & Sat nites, there is a DJ spinning music.

It is definitely an upscale for a pool room and the owners obviously got it right because
in less than 18 months, they recovered their initial investment and are raking in the $$$.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

So far as I can tell, the common factor is exceptional owners.

Owner & On Site MaNAger are the Second most important person in a business. First is Happy customer, who is repeat customer.

 

[Bavafongoul]

CA Billiards and Hard Times are excellent examples of a successful pool room.
Sierra Billiards in Fresno is also flourishing and is doing a tremendous bar business.

When I’m there next, I’ll photo their drink menu. People are paying incredibly
high prices for alcohol that rival the Beverly Hilton in LA….$100+ for a 1 oz. shot
is nothing……some liquors they carry are double that price. And there’s a waiting
list for pool tables before 8pm. On Wed., Fri & Sat nites, there is a DJ spinning music.

It is definitely an upscale for a pool room and the owners obviously got it right because
in less than 18 months, they recovered their initial investment and are raking in the $$$.

As I previously acknowledged, here is a photo of the short list of popular liquors being sold at Sierra Billiards.
As you can see, booze is expensive and Sierra sells more than any bar in my town. They recycle 60 lbs. of
glass every 7-10 days and it is all liquor bottles. Aluminum recycling pays .$.95/lb whereas glass only pays
$.10/lb. That is a lot of empty bottles of liquor being recycled. Thank goodness I quit drinking many years ago.

They just added a bottle of Macallan (25 yrs) to their huge assortment of expensive liquors. I’m curious to learn
how much a shot it will sell for. The owners said they intended to have the largest assortment of liquors in CA
from Sacramento to LA. When you see their shelves and all the many different brands by category, you can the
distinct feeling they already have. The owners have come up with a winning combination much to my amazement.

 

[Bavafongoul]

There are 25 shots in a 750 ml bottle of Macallan Scotch. The actual cost per shot is approximately $115.
So how much will it be sold for? At least $200 a shot but probably more like $225. It makes the price of any
pool cue seem reasonable because the next day you still own a pool cue after having recycled what you drank.

 

[JPB2]

There are 25 shots in a 750 ml bottle of Macallan Scotch. The actual cost per shot is approximately $115.
So how much will it be sold for? At least $200 a shot but probably more like $225. It makes the price of any
pool cue seem reasonable because the next day you still own a pool cue after having recycled what you drank.

I hate to be pedantic but there are more like 15 shots in a 750. An airline bottle is 50ml. And please don’t pour the good whiskey in a dirty metal measuring thing. . I know for some expensive stuff they’ll list a 1 oz pour. And yes, I was too embarrassed to buy 15 airline bottles of a brand new to our state when the airline bottles were on sale for $1.00 and the 750 was on sale for like 18 or 19. Can’t be too much of a nit when whisk/e/y is involved.

 

[hang-the-9]

There are 25 shots in a 750 ml bottle of Macallan Scotch. The actual cost per shot is approximately $115.
So how much will it be sold for? At least $200 a shot but probably more like $225. It makes the price of any
pool cue seem reasonable because the next day you still own a pool cue after having recycled what you drank.

That is one high end bottle of Macallan. My normal scotch drinks at bars, etc.. is the 12 yr stuff (Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie are the most common) , and that is around 10-20 tops a glass/shot depending on the place and exact brand. I usually order a double and it's around $14-16 at pool halls, 20-22 at nicer restaurants for maybe a 14 yr. At the store, the nice bottles are $60-100 a bottle keeping things reasonable. Heck, Monkey Shoulder is really good and is a bargain at about $35 for a 750ml bottle.

 

[Bavafongoul]

I hate to be pedantic but there are more like 15 shots in a 750. An airline bottle is 50ml. And please don’t pour the good whiskey in a dirty metal measuring thing. . I know for some expensive stuff they’ll list a 1 oz pour. And yes, I was too embarrassed to buy 15 airline bottles of a brand new to our state when the airline bottles were on sale for $1.00 and the 750 was on sale for like 18 or 19. Can’t be too much of a nit when whisk/e/y is involved.

In a fifth, there are 16.9 shots when it gets poured at 1.5 ozs. I was thinking of pony shots but since I’ve curtailed
drinking, except for an occasional beer, my mind doesn’t relate mathematically to consumption of liquor. In reality, there is no bartender standard for a shot. It can be dispensed in a dispenser nozzle that can vary in quantity by 1/4 oz measurements.

Normally, a shot is 1.25-1.5 ozs based on the establishment. There’s a debate about what one and two finger pours represent. Generally, it is now assumed each finger represents an ounce. There are lots of terms too, like a dram. What I know is when you start paying over a $100 a bottle for liquor, it tends to get expensive very fast.

Thank you for the correction. It simply means the cost per shot goes to $170-75. So I guess it would get sold for around $275-$300 per shot. That would be kind of expensive sipping and just gulping it straight as a shot seems like it’d be sinful. The drink menu seems a bit pricey to me but I play pool there & see the patrons are paying these prices.

 

[boogieman]

There are 25 shots in a 750 ml bottle of Macallan Scotch. The actual cost per shot is approximately $115.
So how much will it be sold for? At least $200 a shot but probably more like $225. It makes the price of any
pool cue seem reasonable because the next day you still own a pool cue after having recycled what you drank.

A pool cue leaves your head hurting a lot less the next day too!

 

[loggerhead12]

And absolutely no whistling.