Hard Times Bellflower
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Marcus Chamat and Dennis Hatch?
I think you're right about that being Marcus, not sure that's Hatch... he IS a lefty,
but Dennis was/is a pretty big guy.
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I've played at Hardtimes many times, that being said, if you live in Los Angeles its a long schlep down there to play. It is a great pool hall but the neighborhood has always been sketchy.
We've lost so many pool halls over the years in the LA area its crazy. The Hollywood Athletic Club, Hollywood Billiards, Pro Billiards on Los Feliz Bvld., Charles Billiards in Glendale and the Golden Cue in El Monte. There was a pool hall that had been in Atwater forever that just closed.
Santa Monica House of Billiards was on the market and didn't sell. It is the last bastion of action in LA, it's not a large room, maybe a little over 5,000 sq. ft..
In comparison Hollywood Billiards was 23,000 sq. ft.. The HAC was even larger.
We've lost so many pool halls over the years in the LA area its crazy. The Hollywood Athletic Club, Hollywood Billiards, Pro Billiards on Los Feliz Bvld., Charles Billiards in Glendale and the Golden Cue in El Monte. There was a pool hall that had been in Atwater forever that just closed.
Santa Monica House of Billiards was on the market and didn't sell. It is the last bastion of action in LA, it's not a large room, maybe a little over 5,000 sq. ft..
In comparison Hollywood Billiards was 23,000 sq. ft.. The HAC was even larger.
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Agreed on all points.. played at both Hollywood Billiards (new & old) HAC,
both House Of Billiards... I heard about the SM location being on the market.
Sad to say, but in the future both Hard Times AND SM House Of Billiards
may be gone... L.A. real estate is just out of control.
Demised Pool Rooms of L.A.
Feel free to add to this list I’d compiled not long ago.
Demised pool rooms of LA (since 1995-ish)
Hollywood Billiards (Hollywood)
Penthouse Billiards (Hollywood)
Yankee Doodles (Long Beach, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills)
Jakes's (Pasadena)
Billiard Connection (Northridge)
North Hollywood Billiards (North Hollywood)
Hard Times Pizza & Pool (LaHabra)
Victory Billiards (Norwalk)
Andy's Billiards (Monterey Park)
CueTee's (Monterey Park)
International Club (Rosemead)
Hollywood Athletic Club (Hollywood)
Players (Van Nuys)
South Bay Billiards (Hawthorne)
Break Zone Billiards (Torrance)
Jay's Pool Room (Inglewood)
Golden Cue Billiards (South El Monte)
Good Times Billiards (Van Nuys)
Shooters (Montclair)
Mister Cues (Riverside)
Mr. Billiards (Covina)
Rockets n' Pockets (Upland)
Highland Park Billiards (Highland Park)
Plush Cue (Whittier)
Charles Billiards (Glendale)
Feel free to add to this list I’d compiled not long ago.
Demised pool rooms of LA (since 1995-ish)
Hollywood Billiards (Hollywood)
Penthouse Billiards (Hollywood)
Yankee Doodles (Long Beach, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills)
Jakes's (Pasadena)
Billiard Connection (Northridge)
North Hollywood Billiards (North Hollywood)
Hard Times Pizza & Pool (LaHabra)
Victory Billiards (Norwalk)
Andy's Billiards (Monterey Park)
CueTee's (Monterey Park)
International Club (Rosemead)
Hollywood Athletic Club (Hollywood)
Players (Van Nuys)
South Bay Billiards (Hawthorne)
Break Zone Billiards (Torrance)
Jay's Pool Room (Inglewood)
Golden Cue Billiards (South El Monte)
Good Times Billiards (Van Nuys)
Shooters (Montclair)
Mister Cues (Riverside)
Mr. Billiards (Covina)
Rockets n' Pockets (Upland)
Highland Park Billiards (Highland Park)
Plush Cue (Whittier)
Charles Billiards (Glendale)
Pretty sad.
Shark's in Costa Mesa iirc.
There was a nice pool hall near the Riverside mall at Magnolia too iirc.
They those pretty Billiards 2000 table. Built like tanks but had flat rails.
Played great though. Judd used to swear they played great.
I believe that's where Efren and Louie played.
Plush Pockets in El Toro. Used to play there during lunch.
I think you can add Cue and Cushion in Downtown Riverside to this list.
I used to work there back in the late 80's early 90's. Man do I ever miss California.
Thanks
Kevin
That's the mega comprehensive list. I tried to buy Penthouse Billiards back in the day and you could says its a pool room now, sort of.
That's not Dennis Hatch. I don't know who it is.
knifemakermike
Registered
This is sad to read.... I lived in SoCal for 8 years, when I moved up from San Diego to Irvine I went to Hardtimes 1-2 times a month. It was everything everyone said and a true poolhall. I even played some money games on that snooker table.
I haven’t been back to Cali in 10 years but was planning a family vacation next year. I would of loved to bring my case and play there one last time.
Same thing happened to the Golden cue that I grew up playing in Florida. After years of not visiting my hometown I came back and was all excited to play..... but iI had become Paul Neuman in color of money running up the stairs to a pool hall hat doesn’t exist.
I love this game, I’m so sad people nowadays don’t get it.
I haven’t been back to Cali in 10 years but was planning a family vacation next year. I would of loved to bring my case and play there one last time.
Same thing happened to the Golden cue that I grew up playing in Florida. After years of not visiting my hometown I came back and was all excited to play..... but iI had become Paul Neuman in color of money running up the stairs to a pool hall hat doesn’t exist.
I love this game, I’m so sad people nowadays don’t get it.
I used to love Sabrina's Thursday Night USPPA tournaments. Man I miss Hard Times.
Kevin
Kevin
SO basically, from the replies I see in this thread, the owner just stopped caring. Sometimes I wonder if we complain about pool halls closing down because there is no interest there or if we are missing the point that owners letting the places become dives is the bigger issue.
No, the owner cares quite a bit, but IMO he doesn't want to put money
into the business if he's forced to close... the word is that he's trying to
re-negotiate his lease.
Maybe the reason behind the owner not caring any longer boiled down to effort put in to place daily, and profit out at month end.
If you not getting a good return on your investment of time & money into a business, it kind of breaks most people spirit.
Only the owner know if the place was making a good or bad profit? Just because the place was busy, doesn't not mean it was profitable.
Are you sure it doesn't not mean that?
The truth is in a real deal audited P & L statement, not what appears to be.
Also in 2018 it is very expensive just to turn on the light daily if you know what your operation cost is, and then how many dollars in sales it take to cover those basic operations cost.
Internet & online sales are killing most Brick & Mortor operations, customer loyalty is not like it was 20 years ago. Consumer are looking & shopping for best prices, best products, & delivery yesterday.
Who ever thought Sear & Roebucks would go under? Moto use to be Sears where America Shops.