the opening needed for a resurgence of poolrooms, especially large-scale rooms?
Only if you believe in the theory of "If you build it, they will come."
Just because you have a space to build out a large room doesn't mean it will become a growing business.
Brian in VA
I would spend good money to have a nice, QUIET (!!!!!) room with dividers (to shield against looks and noise) where the tables are of immaculate status.
Don't care about the brand (Clash is fine, but please no Brunswick), but good cloth and good rubber on the rails.
And have plenty of room so I don't bump into players of the neighbour table.
I couldn't care less about "yet another room with 100 tables", with a sound system blaring stuff around or noise noise noise.
Quality, please.
Only if you believe in the theory of "If you build it, they will come."
Just because you have a space to build out a large room doesn't mean it will become a growing business.
Brian in VA
Since it is your fantasy, we will leave reality out.
All the more reason that when you find a good room with good equipment and a good owner you should embrace it and support it by bringing people to it.
In southeast Pa. it seems we currently have the exact amount of good rooms that can be supported by the right number of players. I don't foresee any of them closing in the near future but I don't see, economically, how new rooms can open and be successful even though the brick and mortar is available.
If you market it, they will come... People like shiny things.
Why is it that pool room are restricted to rent/lease their space?
Why can the pool room not be the owner of the property?
Seems to me like this would lower the monthly costs.........
I've been in retail and marketing for almost 40 years. What you're describing is a "big box" pool room. While I have seen some of them work, they are unicorns in this business. The cost of retail space, even that which is currently empty and has been for years, winds up being more than a pool room can out run. Unless you charge a lot more for table time (pool players are notorious for not paying high prices) or have another revenue stream (food and drink or pinball, or whatever).
After spending a good chunk of money to build out the space, making it the "shiny thing" you refer to, you then are faced with paying that off AND driving enough top line to make your bottom line. Hence the old joke, "How do you make a million dollars in a poolroom? Start with $2 million."
Look, I'd love to see a big beautiful room. I don't think anyone has the cajones and checkbook to do it and make it work. (And a market where it will work is hard to come by.)
We have 2 poolrooms in Richmond VA. One has 17 tables and is in a strip center that is half empty, old, and is cheap. They appear to do a good business but it's taken 9 years to get there and I have no idea if they're in the black. Food is good to excellent, bar is decent, service is adequate. Tables are reasonably priced (although the regulars all complain about the prices and nurse a drink for days to avoid paying for another one). Leagues help him.
The other is downtown in a beautiful space and has been there for almost 3 years. If it weren't for corporate outings taking place there, I suspect he'd have folded. Somehow, he manages to keep it going despite a limited offering of drink and food. He only has a 14.1 league but it's steady.
We have space like you're describing. I suspect a 50 table place would be out of business in less than 18 months.
Just my opinion, your mileage may vary!
Did they do anything to advertise or promote the room? Was it the sort of place local businesses would want to have retirement/celebration/holiday parties? Any leagues or instruction? Good food?This accurately describes a room that was in my area. Not quite 18 months but close.
This accurately describes a room that was in my area. Not quite 18 months but close.
This accurately describes a room that was in my area. Not quite 18 months but close.