a sad interaction

[jalapus logan]

Ok. I'm new to this forum, so I ask for your forgiveness for the following rant. Here's what just happened to me. I am getting extremely bored working in a corporate enviornment and have been considering opening up a decent size pool room (with diamond pro and smart tables, naturally). Now, recently an excellent retail space became available in what I consider to be an excellent location for such an enterprise. I picked up the phone and called the owner of the property. He asked about the nature of my business and I responded that I was interested in starting an "upscale billiards parlor". His tone instantly changed and he informed me that under no circumstances would he lease his space to such an establishment. In fact, he acted as if he were completely offended at the audacity of such an inquiry. I asked him very politely why he would not consider such a business occupying his space. He told me that he did not want beer cans strewn across the parking nor did he want people "pissing on his property". Obviously, there was little for me to say after this. Naturally, this type of interaction is both unfortunate and discouraging not just for me, but for this sport. A suppose that billiards and pool is preceded by its own notoriety. I guess that I'm just a little disapointed...

 

[bfdlad]

Ok. I'm new to this forum, so I ask for your forgiveness for the following rant. Here's what just happened to me. I am getting extremely bored working in a corporate enviornment and have been considering opening up a decent size pool room (with diamond pro and smart tables, naturally). Now, recently an excellent retail space became available in what I consider to be an excellent location for such an enterprise. I picked up the phone and called the owner of the property. He asked about the nature of my business and I responded that I was interested in starting an "upscale billiards parlor". His tone instantly changed and he informed me that under no circumstances would he lease his space to such an establishment. In fact, he acted as if he were completely offended at the audacity of such an inquiry. I asked him very politely why he would not consider such a business occupying his space. He told me that he did not want beer cans strewn across the parking nor did he want people "pissing on his property". Obviously, there was little for me to say after this. Naturally, this type of interaction is both unfortunate and discouraging not just for me, but for this sport. A suppose that billiards and pool is preceded by its own notoriety. I guess that I'm just a little disapointed...

I have had the same thought of opening a "high end room" with a nice restaurant/bar area and only about 10 tables, but really nice ones with simmonis etc. The key is to call it a retaurant. Some of the landlord/leasing agreements that have already been made this existing tennants say no pool halls. So you have to cut back on tables abit and make a decent size lounge area. and say it is a restaurant. Otherwise you will come across this terrible assumption quite a bit. There a a few out there that won't mind but just to cover your ass you want to open a "restaurant" I fel your pain and I hope you get what you want and that this helps.

 

[9BallPaul]

An age-old problem

Anti-pool prejudice has been in the air since I began playing in the '60s. The owner of one old room in Denver lost his lease when a new owner gave him the boot, and searched for months before settling for a walk-up room in a far inferior spot on Colfax with no parking.

Needless to say, the second incarnation of York Billiards fell on its face in less than a year.

Best luck in your search for a space.

 

[9 on the snap]

Anti-pool prejudice has been in the air since I began playing in the '60s. The owner of one old room in Denver lost his lease when a new owner gave him the boot, and searched for months before settling for a walk-up room in a far inferior spot on Colfax with no parking.

Needless to say, the second incarnation of York Billiards fell on its face in less than a year.

Best luck in your search for a space.

That's alright. It wouldn't be "Cool", if everybody liked it.

 

[Neil]

..................

 

[Stones]

Back in the early 80's, I was looking to open my first pool room. I inquired about multiple properties and once I mentioned the words "pool room", most people couldn't hang up on me fast enough.

Finally, I found a property that had housed a small grocery store which had gone out of business. I got the number, called and was received with open arms.

The property owner/manager met me and we went and had a look at the store. It was a perfect location, right at 10,000 sq. ft. and on the access road of a major expressway. The property owner/manager was very positive and happy to be able to lease the entire building without dividing it up.

After about a month of negotiations over the rent and build out, we came to an agreement.

The day I was suppose to sign the lease, I got a call from the "owner/manager" telling me the deal was off. I was flabbergasted!!

It ends up the young man I had been working with the whole time was the son of the actual owner. The son had conveniently forget to tell his dad a few details. As soon as ol' DAD found out that a pool room was going in, he nixed the deal.

Just a word of advice. Make sure you're dealing with the right person from the git go.

Stones

 

[Jaden]

We had a similar problem but not with the landlord....

We had a problem getting the city of redlands to approve a pool hall at all. They finally allowed us setting a curfew of 12:00, they had originally wanted us to close at 10:00, and denying us a liquor license. The latter was alright as it was supposed to be a family establishment anyways with an arcade and about fifteen 9' tables. He ended up closing the doors and opening up a club and another friend of ours reopened it; unfortunately, the new friend who opened it back up failed to keep some of our rules like dress code, etc... and had to close it down within about six months due to the gang element moving in.

 

[Island Drive]

Walk away, a narrowminded person has his followers and it may be a sign of what the immediate area thinks of your venture. Mark Griffin who owns the BCA leagues is probably working ten times as hard as he did when he owned his room in Alaska, and talk about a captivated indoor demographic, he then ventured to an existing place in San Diego. Words to the wise, buy an existing business thats been there for a Looooooooooooong time and make it better, then you probably won't go broke. FWIW.

 

[cuesblues]

Table Steaks

Anti-pool prejudice has been in the air since I began playing in the '60s. The owner of one old room in Denver lost his lease when a new owner gave him the boot, and searched for months before settling for a walk-up room in a far inferior spot on Colfax with no parking.

Needless to say, the second incarnation of York Billiards fell on its face in less than a year.

Best luck in your search for a space.

I remember when York Billiards moved across the street, and you are right, it didn't last too long. It was upstairs in a small office building. That brings back some memories, as did the previous threads about the old pool rooms from the 60's in Denver. I was looking into a room in Parker with another friend of mine, but the available space was too expensive.

Table Steaks on Sheridan lost their lease since Target moved into the shopping center. They will be moving or closing at the end of the month. They were going to move into an old bingo parlor on 72nd & Pecos, but didn't get that lease either. Frank told me last night that they are definitely moving. His newer place in Englewood is doing great since the Shakespears crowd moved over, and there are 50-people on a waiting list to join the Wednesday night in-house league that already has 16-teams.

Logan, it sounds like you are going to open up a very nice room, good luck and don't worry about that guy, you would not want him as a landlord anyway.

 

[BANKONIT]

Good Luck

Good Luck With Your Project. Go With The Restaurant/bar Title. Here In Pa. There Is A Law On The Books That Says No One Under The Age Of 18 Is Allowed To Be In A Poolhall/room, Not Even With Parents. Check Your Codes Before You Leap.

 

[back2good1]

location, location, landlord?

It's a tough business, and one way you can increase your chances of making money is to own the building. When I finally do open a room, I am not going to settle for a "restaurant" when what I want is a pool room! Now, if I did have to deal with a landlord, I would go the sports bar route in an effort to try and convince him/her. A sports bar with 30+ tables!

If the economy continues it southern trend... I may start looking for that building sooner than later.


-Back2good1

 

[ShootingArts]

try to find a stand alone building

Typically a stand alone building with an owner who doesn't own more property in the neighborhood is the best bet. Write up your business plan and codes of behavior to present to people when you talk to them about renting space and put it in a professional package. Dress like you are headed to work in the corporate environment for the meeting too. The better impression you make the more likely someone is to believe that you intend to run a nice business.

Hu

Ok. I'm new to this forum, so I ask for your forgiveness for the following rant. Here's what just happened to me. I am getting extremely bored working in a corporate enviornment and have been considering opening up a decent size pool room (with diamond pro and smart tables, naturally). Now, recently an excellent retail space became available in what I consider to be an excellent location for such an enterprise. I picked up the phone and called the owner of the property. He asked about the nature of my business and I responded that I was interested in starting an "upscale billiards parlor". His tone instantly changed and he informed me that under no circumstances would he lease his space to such an establishment. In fact, he acted as if he were completely offended at the audacity of such an inquiry. I asked him very politely why he would not consider such a business occupying his space. He told me that he did not want beer cans strewn across the parking nor did he want people "pissing on his property". Obviously, there was little for me to say after this. Naturally, this type of interaction is both unfortunate and discouraging not just for me, but for this sport. A suppose that billiards and pool is preceded by its own notoriety. I guess that I'm just a little disapointed...