Alternative Business Models????

mnorwood

mnorwood

Moon
Silver Member
I am not saying that all pool halls are bad. However, I have always wondered if the clientele for our game could be broadened if the base income for a billiards establishment was not dependent on beer/liquor sales.

I am visiting my inlaws this week and usually that means playing some carom, but my fatherinlaw tells me that the local places have grown way too violent.

So my question is has there ever been a place that has made it by using more of a country club type of set up? Members paying monthly dues to play in a private club where the B.S. factor is greatly reduced. Maybe something like a health club.
 
There is a beautiful place up here in Chicago called the Illinois Billiard Club. Classic, antique tables and a ton of great collectibles to see. Check out their website for more details. I wish I lived a bit closer and I'd definitely be a member.

www.illinoisbilliardclub.com
 
ragbug74 said:
There is a beautiful place up here in Chicago called the Illinois Billiard Club. Classic, antique tables and a ton of great collectibles to see. Check out their website for more details. I wish I lived a bit closer and I'd definitely be a member.

www.illinoisbilliardclub.com
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So this is non profit? Is it a corporation? Does someone own it?
 
Jim & Bonnie Parker are the originators and still own the club and attached restaurant. I would imagine it's considered a "private business". It has been around for 30+ years so they must be doing something right. I was there one time several years ago and was quite impressed.
 
In Germany there are many places like this from what I've seen. I am moving to Germany soon and was looking for a new 'home' and found the difference between Netherlands and Germany quite big.
There doesn't seem to be that many POOLHALLS, you know with a bar and open to everyone, in the area where I am moving to. Rather there are a couple of Private Clubs where the members themselves dues to the club...and this covers the costs for the place. They sell drinks at cost+10% or something really low..but in principle it's only for the members (with an occasional open tournament).
I think this is great....the only drawback with this is that the sizes of the places are usually quite small due to the fact that the members can't necessarily afford a place with 20-30-40 tables. So, from what I've seen, they tend to be 2 to 6 tables most of them....which could lead scheduling problems....you can't necessarily always just waltz in and expect to get a table immediately. Then again, one club in Cologne I saw, the members had keys to the place so you fancy a game at 4am...go right ahead.

cheers,
Kimmo
 
DRINKDUFF said:
Where I live, it's called the Elks Club.
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I also agree, most large cities have an Elks Lodge. These lodges are the last bastion of the game of 3-Cushion Billiards, except for New York where the Games is still played in many places.

The Elks Lodge in Tacoma Washington, Lodge #174 is the largest in the country. They have 5 - Verhoffin Heated 3-Cushion Tables, 1 - 6x12 snooker table, and 5 - 4 1/2 x 9 Pool tables. The Elks organization is Non-profit, and is a big supporter of Disabled and under privileged child.

Elks Lodges are great places to play and they also serve their communities.

Have a good night!!!!!
 
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