Amsterdam Billiards ..like the new location?

The new location is superb. As others have noted, East Greenwich Village is alive and energetic. NYU, the clubs, and the trendy atmosphere make it a place anyone would love to visit.

As for the club itself, it is a premium pool product carrying a premium price, but there are better rates if you play during non-peak hours. In addiiton, league players are permitted three free hours of practice each week (on Sunday, I think).

As one would expect of Greg Hunt, proprietor of Amsterdam Billiard Club, you get nothing but the best when come through the doors. A beautiful bar and lounge area, a solid managerial staff, lovely waitresses, clean restrooms and a great playing experience await you if you drop by.

As some have noted, the wait for a table can be a bit discouraging, but this
is to be expected given the vast number of league players and other patrons.
 
vagabond said:
You must be the son of a rich rancher with lots of cows.:D :cool: :D
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You're putting words in my mouth sir!!

And you are wrong My money is in sheep and chickens. I am the exclusive supplier to the porn industry.
 
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Nostroke said:
You're putting words in my mouth sir!!

And you are wrong My money is in sheep and chickens. I am the exclusive supplier to the porn industry.
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Dang, I am wrong again.:p :D :p
 
I have some friends that play in the Monday night Straight Pool league and they say it's ok though they never really cared for the bar that was built back when it was still Corner Billiards. My last memory of the place was before the renovated Corner Billiards back in '01 - '03. I can't help but still call it Corner Billiards.

Anyway, I would expect longer wait time for tables being that you have and I'm assuming the clientelle from Corner Billairds AND Amsterdam Billiards East and West.

I wish the place success!
 
The tables have big bucket, can't miss pockets. There is no action. There are multiple constant visual distractions. It is crowded with yahoos that lean on your table and walk through your sight line while you're down on a shot. The music is too loud. The coffee is weak. It is prohibitively expensive.

It is a successful enterprise. It is pretty. It is just not practical for everyday pool players. I guess a good metaphor for Amsterdam would be the Cadillac Escalade, it's big and pretty with bells and whistles but you would'nt really load up your hounds and go off road big game hunting in it.
 
crater59 said:
The tables have big bucket, can't miss pockets. There is no action. There are multiple constant visual distractions. It is crowded with yahoos that lean on your table and walk through your sight line while you're down on a shot. The music is too loud. The coffee is weak. It is prohibitively expensive.

It is a successful enterprise. It is pretty. It is just not practical for everyday pool players. I guess a good metaphor for Amsterdam would be the Cadillac Escalade, it's big and pretty with bells and whistles but you would'nt really load up your hounds and go off road big game hunting in it.
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I hate loud music, distractions and especially weak coffee. But i hope they succeed.
 
abbassi said:
I hate loud music, distractions and especially weak coffee. But i hope they succeed.
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I have been there quite a few times and have not experienced real loud music or weak coffee but maybe i was just lucky.

There are some real rumblings amongst the players though but given the overflow crowd, the owners are going to take the free money the bangers are handing over for the time being.

I dont know for sure but i was told the $26 10- til close power play is history-Now the best you can do is $37 for 2 hours. If so ill have to be in a real good mood to play at ABC and it wont be for long.


SOHO Billiards has been real good to players recently giving free time to at least one aspiring WPBA player. It's only 11 short blocks away and they supposedly are putting in all new tables and a new bar. I would advise them to keep some of the tables for the bangers and just have maybe 10/12 real nice new tables for those who care. That area of Manhattan is seeing super strong growth and change for the better. We shall see.
 
Nostroke,

The Power Play, at least as of a few weeks ago, is now $26 for play from 11am to 5pm weekdays. I did that on Lincoln's birthday (no work).

I haven't been to SoHo Billiards in about 8 months, ever since my friend and I went there to play and the cue ball we got felt like it was 3 oz! My friend broke and the QB went flying off the table. I broke and it jumped straight up after hitting the OB. I've NEVER had the QB jump up as I don't have a particularly strong break. Funny thing was, I looked around at some of the tables around us and people were jumping their QBs all over the place. The QB just didn't feel right to us.

Anyway, if they are in the process of "upgrading" some or all of their tables, that is welcome news. Serious competition from Amsterdam is probably what's driving them to do so. At least there'll be a nearby hall to play at when I get tired of waiting 2 hours for a table at ABC. Now if they got some new Aramith Super Pros....

BTW, who's the WPBA hopeful?
 
Fenris said:
Nostroke,

The Power Play, at least as of a few weeks ago, is now $26 for play from 11am to 5pm weekdays. I did that on Lincoln's birthday (no work).

I haven't been to SoHo Billiards in about 8 months, ever since my friend and I went there to play and the cue ball we got felt like it was 3 oz! My friend broke and the QB went flying off the table. I broke and it jumped straight up after hitting the OB. I've NEVER had the QB jump up as I don't have a particularly strong break. Funny thing was, I looked around at some of the tables around us and people were jumping their QBs all over the place. The QB just didn't feel right to us.

Anyway, if they are in the process of "upgrading" some or all of their tables, that is welcome news. Serious competition from Amsterdam is probably what's driving them to do so. At least there'll be a nearby hall to play at when I get tired of waiting 2 hours for a table at ABC. Now if they got some new Aramith Super Pros....

BTW, who's the WPBA hopeful?
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Im sure the Power Play you speak of is still around. Even in NY pool players are not easy to find during the day. I believe the 10PM to close Power Play is history. I used that one maybe 4-5 times-was a good deal.

I heard one of the owners of SOHO went to ABC and then decided to remodel based on what he saw. I say the verdict is still out though. Just about all new Pool Halls rock their first couple of months. It's a mistake to make any real decisions based on that. I knew one place that did so well in the beginning they alienated all the would be regulars in favor of the new found bangers. When the smoke cleared, the place was empty, struggling and finally O/B.


Check your PM's
 
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Fleece3 said:
You must be the son of a rich rancher with lots of cows.:D :cool: :D
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I posted that. I was more excited about just seeing old friends and the players that made the move. I left my credit card at the front, bought a few rounds, playing a few racks, signed the tab and left. I don't know what was tabletime and what was the bar tab.
 
I thought she was a WPBA player already? Anyway, when Corner closed, I saw her and a lot of others at Soho in passing (I've always liked that Soho is ground level with huge windows). With a sweet deal like free time, I would definitely stay at Soho! Good luck to her!
 
Any regulars care to chime in on the nighttime power play? If that's history, so am I! Unfortunately, I can't get there during the day anymore.:(

You go broke fast at 8.50/9.50 an hour per person. Playing for table time becomes your "cheap set," right? Dandy place, but you can play for a lot less elsewhere, unless they keep doing the power play.
 
crater59 said:
The tables have big bucket, can't miss pockets. There is no action. There are multiple constant visual distractions. It is crowded with yahoos that lean on your table and walk through your sight line while you're down on a shot. The music is too loud. The coffee is weak. It is prohibitively expensive.

It is a successful enterprise. It is pretty. It is just not practical for everyday pool players. I guess a good metaphor for Amsterdam would be the Cadillac Escalade, it's big and pretty with bells and whistles but you would'nt really load up your hounds and go off road big game hunting in it.
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Well, something has changed because several tables in the room (like the head-tables) are slightly tighter than they were before. Everyone has commented on it and I've noticed it myself. They're not tight but they don't slop-in. I know some tables are still kind of easy but that is not always the case.

As for your comment about action - Yes, it's no Broadway Billiards and THANK GOD for that. It's a respectful room where patrons can go and not be harrassed. However, if you're looking for a game, I'm certain you can find one. There are certain days of the week and times of the day where more players emerge but from what I've seen, there's at least a few money-players there at any and all times. I'm certain if you asked the manager politely, he'd be happy to point you in the right direction.
 
Travis Bickle said:
Any regulars care to chime in on the nighttime power play? If that's history, so am I! Unfortunately, I can't get there during the day anymore.:(

You go broke fast at 8.50/9.50 an hour per person. Playing for table time becomes your "cheap set," right? Dandy place, but you can play for a lot less elsewhere, unless they keep doing the power play.
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Hey Travis,

My understanding is, although the Powerplays are not currently advertised, they still exist. However, you should ask about them in-advance (like, right when you get your table). I know there have been moments at all three locations when management chose to not advertise these specials because of wait-lists and as sure as the sun rises, the power-play ads would eventually return once business died-down.

I think most people have a selective memory. When I was managing Amsterdam's Eastside location (the largest), we occasionally experienced wait-lists that DWARFED any list its current location has seen to-date. Cold-weather months have traditionally been good for poolrooms. Winter leagues are the largest, walk-in traffic is highest and there are more corporate parties then. Combine that with the new-room aura and it's a perfect storm.

It's going to be a full year before we can get a real sense of what it's going to be like but even if business dies-down, don't be surprised if January, February and March are ridiculously busy every single year. That's pool in NYC for ya.

Be happy. Here comes Spring! All the googans go golfing now!
 
Good to hear that, Jude. I'm definitely a low-traffic-time guy (midweek late-nite), and hopefully they'll still do then if they're not slamming.
 
Nostroke said:
Im sure the Power Play you speak of is still around. Even in NY pool players are not easy to find during the day. I believe the 10PM to close Power Play is history. I used that one maybe 4-5 times-was a good deal.

I heard one of the owners of SOHO went to ABC and then decided to remodel based on what he saw. I say the verdict is still out though. Just about all new Pool Halls rock their first couple of months. It's a mistake to make any real decisions based on that. I knew one place that did so well in the beginning they alienated all the would be regulars in favor of the new found bangers. When the smoke cleared, the place was empty, struggling and finally O/B.


Check your PM's
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I agree 100% about room open then fade in various ways. They get run down etc., etc.
ABC is the only room in NYC that has never gone that route. They have actually improved there rooms as years go by maintaining there high standards and never lowering them.
There rooms have always been top notch rooms for players and non players. I was stunned when I heard they were opening the East Side Club with Simonis 860 on every table and centennial balls for all as well. At that time I wondered how many rooms in the country did that?They have also contributed in a great variety of ways to the world of pool in general. The problem with taking care of your regular-better players and the non-players has always been a challenge to rooms in general. The neighborhood is very busy with a new and varied customer base plus many of there faithfull from the uptown area. Of course its going to be tough to get a table. Plus is freezing cold out. That means lots of new people coming in to just pass some time.

Soho Billiards is probably the best example of a potentially great room that turned into a garbage dump by choice. It was a wonderful room where wonderfull tournments were held in there 'pit' area. (9 ball and 14.1)
and they were on the verge of greatness. One of the owners told me they changed to a room for bangers and kids because the tournments attracted a dangerous element.

To this I say BULL...! Over the past 10 years or so Soho has been a DUMP!
The tables, cues ,balls etc are all garbage. The place looked like it hadn't been painted since they opened. Changing the focus of a room doesn't justify allowing it to turn into a hovel. How many other rooms in the area have tons of competitive events and are not having problems with a 'dangerous element'. Give me a break!

The only reason they are now waking up is because there cash register is being effected. Previously, they simply decided to put in the least amount of money into the functioning of there room to cut there overhead and maximize profits. That room was an embarassment to itself and the game of pool.

I'm glad ABC has apparently caused them to wake up from there self induced coma and they might become again a decent room to play in but they have to do a lot more that a spring spruce up to be in the same universe as ABC.
 
VKJ said:
I agree 100% about room open then fade in various ways. They get run down etc., etc.
ABC is the only room in NYC that has never gone that route. They have actually improved there rooms as years go by maintaining there high standards and never lowering them.
There rooms have always been top notch rooms for players and non players. I was stunned when I heard they were opening the East Side Club with Simonis 860 on every table and centennial balls for all as well. At that time I wondered how many rooms in the country did that?They have also contributed in a great variety of ways to the world of pool in general. The problem with taking care of your regular-better players and the non-players has always been a challenge to rooms in general. The neighborhood is very busy with a new and varied customer base plus many of there faithfull from the uptown area. Of course its going to be tough to get a table. Plus is freezing cold out. That means lots of new people coming in to just pass some time.

Soho Billiards is probably the best example of a potentially great room that turned into a garbage dump by choice. It was a wonderful room where wonderfull tournments were held in there 'pit' area. (9 ball and 14.1)
and they were on the verge of greatness. One of the owners told me they changed to a room for bangers and kids because the tournments attracted a dangerous element.

To this I say BULL...! Over the past 10 years or so Soho has been a DUMP!
The tables, cues ,balls etc are all garbage. The place looked like it hadn't been painted since they opened. Changing the focus of a room doesn't justify allowing it to turn into a hovel. How many other rooms in the area have tons of competitive events and are not having problems with a 'dangerous element'. Give me a break!

The only reason they are now waking up is because there cash register is being effected. Previously, they simply decided to put in the least amount of money into the functioning of there room to cut there overhead and maximize profits. That room was an embarassment to itself and the game of pool.

I'm glad ABC has apparently caused them to wake up from there self induced coma and they might become again a decent room to play in but they have to do a lot more that a spring spruce up to be in the same universe as ABC.
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Well i have to agree with most you say but i used to laugh at ABC East being referred to as an 'Upscale Pool Room'. They had a leak in the men's room for at least a year that resulted in a floor that you had to slosh around in 90% of the time. Instead of hiring a $200 plumber, a guy used to in there and mop 7 times a night!

Soho is indeed a dump at the moment. Their 'cafe' with its "cardboard box motif' has no equals. The stool height doesnt in anyway relate to the counter height. If they improve just a little- a few new tables/ balls-some nice chairs-ill be happy.
 
Nostroke said:
Well i have to agree with most you say but i used to laugh at ABC East being referred to as an 'Upscale Pool Room'. They had a leak in the men's room for at least a year that resulted in a floor that you had to slosh around in 90% of the time. Instead of hiring a $200 plumber, a guy used to in there and mop 7 times a night!
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I used to manage Amsterdam's Eastside location and I have to say, there were so many problems with the space that had nothing to do with the owners/management. I know, from your perspective, it's easy to say such things however, trust me when I say this, had the landlord been respectful to Amsterdam at a minimal level, you would have been witness to no problems whatsoever.

I still roll my eyes every time someone mentions the space REMAINS empty.
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