Anazeh Sand - West...about to end 44 years of continuous 24/7 operation

S

sde

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Silver Member
I posted a series of pics, of the room where I have spent a large portion of my life, in the Room Owners Forum.

Anazeh Sands, Wyoming, MI(Grand Rapids) opened in 1963 and has been in continuous 24/7 operation ever since. It has NEVER been closed.

There are plans for a major renovation including a substantial addition that may require a brief closing of the room. I say what a shame to break a 44 year tradition.

I plan to post pics of the renovation as it develops and then more after the completion.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=48461&page=9


If any one cares to reply I will respond to any questions in either thread.

Steve
It would be greatly appreciated if any one cares to give me advice on how to take better pics. :)

The name is Anazeh Sands (I can't edit the title)
 
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sde said:
I posted a series of pics, of the room where I have spent a large portion of my life, in the Room Owners Forum.

There is also a brief bio preceding the pics.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=48461&page=9


If any one cares to reply I will respond to any questions in either thread.

Steve
It would be greatly appreciated if any one cares to give me advice on how to take better pics. :)

The name is Anazeh Sands (I can't edit the title)
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sure is a lot of history in this room. i've see some and possibly made some myself. been a lot of characters in that time too. i also may be, or have been one of those too.
M.C.
 
I've played in that room a few times. I used to live in Lansing when I was a kid and went back to visit when I was like 18 or 19 (about 16 or 17 years ago now - damn, I'm actually getting old). I was there once with Nate Haddad (not sure if he plays any more at all) and I played a guy at another pool room there in Grand Rapids. I can't remember the name of the place but it was a much smaller place than Anazeh Sands. To be honest, that wasn't a real enjoyable experience. The guy I played was a complete dickhead and had to use his whole crew to beat an 18 year old kid (me) out of a couple hundred dollars. The funny thing is, he was a regular player from there and played okay. I don't hear these stories very often involving decent players, but he had his whole crew there suggesting that I should watch my back on the way out if I won. Eh, they got me. They ended up getting me for a whopping couple hundred. Come to think of it, as I type this, I'm thinking the guy's name might be Joe something-err-rather. He's a shorter guy with dark hair. Probably has a small wang too, which is why he felt he had to pull the antics that he did. :D
 
Jimmy M. said:
I've played in that room a few times. I used to live in Lansing when I was a kid and went back to visit when I was like 18 or 19 (about 16 or 17 years ago now - damn, I'm actually getting old). I was there once with Nate Haddad (not sure if he plays any more at all) and I played a guy at another pool room there in Grand Rapids. I can't remember the name of the place but it was a much smaller place than Anazeh Sands. To be honest, that wasn't a real enjoyable experience. The guy I played was a complete dickhead and had to use his whole crew to beat an 18 year old kid (me) out of a couple hundred dollars. The funny thing is, he was a regular player from there and played okay. I don't hear these stories very often involving decent players, but he had his whole crew there suggesting that I should watch my back on the way out if I won. Eh, they got me. They ended up getting me for a whopping couple hundred. Come to think of it, as I type this, I'm thinking the guy's name might be Joe something-err-rather. He's a shorter guy with dark hair. Probably has a small wang too, which is why he felt he had to pull the antics that he did. :D
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that sounds like the old lucky 9-ball that used to be on the west side. don't know the guy you're referring to though. and as far as i know nate is still around. last i heard he was in kalamazoo. sorry to hear you had a bad time in g.r..
M.C.
 
curlyscues said:
sure is a lot of history in this room. I've seen some and possibly made some myself. been a lot of characters in that time too. i also may be, or have been one of those too.
M.C.
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Yes my friend you are a character :) and if there was ever a book writen you would have your own chapter. :D

And then you would sell it on ebay. :) :rolleyes: :)

Steve
 
I don't get up to G.R. that much but it sucks that it's happening...are they reducing hours or closing completely...I played Nate Haddad in a tournament at the Billiard Cafe (now Brickyard Pub)a few years ago...he didn't do to good and lost 7-1...
 
Sorry to hear about the closing. I've played there a few times, once in an APA Singles Regional. It's a great room, nice equipment & good food.

Mike
 
Craig Fales said:
I don't get up to G.R. that much but it sucks that it's happening...are they reducing hours or closing completely...I played Nate Haddad in a tournament at the Billiard Cafe (now Brickyard Pub)a few years ago...he didn't do to good and lost 7-1...
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Sorry for the comfusion, I edited the origanal post to include this from Room Owner Forum.

Anazeh Sands, Wyoming, MI(Grand Rapids) opened in 1963 and has been in continuous 24/7 operation ever since. It has NEVER been closed.

There are plans for a major renovation including a substantial addition that may require a brief closing of the room. I say what a shame to break a 44 year tradition.

I plan to post pics of the renovation as it develops and then more after the completion.
Click to expand...

Steve
 
Cool...at least it's for something positive like a remodel...*marks calender for short road trip*
 
When I first read this I thought it was a total negative thing. 'A pool hall closing? what the hell?' Turns out its getting bigger and better-no shame in that!
 
LoGiC said:
When I first read this I thought it was a total negative thing. 'A pool hall closing? what the hell?' Turns out its getting bigger and better-no shame in that!
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The shame is losing the fact that it had NEVER been closed.

Now around the holidays. when there are a 100 calls a day asking, "are you open today?". I will not be not be able to say "we never close". And when they ask, "what about tomorrow?", you just want to reach thru the phone and slap them. But you say with smile in your voice, " Yes, we NEVER close, never". After the 4th time the same person asks you just hang up! Just kidding. lol

Steve
 
Reminds me of an old Steven Wright bit:
I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery.
When I got there, the guy was locking the front door.
I said, 'Hey, the sign says you're open 24 hours.'
He said, 'Yes, but not in a row.'
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Being open 24/7 for that long IS a neat thing - but there's only so much that can be done in/to such a place if it's open all the time.

It may break tradition to close for a short time, but I'd bet the renovations done would help them stay open 24/7 for another forty years - otherwise, something's gonna break and they'd have to close to deal with it anyhow. Call it preventitive maintenance :D
 
I'm sure the renovations would allow it to make a run of another 40+ years. Hey, closing once in a hundred years isn't that bad. Now instead of saying "We never close", you can tell them "we only close once in a century"
 
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