Poolhall Closure
I'm sorry to hear that but it seems to be the trend. I live in the Ohio Valley near Steubenville, Ohio and I can remember at least three poolhalls in Steubenville alone when I was growing up. Now, there are no poolhalls in Steubenville. The nearest one is across the river in West Virginia and it is barely hanging on. Thirty miles south is Wheeling with one poolhall (John Schmidt's place) and forty miles east is Pittsburgh, PA with three poolhalls. I have to travel just to play a game on a 9 footer.
I blame the closing of poolhalls on a few things, mainly the economy. A room that doesn't serve alcohol or diversify just can't make it. Tavern pool is doing well but one has to deal with what comes with that, most notably the small tables.
Here is my second issue -- barbox. There are two ways to look at this but barbox pool has killed the larger tables and finese games like straight pool and one pocket. Its all about the banging now. I was at work one day and in the employee cafeteria was a 7 foot table. Another employee told us he "would whip anyone's ass" and dropped a challenge. I just told him, "I'm a big boy now and don't play on tables that say Fisher Price on the sides" but if he wanted to play on an 8 or 9 foot table, I could accomodate him. He told me, "Naw... big tables suck!" I just replied, "Why don't we just hang peach baskets off a 2 X 4 and shoot. To me, its the same as this table." One positive thing about barbox is this... At least they are shooting. :thumbup:
Another issue that affects poolhalls is the lack of interest with the youth of today. I know I'll get flack for this but give some youngsters a pool table and they'll ask, "How do you turn it on?" Electronic technology has hurt games of skill, at least in my area.
Hopefully, it will turn around and you'll get a decent room to shoot in.
