Another Legendary Pool Room Bites the Dust!

JAM

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
I wasn't sure where to post this thread, but I thought it worthy of mention in the Main Forum section.

J&B Champion Billiards in Silver Spring, Maryland, has closed its doors after 25-plus years. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland, when the smoking ban came into effect last year, it took its toll on the neighborhood gathering spot, a place where folks could enjoy the rich culture of a "real" pool room, not a pocket billiards emporium. :rolleyes:

On Wednesday, March 2nd, 2005, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the entire contents of this pool room will be auctioned off. EVERYTHING must go! There are quite a few nice pool-related items, as well as some older model Gold Crown II's. I believe there are a couple of "anniversary edition" tables as well up for grabs. Kitchen equipment, high-seated chairs, balls, racks, you name it, it's going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

By way of history, Richard Allen opened Champion Billiards in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was the FIRST Champions, and soon after, several more Champion Billiards came to the fore: Champions in Shirlington, Virginia; Champions in Rockville, Maryland; Champions in Frederick, Maryland, and Champions in Laurel, Maryland.

Two friends of mine used to run the pool room and kitchen for Richard Allen in Silver Spring in the early years, and when Champions began to multiply in the metropolitan D.C. area due to its success, he sold the pool room rights to them. And thus, Champions continued to thrive and was frequented by many a player over the years.

Some of D.C.'s finest used to battle it out at Champions in Silver Spring, MD: One-Pocket Genius Strawberry Brooks, both Boggs brothers (Freddie and Scottie), Bus Driver Ronnie, Geese, Drug Fair, The Wilson Family (Dennis, Rose, and Mike), Billy Stephens, Jimmy Mack, Punky, Sterling, Stuey and Timmy, Old Man Mickey a/k/a "Mr. Johnson" ;) , Graveyard Action Man Skip, Fat Danny, Fat Mike, Little Petey, Mamoo, Radar, Trick-Shot Artist Chester Morris, Little Gary from Waldorf, Tom-Tom, Cigar Tom Vanover, Korean Lee, Lawyer Robbie, Left-Handed Ronnie, Jake the Snake and his Uncle, Zaru, Fast Eddie, Big Ed, Delaware Larry, Spanish Rob, Elevator Larry, "Stretch" :eek: , Quick Vic and The Hawk, Jump-Shot Mechanic Danny Green, Sweet Jennifer, Huey, Parks, Patch-Eye, Cesar and Andrew, Colin, John Henry, Seattle Sam, Teddy Bear, and JAM. Just a BRIEF listing of some of the regular players.

The last Maryland State Tournament was held at this Champions in Silver Spring in 1986, which was won by Mike Sigel, the same year that "The Color of Money" was released. Mike was the technical director for TCOM, as was Willie Mosconi for "The Hustler." [Pool factoid for young'uns] :p

Anyone who is interested in this auction, the location is: J&B Champion Billiards located at 8216 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

Phone number: (301) 587-4736.

When: Wednesday, March 2nd, 2005, 10:30 a.m.

Another good one bites the dust! :( Thanks for the memories, Champions! :)

Photo below of some of J&B Champion players from various eras (LOL): Huey, Delaware Larry, Parks, Sweet Jennifer, Tom-Tom, and Earthquake! :D

JAM
 

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Picture below of the 1986 Maryland State Tournament won by Mike Sigel (upper left), previous MD State Champ Geese and JAM (upper right), previous MD State Champ and '86 2nd-place finisher Cigar Tom Vanover on the lower left (Texas Senior Player Bob Vanover's brother), and Teddy Bear on the lower right who came in third that day.

Reminiscing about the good old days...

JAM
 

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Just for you, Black-Balled!

Picture of Seattle Sam, JAM, and John Henry! [Photo courtesy of King Kong Senior ;) ]

JAM
 

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They say that the only constant is change but MAN I sure can't like it. ( I Can't like it means that ....I've tried it, tried it with an open mind...tried it with a mind set on accepting it, but I just CAN'T like it. Where as the phrase I don't like it is just an opinion. :rolleyes: )
 
Hi Jen,

Please relay my deep sadness over the closing of another place to play. I've never been to Champion's. In the past, your descriptions of rooms, events and people have been spot on. Smoking must not have been the only reason for the closing. It sure must have been a big one from our experience here in No Smoke NY. I'll be in Sacramento this week visiting my God-daughter and her new child. Hope to get a few racks in at Hardtimes. I'll be interested in hearing their take on the no smoking law. If you and the "Quake" are going to Reno, I'll see you on Friday!
 
cardiac kid said:
... Smoking must not have been the only reason for the closing. It sure must have been a big one from our experience here in No Smoke NY...If you and the "Quake" are going to Reno, I'll see you on Friday!
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We're not going to Reno; we'll be lucky if we can make it to Berlin (LOL). Big snow blizzard on the horizon to begin today or tomorrow. D.C. has already laid out salt on every thoroughfare in preparation for the storm up ahead. :eek:

In the case of Champions in Silver Spring, the owner did state to me that smoking definitely played a key role in her decision-making process to shut the doors for good. However, I do believe she is looking forward to semi-retiring, traveling a little, and just enjoying her life to the fullest.

Being a smoker myself, I truly do not mind going outside to puff, but when there are FREEZING temperatures with howling winds, sleet, rain, or snow, it is not a pleasant experience.

Driving down a city block in Silver Spring in the wintertime, smokers standing outside look much like vagabonds and hobos, as if they're huddling together to keep warm, puff, puff, puffing away.

Thus, some smokers who do enjoy shooting pool, socializing, or recreating in a pool room do not enjoy having to LITERALLY weather the cold fronts which occur in the Northeast, as you know, Cardiac Kid, in Upstate New York with the unpredictable Northeasters. ;)

To a non-smoker, this may seem trivial and difficult to believe that smoking could be a factor for a business shutting down, and by the same token, smokers -- NOT ALL OF THEM -- don't seem to realize dangers of second-hand smoke. I do understand smoking bans.

It's a trend that is taking hold. My brand-new car came equipped with lots of niceties, but there is no ashtray whatsoever. I instituted a smoking ban in my automobile. Most of my friends do not smoke, and in the confines of a car, especially traveling to tournaments on long trips, it's difficult to endure even for the smokers.

Smoking and tobacco are now a blight on modern-day society. Nobody thinks it's a good thing, except the addicted smokers, of course. I believe Fred Thompson, a Senator from the State of Tennessee, would have run for President of the United States if it hadn't been for his tobacco connections. Living right next door to Virginia, another tobacco State, I predict it will soon succumb to the smoking ban within the next 5 years.

In the scheme of things, the practice of smoking may literally go up in smoke! :p Which if you think about it, it's not such a bad thing after all. It's an addiction. Some are able to overcome it, and others are playing Russian Roulette (IMO).

JAM
 
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Jen,

Thanks for another well written, well thought out post. I quit smoking twenty six years ago. I don't miss it. I don't condone it. I don't recommend it. I do feel that it is each persons right to do so as long as it doesn't impact others not wanting the intrusion. Outright bans without recourse are intrusions on my rights to visit an establishment. Smokiing or not.
 
JAM said:
Picture below of the 1986 Maryland State Tournament won by Mike Sigel (upper left), previous MD State Champ Geese and JAM (upper right), previous MD State Champ and '86 2nd-place finisher Cigar Tom Vanover on the lower left (Texas Senior Player Bob Vanover's brother), and Teddy Bear on the lower right who came in third that day.

Reminiscing about the good old days...

JAM
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Wow JAM, banges and long hair....fantastic! Sounds like that was a fun time. Too bad I was 6 back then :(
 
I am sorry to hear this, JAM. Although I was never at this location, I have played in the Rockville and Laurel locations.

Just goes to show why there should have been a state-wide smoking ban or none at all. A county-by-county ban just hurts businesses.

Barbara
 
whitewolf said:
I heard also that Champion Billiards in Rockville had another amputation, loosing about 8 more tables........all due to no the smoking law which has KILLED business. The only nice place left in Rockville is Orange Ball Billiards, and I don't know what they do about smoking there.
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At Orange Ball Billiards in Rockville, located in Montgomery County, Maryland, there is a smoking ban in full force. All smokers stand outside and huddle together to keep warm in the FREEZING winter months and don't like it. Orange Ball used to be a host to the PP 9-Ball Tour, but as of the time of this writing, they have NOT committed to host any event this current season. Last I heard, they were contemplating selling the business.

whitewolf said:
Hardtimes Cafe in Germantown is the ticket with an outside/heated smoking room. It also has three APA leagues (yes, as in 32 teams last I heard) on the same Thursday night.
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Check out Fireside Cue in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It used to be Buffalo Bills, but is now under new owners. Great menu, comfortable sofas, and full bar. The new owners are currently in negotiations about the possibility of hosting some pool tournaments. They do have league play there as well; APA, I think.

whitewolf said:
What does this say about smoking and pool halls? They are jointly preferred. You could be correct however in that there may have been another reason for the Silver Spring Champions closing. I didn't like the place period. Too dungy. Parking was a nightmare unless you like to pay for public parking during the day and walk a couple of blocks......not ideal for women. Pool halls today thrive when there are women in there, as in Germantown. This pool hall has been headed downhill for a long time, IMHO.
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I used to work there a long time ago and never had a problem. Business has dwindled off over the years, and most players go to USA Billiards in Laurel, Maryland, Korean Lee's brother's place. Located in Prince George's County, smoking is allowed.

JAM
 
Gremlin said:
JAM, what a great photo! Sorry to hear of the closing as it was on my list of recommended places you gave me. Well, scratch that no pun intended! Photo attached were ready for the secret snow here...
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I love that photo, Gremlin, of the puppy. I've got a black lab myself, "Sir Sampson of Hawthorn," a pedigree whose uncle was supposed to be some blue-ribbon champion (LOL). Sammy was the biggest pup in the litter. He doesn't know how to swim, and this 120-pound canine thinks he's a lap dog! :D

JAM
 

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You are quite the looker Jam. Kieth was a pretty lucky guy to snag the combintaion of looks, smarts and a love of this game that he found in you.
 
I am in the process of opening a pool hall in Michigan right now.

Timing is WAY off or I would be very interested in scooping up some of the stuff from there.

Too bad he had to close up shop.

:mad:
 
JAM said:
We're not going to Reno; we'll be lucky if we can make it to Berlin (LOL). Big snow blizzard on the horizon to begin today or tomorrow. D.C. has already laid out salt on every thoroughfare in preparation for the storm up ahead. :eek:

In the case of Champions in Silver Spring, the owner did state to me that smoking definitely played a key role in her decision-making process to shut the doors for good. However, I do believe she is looking forward to semi-retiring, traveling a little, and just enjoying her life to the fullest.

Being a smoker myself, I truly do not mind going outside to puff, but when there are FREEZING temperatures with howling winds, sleet, rain, or snow, it is not a pleasant experience.

Driving down a city block in Silver Spring in the wintertime, smokers standing outside look much like vagabonds and hobos, as if they're huddling together to keep warm, puff, puff, puffing away.

Thus, some smokers who do enjoy shooting pool, socializing, or recreating in a pool room do not enjoy having to LITERALLY weather the cold fronts which occur in the Northeast, as you know, Cardiac Kid, in Upstate New York with the unpredictable Northeasters. ;)

To a non-smoker, this may seem trivial and difficult to believe that smoking could be a factor for a business shutting down, and by the same token, smokers -- NOT ALL OF THEM -- don't seem to realize dangers of second-hand smoke. I do understand smoking bans.

It's a trend that is taking hold. My brand-new car came equipped with lots of niceties, but there is no ashtray whatsoever. I instituted a smoking ban in my automobile. Most of my friends do not smoke, and in the confines of a car, especially traveling to tournaments on long trips, it's difficult to endure even for the smokers.

Smoking and tobacco are now a blight on modern-day society. Nobody thinks it's a good thing, except the addicted smokers, of course. I believe Fred Thompson, a Senator from the State of Tennessee, would have run for President of the United States if it hadn't been for his tobacco connections. Living right next door to Virginia, another tobacco State, I predict it will soon succumb to the smoking ban within the next 5 years.

In the scheme of things, the practice of smoking may literally go up in smoke! :p Which if you think about it, it's not such a bad thing after all. It's an addiction. Some are able to overcome it, and others are playing Russian Roulette (IMO).

JAM
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sorry to hear about the hall Jam..where are the smokers going to play pool if not at this hall ????
 
Jedi V Man said:
I am in the process of opening a pool hall in Michigan right now.

Timing is WAY off or I would be very interested in scooping up some of the stuff from there.

Too bad he had to close up shop.

:mad:
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Jedi,

Where are you setting up shop in MI? I may be heading back out that way for work and would like to find some new places to play.
 
Thxs for that post from the post! I have very fond memories about that place myself. before i played pool 15-16 yrs old i meet a girl who lived in silver spring, i stayed with her in her parents place for a week and she loved that hall. She took me in every night and i got to meet some of the players of that time. For anyone that says that place is a dump or whatever should really put away the cue and go play pro wine tasting or something because imho pool cant offerd to lose too many more places like that till the game is 100% yuppie show offs that have eaten one to many mushrooms with thier parents. ;)
 
JAM said:
I wasn't sure where to post this thread, but I thought it worthy of mention in the Main Forum section.

Anyone who is interested in this auction, the location is: J&B Champion Billiards located at 8216 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

Phone number: (301) 587-4736.

When: Wednesday, March 2nd, 2005, 10:30 a.m.

Another good one bites the dust! :( Thanks for the memories, Champions! :)

JAM
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Jam,

Am I slipping, or hasn't March 2, 2005 already come and gone?

Mike
 
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