Another one bites the................

bmccaslin said:
Not sure what the reason is for closing, but it's not for lack of a league presence. Malarkey's had APA league 5 nights a week, as well as TAP and BCA leagues, and it would be pretty much packed each night. They also had decent Wednesday and Friday night 9-ball tourneys that drew some good talent. Good crowd of regulars as well during the day...

I'm really gutted by this, as I live about 2 miles away and don't really know of anywhere else close by where I'll be able to play regularly. I feel bad for Clark as well, as he is one of the good guys in pool.

Truly sad news...:(
Click to expand...

Very sorry to hear that. It's odd that a room with healthy leagues cannot do well. Something was off somewhere.

Sometimes, we just never know.
 
denwhit said:
Good for you. The Salem, Oregon pool room with 24 9' Centennials and Anniversaries is only open for one reason and that is Jim. He has no where else to go and does not want to go anywhere. He does not sell food or alcohol. All the league play is at two places around town and the bars on 7' tables, never his. His place is right next to the Oregon state buildings and they want his building bad. He says no one could make a living if they didn't own the property free and clear (as he does) and it would be expensive. He is 74 or so and owned the pool room since 1963. How many more years? When he cashes in or sells out, it will be closed.
Click to expand...

^^^^^^^^^^^^ is a very rare situation.

Property and equipment being paid definitely make a big difference. Paid for or not though, nobody's making a killing without food or drink....... or both.

My hats off to the gent.

Rake
 
ChrisinNC said:
Only reason our poolroom is still open after 22+ years is our grill, which accounts to well over 90% of our revenue - we have no alcohol sales. Our pool table revenue / usage is at an all-time low for the 22+ years we've been open, despite our hour rates being virtually unchanged ($3/hr per person) over that time period, and our pool environment (tables, balls, cloth, lighting, etc.) being absolute top-of-the-line. If it weren't for my own passion for pool, we would have closed many years ago.
Click to expand...

Well after going to Fat Cats last week I may just have to drive up to Boone next time I am in the area. BTW, they ought to just give up, the tables were unplayable.

All I have to do is not get stuck behind the damned Santa Claus Parade. We used to go to Boone every Christmas season from Chapel Hill. Me, the wife, our little girl and Lucky a wonderful yellow lab, to cut down the Xmas tree and do lunch at The Daniel Boone Inn. One time we got stuck behind the parade, it crawls thru town at 1 mph, screwed up our whole day!! Damn that Santa dude!!! :grin-square:
 
ChrisinNC said:
Only reason our poolroom is still open after 22+ years is our grill, which accounts to well over 90% of our revenue - we have no alcohol sales. Our pool table revenue / usage is at an all-time low for the 22+ years we've been open, despite our hour rates being virtually unchanged ($3/hr per person) over that time period, and our pool environment (tables, balls, cloth, lighting, etc.) being absolute top-of-the-line. If it weren't for my own passion for pool, we would have closed many years ago.
Click to expand...

What’s the name of your room? Thanks
 
It’s becoming a niche sport. The youngest regular at our weekly tournament is in his late 20’s. The tournaments are dying too. Whoever said it’s flourishing is delusional. There was hope just a few years ago with people streaming and there are very few of those now too.

All the main attractions are the same players. Where are the up and comers?

It’s looked upon by the millennial as an old game. Kind of like that pinball machine in the corner or the shuffle board in the back collecting dust. It’s becoming archaic. Tables being found in dive bars in a society where people want to post on social media of the cool places they’re at. so it affects where they want to go and a pool hall is the last place they want to go.

I’m in my 30s and been playing since I was a teen and I’m pretty much done with competitive play. No tournaments and gambling. I spend time now at the gym and will eventually phase out going to a pool room.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top