Another Room Closing...

[Ken_4fun]

Well ...

It is sad, I spent many a day in the Q Club. In my opinion, and not trying to make anyone mad, but as in many things it is location, location, location.

As 1on1, mentions or fails to mention, is I think it is also partially the pool players fault. There are league players and other players, that never supported it as I would have liked to seen it either. This was known as a players room and like it or not, competed with the local taverns and bars for players.

I had seriously considered openning a pool room in the same town, when I ran the numbers, (MBA showing), I could never make it a money making (or even not a money losing) proposition.

Several of the bars in that town almost immediately closed as soon as the "Cherry Masters" were taken out.

So what lessons can be learned? Support your local rooms, encourage them to others, make suggestions, be an allie instead of bad mouthing it.

JMO

Ken

 

[cardiac kid]

I think the town I live in would support a nice room with more attractions than just pool, provided it is in a good location. We also have 3 colleges here and one would have to really work at trying to get the college crowd. Indiana has weird liquor laws, but if you could get the 21 yr old seniors and grad students it would help.

Wow, I remember playing on an American style snooker table downtown while a student at what is now Rose - Holman. Man that was early sixties! Truely a blast from the past! Wonder if it's the same room.

Lyn

 

[1on1pooltournys]

Wow, I remember playing on an American style snooker table downtown while a student at what is now Rose - Holman. Man that was early sixties! Truely a blast from the past! Wonder if it's the same room.

Lyn

No, you probably played in the Cigar Store or another room that was located upstairs in a large building on the corner, can't remember the name.

 

[1on1pooltournys]

As 1on1, mentions or fails to mention, is I think it is also partially the pool players fault. There are league players and other players, that never supported it as I would have liked to seen it either. This was known as a players room and like it or not, competed with the local taverns and bars for players.

Ken,

Your definition of player (as used in the context of your quote) is a bit blurred. You have "Pool Players" and "Bar Players". As a rule, pool room are supported by "Pool Players" and Bars/Taverns are supported by "Bar Players". The Q Club was supported by virtually 95% of the "Pool Players" and actually converted a few "Bar Players" into "Pool Players", if that makes sense. Too bad more didn't join the bandwagon.

The bold sentence in the quote sums it up. What are the majority of league players? Of course, the question is rhetorical. Bar room players like bar boxes, whiskey, loud music, loose women, and other things that pool rooms or a "players room" does not offer. Which Further supports my theory on leagues and some of the people they attract, which is not appropriate for this thread.

P.S. The town your living in now has a nice room, does Dicky still play? I'd like to come visit.......:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[biggame]

Does Jimmy Weber own that place? If so he is from Chicago I know him pretty well he should know that a room cant make it without alcohol... I wish him the best and if anyone talks to him tell him James from Chicago says hello..

 

[Ken_4fun]

Ken,

Your definition of player (as used in the context of your quote) is a bit blurred. You have "Pool Players" and "Bar Players". As a rule, pool room are supported by "Pool Players" and Bars/Taverns are supported by "Bar Players". The Q Club was supported by virtually 95% of the "Pool Players" and actually converted a few "Bar Players" into "Pool Players", if that makes sense. Too bad more didn't join the bandwagon.

The bold sentence in the quote sums it up. What are the majority of league players? Of course, the question is rhetorical. Bar room players like bar boxes, whiskey, loud music, loose women, and other things that pool rooms or a "players room" does not offer. Which Further supports my theory on leagues and some of the people they attract, which is not appropriate for this thread.

P.S. The town your living in now has a nice room, does Dicky still play? I'd like to come visit.......:thumbup::thumbup:

Dicky does play and wanted me to pass along you have action here anytime you or any of your family want to play.

He is a great room owner and a nice guy too. I would have not taken this position in Paducah if there wasnt a pool room.

I bought a big boat and have it on Kentucky Lake and you are welcome to use it whenever you like.

Ken

 

[christyd]

Dicky does play and wanted me to pass along you have action here anytime you or any of your family want to play.

He is a great room owner and a nice guy too. I would have not taken this position in Paducah if there wasnt a pool room.

I bought a big boat and have it on Kentucky Lake and you are welcome to use it whenever you like.

Ken

What kind of boat?.....Kenny my friend!!

 

[snipershot]

Dicky does play and wanted me to pass along you have action here anytime you or any of your family want to play.

He is a great room owner and a nice guy too. I would have not taken this position in Paducah if there wasnt a pool room.

I bought a big boat and have it on Kentucky Lake and you are welcome to use it whenever you like.

Ken

That boat better be real big if the wind gets up above 10-20! I tried going out on that lake in my 18' bass boat while the wind was blowing 20 straight south. Of course you know the lake current runs north, so the whole damn lake was like a toilet flushing! lol! I thought I was a gonner! We made it back, and fished the Moors Marina the rest of the day, lol. man I miss my boat!





Joe

 

[DeepBanks]

The room upstairs . . .

No, you probably played in the Cigar Store or another room that was located upstairs in a large building on the corner, can't remember the name.

Was called Sportsmans Billiards . . . at 5th and Wabash above the Baskin Robbins. About 20 Gold Crown 1's, couple of snooker tables, and I believe some Gandy's. Everything was 8' and up.

Further down on Wabash at 9th was the Cigar Store. It had 6 - 8 ancient (like 1910 - 1920) tables that were really nice.

I played in both many a time.

Lots of hustlers came and went in the old Sportsman.

 

[TX Poolnut]

It's time to move to Texas. :smile:

 

[Craig Fales]

A pool room can succeed in a "town" of 80,000, even in today's economy. But to succeed you can not depend on "players" to make it work. Serious pool players will only account for 15-20% of your business in a successful room. The other 80%+ comes from the general public, people who are looking for somewhere to go to enjoy a night out.

A successful room owner today must embrace the "social" crowd who just want to have a comfortable environment to enjoy themselves in. To me that looks like big screen TV's featuring major sporting events, GOOD snack food like burgers and pizza, beer and wine and pretty waitresses (and handsome waiters) of course. Throw in some cool video games, maybe a ping pong table or two, foosball and any other fun game you can find and you can make a go of it. P.S. Don't forget the ATM - Cha Ching!

It is a formula that will still work today. You must create a fun place for young people (and old) to hang out in. If I were to open another room (and I may do that), I would probably have something like eight big tables and eight small tables. Leagues can be huge every night of the week on the small tables. People still want somewhere to go to so they don't have to sit around the house every night. Young people especially need a gathering place on their dates, socializing etc.

A town of 80,000 should have at least one place like this. That's my opinion.

Tap Tap Tap, that place could have made it. I'm sure the owner was self fulfilling his/her prophecy by saying "Oh my, it looks like I'm going broke. I guess I'll sit here and let it happen." I may sound harsh but it's the truth. I can't think of all the places that have owners just like that, nonpool related aswell.

 

[1on1pooltournys]

Was called Sportsmans Billiards . . . at 5th and Wabash above the Baskin Robbins. About 20 Gold Crown 1's, couple of snooker tables, and I believe some Gandy's. Everything was 8' and up.

Further down on Wabash at 9th was the Cigar Store. It had 6 - 8 ancient (like 1910 - 1920) tables that were really nice.

I played in both many a time.

Lots of hustlers came and went in the old Sportsman.

Yes, I have heard many stories of Sportsmans. Unfortunately, my birth date was lagging ( by 20 plus years:frown for a pool player that was born in this town. I never got to experience all of the action. They used to call this place "Sin City", and it was wide open with gambling and other promiscuous activities Now it is lame and boring. Really is a shame. For now, all of the players in this town are pretty distraught and depressed as we are back where we started a few years ago with no room. Anybody looking to open a room should really consider this town, provided you have plans of being able to draw in the general public. I have some good ideas wrote down and maybe someday I'll get a chance.