FYI they are having a Final Sale, good stuff, unique place.
Bagles & Billiards in Oregon-IS CLOSING
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
- Start date
I hate to hear this because they were good people to deal with. I bought a real nice Runde cue from Jim and he gave me a good price on it. I had a problem with a shaft and they replaced it with no questions asked and I wish them the best.CocoboloCowboy said:
James
That place has been there for a long time and I agree Jim is a nice guy I have had dealings as both a seller and a buyer. No doubt if he is selling everything there will be some nice and unique cues available. During the big pool and cue craze of the 90's Billiards and Bagels was one of the biggest cue dealers in the West.
The artical I read in the Regional Newspaper the BREAK, (Pool Related) said RETIREMENT.
I have bought many cues over the years from Jim. He is one of the most knowledgeable people on cues you will find anywhere. He was the first cue dealer I ever met who let you hit with different cues before you spent your hard earned money on one.
Jim enjoy your retirement! You have earned it!
Jim enjoy your retirement! You have earned it!
If it's a retirement, why close? Why not sell the business? Or did he already try that with no buyers?
The place is actually pretty small and in the old part of town, I think his success was based on outside sales and him personally, Since the billiards industry is not like it was some years ago. It would be tough for someone who is not established to take B & B over. Where the store is located would probably be much more likely to succeed as a restaurant or antiques shop. I am just speculating here but from what I know selling the inventory to the billiards industry and selling the store itself to another industry (assuming he owns the store) would make the most sense. Either way Billiards and Bagels deserves recognition in the industry.
Sorry to hear this news...
I am truly sorry to hear this. I remember talking with Jim at the SBE many years ago, when he had booth space one year. Incredibly nice guy to talk with. Spent the better part of Saturday at his booth talking about Bob Runde and found out he was the only legit retailer of Bob's cues at that time.
He didn't hesitate to allow me to test hit a cue he had for sale that had a price tag of $15,000!
Wish I could remember who the cuemaker was on that cue. He told me that all of the materials that went in to that cue were "harvested" by the man. Cut down the tree used to supply the wood, felled the elk used for ferrule, joint and butt plate. Said the guy even panned the gold used for the 24K inlays! There were over 1500 total inlays in that cue, Jim said he sat there with a magnifying glass and counted every single inlay!
Good thing my credit card limit wasn't high enough, would have blown it on that cue. The way it felt was amazing. Was some cuemaker from the northwest area of the US, and I am sorry I didn't write it down.
Hope Jim does well in his future endeavors.
Sad to see another great vendor in billiards go away.
I am truly sorry to hear this. I remember talking with Jim at the SBE many years ago, when he had booth space one year. Incredibly nice guy to talk with. Spent the better part of Saturday at his booth talking about Bob Runde and found out he was the only legit retailer of Bob's cues at that time.
He didn't hesitate to allow me to test hit a cue he had for sale that had a price tag of $15,000!
Wish I could remember who the cuemaker was on that cue. He told me that all of the materials that went in to that cue were "harvested" by the man. Cut down the tree used to supply the wood, felled the elk used for ferrule, joint and butt plate. Said the guy even panned the gold used for the 24K inlays! There were over 1500 total inlays in that cue, Jim said he sat there with a magnifying glass and counted every single inlay!
Good thing my credit card limit wasn't high enough, would have blown it on that cue. The way it felt was amazing. Was some cuemaker from the northwest area of the US, and I am sorry I didn't write it down.
Hope Jim does well in his future endeavors.
Sad to see another great vendor in billiards go away.
He use to sell Ron Thomas Cases, and I would ASSUME they to are on SALE.
I just got off of the phone with Jim he has an Ostrich Ron Thomas case still in inventory I won't give prices because I don't know what the retail would be he said the cues are moving good but he is wanted to move the bars so I would say if you live near Gresham and need a bar he might be a good guy to call. Based on our conversation if you are buying cues to resale then the liquidation may not be for you if you are buying for personal use you may br able to get around the wait time for a nice cue IE: Southwest and so on. 31 Years in business is what he said.CocoboloCowboy said:
Jim
I've have spent many a night BS'ing with Jim and soaking up any and all information that he would tell me, which if you know Jim is a lot. I was lucky enough to live about a mile from his shop and played with pretty much every cue that came through there. The 15K cue was made by Bob Thompson, if I remember correctly. Last time I was in there he had a few of his cues around. If you can find one with a wood joint, you can't go wrong. I'm only 30, started at 14, quit at 17 and picked it back up in the last 2 to 3 years, but I feel really lucky to have lived near his shop when I started shooting again. He always has something super cool in his shop and he will talk your ear off. It's fun though.
I've have spent many a night BS'ing with Jim and soaking up any and all information that he would tell me, which if you know Jim is a lot. I was lucky enough to live about a mile from his shop and played with pretty much every cue that came through there. The 15K cue was made by Bob Thompson, if I remember correctly. Last time I was in there he had a few of his cues around. If you can find one with a wood joint, you can't go wrong. I'm only 30, started at 14, quit at 17 and picked it back up in the last 2 to 3 years, but I feel really lucky to have lived near his shop when I started shooting again. He always has something super cool in his shop and he will talk your ear off. It's fun though.