Casualties in Northern Virginia

[axejunkie]

I noticed the $20 Sunday thing last time I was at Fast Eddies. Maybe it's an attempt to get people in there now that football season is over. I'm surprised they got rid of the $8 deal as I thought that was to help with Virginia's food vs. drink % requirement. I don't mind the $20 thing because I usually spend that much anyway, and I can play longer if I feel like it without paying extra.

They still have Thursday night APA and it's strong with 12 teams.

 

[Flex]

If you can get it for less then $20.00 is alot. But, in truth if you play for 4 hours then your only paying $5.00 per hour. If there are a number of people in the joint and you get some challenge matches their playing on your dime so have them share an equal amount of the table time it's already paid so ask for what you think is fair from them. The key is not going in and playing alone, if you go in with friends then your complaint is even less sensible, I never been out to FS is Fairfax, do frequent the one in Alex. everyother month on the Tourstop wouldn't go then if I didn't have too. Side Pockets in Laurel has $10.00 all day til 7pm on Sat. and Sun. Have a great one.

Black Cat

About that I agree wholeheartedly. If I go in with a couple of friends, $20 is fine. And of course we're going to order food and drinks.

BTW, if they made it an option on Sundays in addition to the regular deal, I'd be really happy, as it would give the players and extra option. It was just looking at $20 just to get a table for a relatively short time that really ticked me off.

 

[Flex]

Champions Shirlington
Weds. after 6pm $5 till close.
Sun. $5 open till 6pm & $5 6pm till close
Sat. $5 open till 6pm. Not sure how much after 6pm.

Hardtimes Springfield
Mon-Sun I think $8 purchase free pool till 5pm

Hardtimes Woodbridge
Mon-Sun I think $8 purchase free pool till 5pm
Sun-Thurs $11 flat rate 5pm till close. I dont know how long this is gonna last, They've had it for awhile.

The updates are most appreciated. Thanks!

Flex

 

[Flex]

If you can get it for less then $20.00 is alot. But, in truth if you play for 4 hours then your only paying $5.00 per hour. If there are a number of people in the joint and you get some challenge matches their playing on your dime so have them share an equal amount of the table time it's already paid so ask for what you think is fair from them. The key is not going in and playing alone, if you go in with friends then your complaint is even less sensible, I never been out to FS is Fairfax, do frequent the one in Alex. everyother month on the Tourstop wouldn't go then if I didn't have too. Side Pockets in Laurel has $10.00 all day til 7pm on Sat. and Sun. Have a great one.

Black Cat

I wonder how well the Fast Eddies management would like it if I made a little business charging folks a $1 or $2 an hour to shoot pool with me on that $20 deal. I bet they'd shut that baby down in a heartbeat.

Flex

 

[Flex]

FE in Fairfax is the only place around here I know of where you can find shimmed tables (4.5" pockets). Only on three tables, though. Still, I think that's the best place around here for serious practice. Hard Times...well, too smoky and their equipment isn't as well maintained, in general.

Northern VA really is the home of enormous pockets. I'll try that special in Shirlington's Champions, though.

You want tight pockets? Head on over to First Break in Sterling and try out table 1. TRIPLE shimmed ball-spitter-outers....

Flex

 

[axejunkie]

FE in Fairfax is the only place around here I know of where you can find shimmed tables (4.5" pockets). Only on three tables, though.

Really? Which tables? I've played league there for years and they all seem like buckets, except for table 9, its pockets are small but not cut properly.

Table 1 at First Break is a real shimmed table.

 

[Andrew Manning]

Really? Which tables? I've played league there for years and they all seem like buckets, except for table 9, its pockets are small but not cut properly.

Table 1 at First Break is a real shimmed table.

9 and 18 are both tighter than the rest.

-Andrew

 

[Black Cat 5791]

I wonder how well the Fast Eddies management would like it if I made a little business charging folks a $1 or $2 an hour to shoot pool with me on that $20 deal. I bet they'd shut that baby down in a heartbeat.

Flex

Maybe, maybe not who knows. I personally wouldn't care what they thought, if I'm shooting by myself and someone wanted to play with me if they played for an hour in general I'd get atleast $5.00 bucks from them for table time no reason for them to play for free on my dime. It's absolutely no different than the 2 of you walking in together and renting the table for $5.00 per hour per person and paying it directly to the house. You've already commited yourself to the bill, reguardless to whether you play with or without someone else. Why should you loose out.

Black Cat

 

[Still_Learning]

You want tight pockets? Head on over to First Break in Sterling and try out table 1. TRIPLE shimmed ball-spitter-outers....

Flex

That's about 40-50 miles from me, I think. But if I knew I could reserve the table, it would be worth the drive. Thanks for the info.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

I've never heard of any pool hall paying their bills on the income from charging pool players table time.

It is the RETAIL crowd that pays the bills. Those couples with friends or a bunch of young guys checking out the scene, or the 4 young ladies checking out the the guys.

Food and drinks are a plus for room owners, big margins for profit. Table time from the RETAIL crowd usualy equals the food and drink orders.

Pool Players cannot compete with the RETAIL crowd in making a pool room successful.

Of all the pool rooms that you've played in, have you ever seen one continue to stay open because of what afternoon to early evening pool players contribute to the pool hall's income?

 

[catscradle]

...
Of all the pool rooms that you've played in, have you ever seen one continue to stay open because of what afternoon to early evening pool players contribute to the pool hall's income?

Isn't that his point? Those times are the doldrums of the pool business; given that, the place is making a mistake charging the $20.00.

 

[Flex]

That's about 40-50 miles from me, I think. But if I knew I could reserve the table, it would be worth the drive. Thanks for the info.

If you want the table, just be the first in the door. They open at 11 AM. Also, the table is very often open. It's a bear. No fun to play on. And besides being tight pocketed, it's very slow, which makes it even tougher, IMHO.

Flex

 

[Flex]

I've never heard of any pool hall paying their bills on the income from charging pool players table time.

It is the RETAIL crowd that pays the bills. Those couples with friends or a bunch of young guys checking out the scene, or the 4 young ladies checking out the the guys.

Food and drinks are a plus for room owners, big margins for profit. Table time from the RETAIL crowd usualy equals the food and drink orders.

Pool Players cannot compete with the RETAIL crowd in making a pool room successful.

Of all the pool rooms that you've played in, have you ever seen one continue to stay open because of what afternoon to early evening pool players contribute to the pool hall's income?

Maybe I am the misfit. However, when I play pool in such an establishment I usually eat a hamburger and throw back two or three or four brewskis.

As for who stays open and for what reasons, I can't honestly say I know the answer to your question. What I can tell you though is that not infrequently at Chris's Billiards in Chicago, where they have no specials, but do have pretty reasonable rates, in the $3 an hour range, which vary according to the time and day, I play there late into the evenings/early morning hours/til they close, and they aren't complaining.

If the pool room/bar owners aren't able to do the specials, that's their call. However, when the rates get too steep, I'm elsewhere.

Flex

 

[Flex]

e. I've never heard of any pool hall paying their bills on the income from charging pool players table time.

Chris's Billiards in Chicago doesn't really have much to eat, just hamburgers and hot dogs and some pizzas and chips and soda, no beer or wine, and their kitchen doesn't seem to do all that much business.

While they're not raking in the dough, they're there... Business goes up and business goes down, but they continue to be.

Flex

 

[Flex]

Isn't that his point? Those times are the doldrums of the pool business; given that, the place is making a mistake charging the $20.00.

That's my point.

They chased me out the door with an unreasonable-for-that-time-of-day rate. I imagine I'm not the only one who felt like they were trying to fleece me.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

Maybe I am the misfit. However, when I play pool in such an establishment I usually eat a hamburger and throw back two or three or four brewskis.

Then you are a better 'pool player' customer than most.

As for who stays open and for what reasons, I can't honestly say I know the answer to your question. What I can tell you though is that not infrequently at Chris's Billiards in Chicago, where they have no specials, but do have pretty reasonable rates, in the $3 an hour range, which vary according to the time and day, I play there late into the evenings/early morning hours/til they close, and they aren't complaining.

plenty of customers (players and the retail crowd) will always keep a room open and doing well


If the pool room/bar owners aren't able to do the specials, that's their call. However, when the rates get too steep, I'm elsewhere.

I've seen rooms that would rather adjust their opening times from 10-11am to 4pm rather than pay for staff and operating expenses. no customers, no reason to be open at that time... there is always a 'break even point' when that is not reached, time for changes.

Flex

Chris's has been recognized as a National Pool Room for a very long time. I would say that it could be considered an 'exception' rather than the rule for pool halls.

 

[Black-Balled]

...
Table 1 at First Break is a real shimmed table.

Hmmph. I played on it and thought it was a 3 cushion table...

 

[Celtic]

If pool halls are closing, don't think it's primarily due to the players. It's also a marketing and management issue.

Flex

Says the guy that came onto AZBilliards and made a thread whining that he cannot play hours of free pool after buying a burger and a coke from the pool hall anymore.

I would sure not want to be a pool hall owner having to pander to people like you. People like you ARE the reason the sport fails. People will go out and spend $100+ for a 4 hour round of golf but OMG I cannot buy $8 worth of food and play free pool all day long, the outrage!

Here in Calgary rates are $10+ for a table in almost any remaining pool hall in the city. You want to play 3+ hours, be ready for a $30+ table tab not including the drinks and food you might want while you are there. I cannot believe the amount of nitness on this thread, the deals you people are complaining about blow anything in this area out of the water and I cannot imagine how the pool halls will remain afloat while having to deal with people who are ticked off at a table that costs more then $3 an hour.

 

[Flex]

Says the guy that came onto AZBilliards and made a thread whining that he cannot play hours of free pool after buying a burger and a coke from the pool hall anymore.

I would sure not want to be a pool hall owner having to pander to people like you. People like you ARE the reason the sport fails. People will go out and spend $100+ for a 4 hour round of golf but OMG I cannot buy $8 worth of food and play free pool all day long, the outrage!

Hey, the good 'ole US of A is a country where free enterprise is king, not like Canada, where I lived for four years some time ago, where socialism lorded over everyone.

The pool halls I play in sure seem to be happy to have me as a customer. At least they treat me right, and welcome me back when I come in.

As for me supposedly being the reason, etc., you don't know me, pal. If you think what you wrote without knowing me, I wouldn't want to shoot any pool with you on a friendly basis. However, I'd love to thrash you sometime in a tournament.

Have a nice day.

Flex

 

[Flex]

Here in Calgary rates are $10+ for a table in almost any remaining pool hall in the city. You want to play 3+ hours, be ready for a $30+ table tab not including the drinks and food you might want while you are there. I cannot believe the amount of nitness on this thread, the deals you people are complaining about blow anything in this area out of the water and I cannot imagine how the pool halls will remain afloat while having to deal with people who are ticked off at a table that costs more then $3 an hour.

The key for pool halls these days seems to be they must offer food and drink and a congenial atmosphere and decent table rates, so people can have a choice.

I'm really glad I moved back to America.

Flex