Comet Billiards Closing

How awful......

Man,,,,

a couple of summers ago, my self and some biker buddies headed up to Lake George for ''Americade'',,,,,we learned then that ''Aderondack Billliards'',,,a 3 floor establishment had closed,,,,,,,

While just this past summer up in Burlington, Vt,,,,we played at Van Phan's,,,,some of you may noted that i said while the place was gorgeous,,,,the house cues were the worst excuse for a ''cue'' that i have ever seen,,,,,,I was tempted to say something to VAN,,, WHO WAS ONCE ON THE WPBA tour but didn't....she invested $80,000 into it as it was initially called "'BurlingtoN Billiards''........You would think a pro would want their clientel to at least have ''decent '' equipment to encourage them to learn/play this challenging game,,,,,,not saying that was the case with Comet as i know and admire Pat and Pete very much,,,,,

Man,,,,,,another sad scenario,,,,and you would thing would be a cheap form of recreation in these troubled times,,,,,

Best of luck to the gang at Comets,,,,,,,,,,
 
I hope this isn't true. I am a regular viewer of their live streaming game show.

I hope they land on their feet somewhere else.
 
It's true. I'm a regular and a good friend of Bill and Marcia.

Eric- As of right now I don't think there's any last hurrah, but Saturday there is some APA thing going on so there will be players.

It would be nice to all get there to give them a proper thank you. I'll see what some of the guys are doing.

Christian
 
Last edited:
btoneill said:
I hate to say it, but the days of the large "pool hall" are numbered. I don't see many places surviving long term that don't fit the following:
#1 Must have less than 15 tables
#2 Must have a full bar
#3 Must have a kitchen
#4 Must have sports on TV
#5 Must have leagues most nights of the week
#6 Must have other events that bring in non-pool players (ie. darts, card tournaments, live music, private parties, etc)
#7 A large group of non-gambler regulars

If you don't have them, you will slowly die out.

Brian
Click to expand...

You know I think you hit the nail on the head. A "Pool Room" can not survive what can survive is the terrible place to play, a nightclub with pool rooms.
Sucks, doesn't it?
 
Fatboy said:
your exactly right, and your list adds up to pool just being a side show in a business, kinda like a pinball machine or 2 over in the corner.


the only bright spot in this disaster for pool rooms is rents are falling in the commercial market, the housing market crashed about 12-18 months ago(best I can recall) that that collapse is hapening to commercial shopping centers and anchor tenants right now. With falling rents and buying used equipment it will cost alot less to build/operate a pool room, thus the prices can be lower for the customers and the owner can still realize a profit. Where as the current rooms are in expensive leases and the rent is killing the rooms. I guarantee you if the rent was 50%-60% less for Comet they would stay open, but the property owners cant pay the banks the loans if they drop the rents-so the pool rooms are history. When it all shakes out in a few years rents will be lower and pool rooms a more viable business.

Having said that, its hard to fade the internet(games, facebook, etc) Pool is a old obslete game, like the hula hoop its gone or roller derby. I hate it but thats how I see it. I'm still going to play no matter what, if the world loses a few bangers so be it, what I dont like is some of those bangers turn out to be top players-thats where the life expectany of pool drops off a cliff.
Click to expand...

I don't think pool will ever die out but I don't see it returning to its heyday. The kids today have so much more to keep them entertained. I remember the first time I walked into a place with some pool tables as a teenager I was drawn to it like a magnet. I even remember when my Grandma gave me a radio for Christmas, I was jumping up and down like I hit the lottery.
 
It is sad, I'm from nowhere near Comet, but I used to enjoy the ustream by Accu-stats.
The owners had it right young people today don't have the patience to learn the game, they want instant gratification and can't put in hours and hours of frustration to get up to speed. It is kind of rampant in their life in general not just in their choice of recreation.
I think another significant factor is the rise of online gambling and casinos. The hard core and casual gambler can now find more convenient forms of gambling. The novice can convince himself anybody can win at hold 'em (this isn't true, but can be believed by many) which is harder to do with pool. In some respects it is the same reason 9-ball replaced 14-1, it is easier to convince yourself that anybody has a chance in 9-ball because of the greater luck factor.
 
cmsmith9 said:
There just aren't customers or people interested in playing. Bill said himself that the internet/technology (facebook, myspace, online poker, texting etc)all contributed to lack of business. We rarely have groups of kids coming in to play. Comet is third pool room in our area to close in the past couple months.

Christian
Click to expand...

Christian,
How is it going? It's a combination of all these things AND real estate in NJ. Even a 10 table pool hall at 50% capacity would have a hard time turning a profit due to rent and other overhead requirements. (I've done the math)

The only hope for the area will be Carmen re-opening Crown. It's his sandbox and he can absorb an off month when they come.

JV
 
If the pool rooms in Vegas did not have video poker at the bars, I believe most of them would have closed years ago! Very few pool players left there anyway. Lots of bar box though.

Comet is one of my favorite rooms. Viewing the posters on the walls alone was worth the trip! No alcohol and no calcuttas. Deadly combination.

Lyn
 
classiccues said:
Christian,
How is it going? It's a combination of all these things AND real estate in NJ. Even a 10 table pool hall at 50% capacity would have a hard time turning a profit due to rent and other overhead requirements. (I've done the math)

The only hope for the area will be Carmen re-opening Crown. It's his sandbox and he can absorb an off month when they come.

JV
Click to expand...

I thought carmen was going to reopen crown?
 
putt-putt44 said:
Man,,,,

a couple of summers ago, my self and some biker buddies headed up to Lake George for ''Americade'',,,,,we learned then that ''Aderondack Billliards'',,,a 3 floor establishment had closed,,,,,,,

While just this past summer up in Burlington, Vt,,,,we played at Van Phan's,,,,some of you may noted that i said while the place was gorgeous,,,,the house cues were the worst excuse for a ''cue'' that i have ever seen,,,,,,I was tempted to say something to VAN,,, WHO WAS ONCE ON THE WPBA tour but didn't....she invested $80,000 into it as it was
Man,,,,,,another sad scenario,,,,and you would thing would be a cheap form of recreation in these troubled times,,,,,

Best of luck to the gang at Comets,,,,,,,,,,
Click to expand...


Just to clarify one thing, Van played in one WPBA event which she got into by finishing 7th/8th in an event at Castle Billiards, prob the NJ State Championship where Karen, Julie and a bunch of other pros finished 1-6th. Van won a play-off vs the 8th place lady. to get the spot. Possibly my memory isnt perfect and she snuck into another event as a last minute replacement but i dont think so.
 
LILJOHN30 said:
I thought carmen was going to reopen crown?
Click to expand...

Last I heard Carmen is taking the reins back, the gentlemen that rented the space from Carmen, a pool player also re-nigged on the rent and bolted out..(last I heard)

Frankie
 
frankwhite said:
Last I heard Carmen is taking the reins back, the gentlemen that rented the space from Carmen, a pool player also re-nigged on the rent and bolted out..(last I heard)

Frankie
Click to expand...

This is what I heard.. however all the GC's are gone and Carmen will be looking for some tables I think.. maybe he'll make a deal with Bill or something..

JV
 
I knew from conversations with Bill that this was one day going to happen, but this next week is a shocker. This is one of the best rooms in the country, is the room of the three time weekly Accu-Stats game show on www.accu-stats.com and damn...

this breaks my heart. God bless you Bill and all those in Parsippany.

Much love, Holly
 
Nostroke said:
I didnt hear it from the Horses mouth but i know they came close to closing previously and now the word is:

The home of the Accu-Stats arena is closing this Saturday.

How sad.
Click to expand...


This is incredibly bad news for the pool world. In my travels across the country, Comet was one of the very finest rooms I've had the privilege of playing in.

It was big. I mean really big. Gold crowns, maintained immaculately and well spaced; balls cleaned after every use; soft classic rock on the sound system. Nice clean carpet, walls, and bathrooms. And the posters of the old time giants of the game, all along the walls. I think everyone who loved pool and visited that room went the circumference and stopped at every poster, as if at the Louvre.

But, it was kind of like Ames, "No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys, just pool... nothing else. This is Ames mister." And that's what may have lead to it's demise.

On those few days I spent there, Bill was an amiable host. And I am deeply sadden for his, and our aggregate loss.

Lou Figueroa
 
the big issue is gambling

As some have already said, the big issue is that the pool halls have lost the gamblers. You can gamble at home, at every corner bar and truck stop, at most of the restaurants in town and of course at Casinos. People don't have to go to the horse track or pool hall to gamble.

Horse racing would be history without legislation in place to force the casinos to carry the horse tracks to bolster a billion dollar industry that is also simply obsolete. Unless pool halls find a quick fix to draw more people they are dying. They also have to figure out how to take up less square footage.

The time may come when we are glad to see seven foot tables. I saw video of an english eight ball competition and it looked like they were playing on foosball sized tables. On the other hand, the joint was hopping!

Leagues go a long ways to carry bowling alleys. There are still enough housewives to fill morning leagues and with leagues running three times a day or more the people are in the bowling alleys spending money almost around the clock.

Hu
 
WOW! :eek: Very sad news. :( There are very few nice poolrooms anywhere in NJ, and Comet was tops! I've done lessons in there many times over the past years, and Bill was always very hospitable and friendly to me. I wish the best for both he and Marcia, in whatever they pursue.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
lfigueroa said:
This is incredibly bad news for the pool world. In my travels across the country, Comet was one of the very finest rooms I've had the privilege of playing in.

It was big. I mean really big. Gold crowns, maintained immaculately and well spaced; balls cleaned after every use; soft classic rock on the sound system. Nice clean carpet, walls, and bathrooms. And the posters of the old time giants of the game, all along the walls. I think everyone who loved pool and visited that room went the circumference and stopped at every poster, as if at the Louvre.

But, it was kind of like Ames, "No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys, just pool... nothing else. This is Ames mister." And that's what may have lead to it's demise.

On those few days I spent there, Bill was an amiable host. And I am deeply sadden for his, and our aggregate loss.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...
I agree 100% I was just there last month. It was quiet, I guess that was hinting at something. A damn shame. My condolences to Bill and crew -- fine hosts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top