Corner Billiards closing?

So is this going to be the single new home for Amsterdam after the uptown room closes? That means no room uptown on either East or West Side?

Or does ABC still have a plan to open in Hell's Kitchen as rumored 6 months ago?

Personally, I think ABC was/is a better place to play, with better day rates and the power play making it actually cheaper. But now that I live down in Brooklyn, it's totally in the wrong direction so I almost never go anymore. Looking forward to the new deal downtown!
 
bsmutz said:
I wonder what made them so defiant?
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defiant? they had no choice and couldn't defy anything. the string of buildings from 76 to 77 were sold, and abc got kicked out. only eqinox will be retained, and chirping chicken moves across the street.
 
The place is going to be pretty crowded I guess. I didnt know they had closed both east and now west locations.
 
There's another room located a couple of blocks from where amsterdam east was located that I hear is not too shabby.
 
My inside sources tell me: Corner is closed as of Thursday.

They were given 3 months to fix their deficits, and weren't able to. Amsterdam won't be moving in yet, and probably won't do so until November if they do.

Show up in the next couple days for cheap pool ;) I hear...

-td
 
I think that room is on 86st east of lexington if i remember correctly. I think it is upstairs
 
corner

I was saddened to hear a few days ago that abc would be taking over the corner billiards location. since then I discovered the following.....

Corner billiards was going to close, REGARDLESS. Thw owner of the building is also the room operator. The room wasn't turning that big a profit and he felt that leasing the space out to a big retailer would yield alot more money and release him of the responsibility of running a "break even" business.

So with that in mind, nyc was going to be losing a room by the end of august no matter what. The notion that big fish swallowed up little fish doesn't apply here.

Greg from abc has been actively looking at spaces and was having trouble finding an appropriate location. Corner works for him as it accomplishes his desire to be downtown. The room also has a kitche and he will make it so finer food is served. abc will stay open on the west side until the end of the year. by that time, the 2 million dollar renovation will be complete at corner.

Unfortunately for nyc players, abc will now have a true monopoly. there are no rooms east or west above 23rd strret in the city now. East side billiards on east 86th street only has 6 tables and is not considered a pool room. Slate (formerly chelsea) chased out the serious players years ago and they only want the night club crowd there. broadway is a dungeon and soho billiards is no better.

As far as pricing is concerned, i guess they can charge whatever they want. The amsterdam crowd will come because they have no other choice. Same with most of the corner crowd. figure in the bangers and the room will be OVERCROWDED, all the time.

I have also heard ALL of corner employees are out of work, starting thursday.

It's a sad time for pool here.
 
NYC cue dude said:
I

As far as pricing is concerned, i guess they can charge whatever they want. The amsterdam crowd will come because they have no other choice. Same with most of the corner crowd. figure in the bangers and the room will be OVERCROWDED, all the time.

I have also heard ALL of corner employees are out of work, starting thursday.

It's a sad time for pool here.
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it'll be interesting how the change in demographics play out. abc will be switching out the weekend players, so i think that'll be a wash. i've seen corner just as dead as abc late night, so i don't think that'll improve. the younger eastside crowd have better ways to have fun, and the more monied uws crowd won't be going downtown. if there's an overcrowded situation, it'll be the players, because they won't have anywhere to go. but they don't comprise the biggest part of the poolroom's cashflow anyway.

a MAJOR part of abc's cashflow is from their league. corner has one too. both leagues are full during league hours, so THAT won't grow either.

everyone's assuming an increase in business for abc. i don't think so. there won't all of a sudden be more daytime players nor after midnight players. and in between the leagues will be full in any case. PLUS,,, there are less tables i believe.

i think business will remain the same for abc, just a bigger nut for their monthly lease.

btw,,,i think soho is a GREAT GREAT space, but the local patrons make playing pool an unbearable experience. funny thing is it's only a half a mile away. broadway is a dive but a good space in need of tlc.

i feel badly for the people who have called corner their home.
 
what ever happened to the old golden cue in queens.... did it reopen with bowling lanes as well as a couple of pool tables, My fondest memory will always be playing Johnny Ervilino 3 cushion billiards in there during it's last Joss Tournament................mike
 
What is amazing is that in Manhattan, ABC is really the only room in town that offers quality equipment, players and comfortable atmosphere. As mentioned earlier all the other rooms are lacking in many ways. I wonder if thats simply due to the real estate prices. No one else seems to be able or interested in opening a top room. Maybe zoning is a problem as well.

ABC seems focused on creating top quality rooms. I was wondering how many rooms across the country had 860 on every table before they did it at the east side club? It will be interested to see the new ABC after the renovations.

I'm expecting a great room. (as long as they don't try to add more tables and cramp the room).
 
Slim J I wonder if thats simply due to the real estate prices. No one else seems to be able or interested in opening a top room. Maybe zoning is a problem as well. .[/QUOTE said:
every room room has the potential to do it, but they are either going in another more bar lounge-type direction(which abc tried to emulate by changing their image),,,,or the other rooms don't really care(broadway, soho, and the NOW former corner) all three of these rooms have the space but have been sitting fat and didn't want to make the effort.

broadway is a dive because the owner isn't doing anything to make it better, just as the owner was hands-off with corner. soho's owner is very tight with the building owner and there was no way abc was going to pry that space away. soho seems content with their business to not do anything either.

so those rooms are content and don't want to invest more cash to get better.
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NYC cue dude said:
I was saddened to hear a few days ago that abc would be taking over the corner billiards location. since then I discovered the following.....


abc will stay open on the west side until the end of the year. by that time, the 2 million dollar renovation will be complete at corner.
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Whoa-2 Million dollar renovation? They may not even allow me in there!

Seriously-I think they have to 'net' $2500/day just for rent and loan service. Need to do big numbers and im sure they will.
 
With Corner gone and Amsterdam's westside location soon gone, I think the real question is HOW will the pool scene look in a year? We all know things are changing and the duration where we're in transition will be a bit painful but there are players in this equation that may come into play (they may not) but I think it's early to say what it's all going to look like, good or bad.

Here are some factors to consider:

a. Will Amsterdam continue to pursue a new location now they have acquired the smaller Corner Billiards space?

b. Will Soho Billiards make an effort to draw the Corner Billiards refugees during transition? Will they need to make an effort?

c. How will the Queens rooms play-out in all this? Will players choose to go there?

d. Carom Cafe has quietly opened several rooms throughout the city. Might they consider the now vacant uppereast/upperwest sides? Might someone new come in and try to take advantage of the unclaimed territory?


Food for thought.
 
9 Ball Girl said:
There's another room located a couple of blocks from where amsterdam east was located that I hear is not too shabby.
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If you're talking about East Side amusements, the place with red cloth on the tables, that place isn't much of a poolroom.


Eric
 
Eric. said:
If you're talking about East Side amusements, the place with red cloth on the tables, that place isn't much of a poolroom.


Eric
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Actually, I hear it's gotten much better recently. No video-games, simonis, etc... I haven't been there to confirm but I hear it's a playable room now.
 
The economics of running a successful, upscale poolroom in Manhattan means you're probably not going to be catering to players.

Players are cheap. They don't usually drink while they play and they are usually playing by themselves or against one other person. So how much is a room making off of them a night just off time?

Probably not enough to survive paying for a commercial lease in Manhattan. Especially one the size a decent poolroom requires for a good number of tables in a prime location.

Slate survives because they get a lot of corporate parties and a lot of yahoos - people who are drinking, have 3 or 4 people on the table at once, etc. (The Jillian's business plan.)

The dives survive because they're bare bones. Low upkeep, low overhead.

The one's in the outer boroughs survive because the rents probably aren't as crazy as they are in Manhattan.

Leagues aren't moneymakers either. They're 'filler' for what are typically dead nights. Rather make a few bucks on those nights than nothing at all.

It will be interesting to see what ABC does to Corners, who they cater to, and if they will survive in that space. Downtown and the UWS are two totally different vibes.

Just my 0.02 on this.
 
BrooklynJay said:
The economics of running a successful, upscale poolroom in Manhattan means you're probably not going to be catering to players.

Players are cheap. They don't usually drink while they play and they are usually playing by themselves or against one other person. So how much is a room making off of them a night just off time?

Probably not enough to survive paying for a commercial lease in Manhattan. Especially one the size a decent poolroom requires for a good number of tables in a prime location.

Slate survives because they get a lot of corporate parties and a lot of yahoos - people who are drinking, have 3 or 4 people on the table at once, etc. (The Jillian's business plan.)

The dives survive because they're bare bones. Low upkeep, low overhead.

The one's in the outer boroughs survive because the rents probably aren't as crazy as they are in Manhattan.

Leagues aren't moneymakers either. They're 'filler' for what are typically dead nights. Rather make a few bucks on those nights than nothing at all.

It will be interesting to see what ABC does to Corners, who they cater to, and if they will survive in that space. Downtown and the UWS are two totally different vibes.

Just my 0.02 on this.
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Very true about the Players but i think it isnt only Manhattan where you need more than players. A room cant survive on Players alone anywhere i dont think and that is what Corner had.

I called it C Player paradise. Everyone in there could play-ladies too. The average female at Corner would torture the average guy at many other pool rooms. This is definitely one of the reasons for its demise. Nowhere near enough full paying, beer guzzling bangers.
 
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Jude Rosenstock said:
Actually, I hear it's gotten much better recently. No video-games, simonis, etc... I haven't been there to confirm but I hear it's a playable room now.
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That's what I heard and hey, if the Lipskys play there, then it's gotta be good.
 
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