The shopping center deal was struck in 2016.
Bob did not expect to get another 5 years out of the room. He thought he had a year or two at most.
The mess that was to be the new pool room is due to ineptitude, cold feet, and cash. None of which includes Bob.
Bob wanted to retire. Normally, you would sell the business, but in this case, there was no longer a business to sell.
But he also saw an opportunity and didn’t want to leave a LARGE client base disappointed with no local pool room to go to anymore. Houseman was going to be the one who opened up the new pool room.
After a long time searching, they found a place that would have been perfect, and basically, Bob was going to hold his hand through the process, guide him in the beginning, give him his insights on his successful tried and true business plan that spanned 32 years on a silver platter, and then retire. Having successfully played a part in his pool legacy continuing, having helped with the startup, and handed the helm to someone else.
Then it became a mess with the guy not being able to make up his mind, not having the stones to pull the trigger, and then talking with other people about investing cash for a piece of the business. Doesn’t help when the people who wanted to invest have historically been the biggest broke agents in the pool room who everyone doubted could come up with a chunk of change.
ANY of the old regulars could have told him that this guy chirping about investing and coming up with money was a load of garbage. Didn’t surprise anyone when those plans fell through.
And even if he somehow did invest, everyone knew that that guy owning a piece of any poolroom would be it’s downfall because he would never ever be able to be a silent partner and would want to control stuff and influence things and it would eventually rip itself apart.
Pool rooms are better when they are one owner, or one couple as owners.
And that was the end of it. Everything got shelved after that nonsense.
Windows of opportunity are probably long gone by now so what’s the point.
Bob is a happy camper though. Enjoying his free time of not having to be present 7 days a week.
All that’s left is Bluegrass, Markley, and Ball Busters...
...and Drexeline memories
