I just posted about a page and a half and it didn't go through. So rather than doing it all for nothing again I just want to see if this new thread goes through then I will post.
'Dry' County pool room
- Thread starter Harvywallbanger
- Start date
OK great
So me and my family have been looking for a good place to raise a family. We happened upon Elizabethtown, KY. We went and visited to scope things out and I didn't see a pool hall anywhere.
I have always wanted to open a pool hall but after witnessing many failors I thought it may be to much. One of the big reasons I never have is because of alcohol. It seems you would have to open a bar/pool hall to make a safe assumption it will succeed.
Here is the kicker. In Elizabethtown it's a 'dry' county(actually 'moist', they allow alcohol sales in certain restraunts)
I got to thinking that this could actually play to my advantage, no? I may get more people since they won't be going out and getting drunk at the bars.
Any thoughts?
So me and my family have been looking for a good place to raise a family. We happened upon Elizabethtown, KY. We went and visited to scope things out and I didn't see a pool hall anywhere. I have always wanted to open a pool hall but after witnessing many failors I thought it may be to much. One of the big reasons I never have is because of alcohol. It seems you would have to open a bar/pool hall to make a safe assumption it will succeed.
Here is the kicker. In Elizabethtown it's a 'dry' county(actually 'moist', they allow alcohol sales in certain restraunts)
I got to thinking that this could actually play to my advantage, no? I may get more people since they won't be going out and getting drunk at the bars.
Any thoughts?
Pretty tough
Unless u get dirt cheap rent I would say it is almost impossible. Especially in Kentucky.
Harvywallbanger said:OK great
I have always wanted to open a pool hall but after witnessing many failors I thought it may be to much. One of the big reasons I never have is because of alcohol. It seems you would have to open a bar/pool hall to make a safe assumption it will succeed.
Here is the kicker. In Elizabethtown it's a 'dry' county(actually 'moist', they allow alcohol sales in certain restraunts)
I got to thinking that this could actually play to my advantage, no? I may get more people since they won't be going out and getting drunk at the bars.
Any thoughts?
Unless u get dirt cheap rent I would say it is almost impossible. Especially in Kentucky.
Hmmmm...I'm thinking along the lines of "Free" rent...LOL, but then again...I might try and talk the owner into paying "ME" to be there...LOL
In any established pool room selling alcohol still in business today, almost 50% of the income, if not more is from the sale of alcohol. You can live without the smoking, but not without at least beer & wine.
Glen
In any established pool room selling alcohol still in business today, almost 50% of the income, if not more is from the sale of alcohol. You can live without the smoking, but not without at least beer & wine.
Glen
thanks for the honest replies but what do you think of opening one in a alcohol free county is what I am more concerned about. Has anyone ever done this with any results?
Landlords don't care if you have alcohol or not, but they don't discount the rent based on if you can sell it or not. I have a question for you. How far is it from the location you're talking about, to the nearest place to get a drink? Because if it's within a short driving distance...I doubt seriously if you'll draw the adults to come and play if they can't have something to drink. That leaves you the kids mostly...and that becomes another problem in itself...most adults don't want to play pool around a bunch of kids. You'll get one market or the other, but you won't get both. I've owned 3 pool halls in the past, and I swear I'd never open another one without alcohol...period!
Glen
Glen
Just because its a dry county doesn't mean they aren't drinking somewhere, just not drinking in public places which means they won't be in your place either. You can do it but you will have a tough go of it IMO. I agree with Glen totally, as I have had 2 rooms with no booze and forget it, never again.
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I don't want the drunks at my pool hall anyways. I thought that since it's a dry county there would be less interest in drinking and more time spent on activities as far as the general public goes. I realize that pool halls do not go over well without alcohol but i'm guessing thats because alot of the people are at the bars or whatever. So if there are no bars in the area then they might have time to do other things non alcohol related like shoot a few games of pool in my pool hall.
Not trying to give you a hard time, but not everyone that drinks...gets drunk, or is a drunk. I've lived in a dry county before down in Texas when I was in the Army stationed at Ft. Hood. When we got off work...we just left the county to go play pool...where we COULD get something to drink if we wanted to, while we played pool! I never drank much back then, nor have I ever...but, when I wanted something to drink...it was there. All everyone is saying, is that...in todays rental market, it's almost impossible to make ends meet without the sale of alcohol. It'll make the difference in how many employee's you have...or if you're the only one working, because you DON'T have that extra money to pay for help. But, I've said enough about this subject, that I really don't have any more to say...so that's it.Harvywallbanger said:I don't want the drunks at my pool hall anyways. I thought that since it's a dry county there would be less interest in drinking and more time spent on activities as far as the general public goes. I realize that pool halls do not go over well without alcohol but i'm guessing thats because alot of the people are at the bars or whatever. So if there are no bars in the area then they might have time to do other things non alcohol related like shoot a few games of pool in my pool hall.
Glen
i have operated a 20 table room in a 'moist' county myself. we are near the end of our 15th year. we have a city population of 23,000 and a reasonable radius draw of about 70,000 people. after years of making a good living from the pool room we are down to a break even deal in 2007 and a trend showing a loss for 2008. i will list below some items that i feel have taken a toll on us over the years.
1. casino availability
2. poker
3. home computers (who had em in 1993)
4. home gaming systems.
5. smoking laws
i firmly believe that now is not the right time to get into the pool room business. i do however wish you luck if you decide to do it. by the way i grew up in kentucky (about 60 miles from Etown we call it). been through there many times on the way to louisville.
1. casino availability
2. poker
3. home computers (who had em in 1993)
4. home gaming systems.
5. smoking laws
i firmly believe that now is not the right time to get into the pool room business. i do however wish you luck if you decide to do it. by the way i grew up in kentucky (about 60 miles from Etown we call it). been through there many times on the way to louisville.
Hey I will give you a little input from my experience. I have owned a couple of small rooms in Kentucky in an area that wasn't even moist. I live on the KY/Tennessee line and alcohol is available about 10 miles away. I don't know how you feel about Poker machines but that was the only way that I could make it. Take a trip over to the Rack and Cue in Campbellsville and see what I am talking about. Good luck and I hope it works out for you.
Poker machines as in 'back' room gambling? I don't think I would want to risk it.
Let me reword my question a little.
If a guy is going to open an alcohol free pool room do you think it would work to his advantage(even in the slightest) to open it in a dry county rather than a wet one?
I think it would have to help, no?
Let me reword my question a little.
If a guy is going to open an alcohol free pool room do you think it would work to his advantage(even in the slightest) to open it in a dry county rather than a wet one?
I think it would have to help, no?
Ok, here's a thought for you, what about opening it as a non-profit organization? At least then you could apply for grants to help keep it open, and maybe work on getting some community support from the churchs in the area for teens at risk. It's just a thought.Harvywallbanger said:
Glen
realkingcobra said:
OK how about this Glen. I hire you as a perverted clown who sticks his finger up a monkeys butt while standing on his head doing a one handed masse'?
hahahahaha...and I thought my sideline work was a secretHarvywallbanger said:OK how about this Glen. I hire you as a perverted clown who sticks his finger up a monkeys butt while standing on his head doing a one handed masse'?
Glen
You know seriously I really thought I was on to something here. I was hoping people were going to say, "thats a great idea!" Surely people are not going to drive out of county to shoot pool EVERYTIME just cause they want a drink while shooting. Even if once in a while they decided "screw it lets just stay here and shoot a few tonight" then that would be better than being in a wet county when they would never walk in. Right?
But I was thinking of the people out of county coming in. They might never come to my town because it is dry. But how much business comes from out of town?
But I was thinking of the people out of county coming in. They might never come to my town because it is dry. But how much business comes from out of town?
Just my $.02 since I do live in a dry county in NC. Opening a room in a dry county may be great for a very few non-drinking pool players that don't have tables at home. The majority of your business would be the recreational players that just want to shoot some pool with their bud's and have a few beers. And yes, they will drive to the next county to find a room or bar that serves alcohol. I believe there is one pool room in the entire county I live in. I'm sure if business was that great others would have opened.
Harv,
Here is my 2 cents on the deal. You have to have capital. If you plan to rent your equipement , pay rent , utilities , and upkeep, you are better off getting a job at your local fast food joint cause you'll make more money there.
Locally , you are looking at 12 to 20 dollars a square foot for rent. And that's cheap! With that in mind , figure the square foot you would need or want to run a room that is open , and roomy for players to stretch out and play their game.
Then figure on how many tables you want to have and what size. Of course 9 footers are great , but really take up the footage. And players aren't much on bar boxes all the time. You would need a mix. Give em some options.
Now , if you got the number of tables in mind you want , then figure your taste in tables. Gold Crown , Diamond, Ect. The capital needed just in tables in high even if bought used.
Then figure location , parking availability , food license, retail sales license, local laws and regulations. Really gets up there and your doors aren't even open yet.
Getting the picture yet? Dry area is not going to make you any more money than a very wet one. I agree with most here , food , beverages , then pool. Pool I just don't think can make it on it's own with todays fast food , mini mart society. You need more.
Hope it helps ya Harv,
Take care,
Jim Lee
Here is my 2 cents on the deal. You have to have capital. If you plan to rent your equipement , pay rent , utilities , and upkeep, you are better off getting a job at your local fast food joint cause you'll make more money there.
Locally , you are looking at 12 to 20 dollars a square foot for rent. And that's cheap! With that in mind , figure the square foot you would need or want to run a room that is open , and roomy for players to stretch out and play their game.
Then figure on how many tables you want to have and what size. Of course 9 footers are great , but really take up the footage. And players aren't much on bar boxes all the time. You would need a mix. Give em some options.
Now , if you got the number of tables in mind you want , then figure your taste in tables. Gold Crown , Diamond, Ect. The capital needed just in tables in high even if bought used.
Then figure location , parking availability , food license, retail sales license, local laws and regulations. Really gets up there and your doors aren't even open yet.
Getting the picture yet? Dry area is not going to make you any more money than a very wet one. I agree with most here , food , beverages , then pool. Pool I just don't think can make it on it's own with todays fast food , mini mart society. You need more.
Hope it helps ya Harv,
Take care,
Jim Lee