Fire at Salt City Billiards, Syracuse, NY

Cardigan Kid said:
Terrible news....
http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index..._in_salina.html#incart_river_mobileshort_home

I'm just learning about this now.

I don't know the extent of the damage but this is the last remaining pool hall in Syracuse, N.Y.
In terms of local pool leagues and a contributing stop on the joss northeast 9-ball tour - losing Salt City Billiards would be devastating.

Awaiting any and all updates.
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This is really sad. I have some very happy memories there.

Grapevine says it may have been a kitchen fire started at 4:45 this morning.

Here's a copy-and-paste of a previous post I made about Salt City:

I have been to this pool room several times, and I must say that I had a really good time. One never knows who's going to show up.

Here's a little pool tale about my visit to Salt City Billiards which was written in, I think, subject to check, 2005:

A few years ago, I was at a Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour event in Syracuse, New York. Salt City Billiards, I think was the name of the joint. I will never forget they had homemade Tortellini soup. Oh, my was it good.

Anyway, there were a lot of first-class champs in attendance. The finals ended up being Jim Rempe versus Karen Corr. Corr defeated Rempe the weekend before in the finals, and so this was a little revenge match between the two of them, a friendly revenge but a revenge altogether.

To this day, no male player I know likes getting beat by a female pro. In fact, most don't even like to compete against them, but that is the topic for another thread.

So during a break, I'm wolfing down some of this homemade Italian Tortellini soup, and much to my delight, Jim Rempe sits down at my table with me. I have heard many stories about Rempe, and in fact, in the '70s, Rempe's name was in all the headlines of the pool media. He was 'da man, as they say. He traveled the world in an era when pool wasn't quite so mainstream elsewhere, and he even won a brand-new car playing pool. Those were the days, as they say! Rempe was on top of his game when pool was cool here in the States. Heck, pool was even on TV quite often, the Wide World of Sports as one example, with the great Howard Cosell.

Rempe told me he suffered from lower back pain, which is one reason he does not compete as often anymore. He said that when he was hitting 'em in his prime that the Gold Crowns and other pool tables were 2 inches higher than they are today, and when the table manufacturing companies tried to increase their profit margin, they decided to lower the height of pool tables by 2 inches, so they could fit one more table in the truck for deliveries. Rempe said when that happened, his back troubles began. He was dead serious, and I believe him.

Oh, meanwhile, back at the tournament, Jim Rempe got his revenge and beat Karen Corr! My boyfriend came in fourth place. He was happy to have a little extra jingle in his pockets, and I was elated to have experienced the ambrosial Italian cuisine of Salt City Billiards. All's well that ends well!

At any rate, this is just a little urban legend about a tall player that I thought I would add to the thread.

Here is me and Keith standing outside in front of Salt City Billiards and a photo I took of Jim Rempe the same tournament at Salt City Billiards.
 

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Nice story JAM but one thing I find interesting is Rempe talking about the higher tables. I am short and have played on may Gold Crowns in many places and I have never encountered a table that seemed or was 2 inches taller. I have played on Gold Crown 1's, 2's, 3's and currently have a Gold Crown 4. All of the tables were comfortable height for me and I would certainly notice a 2" higher table if I encountered one. Anyway thanks for posting and I hope the pool room is able to repair and reopen.

Kevin
 
Kevin Lindstrom said:
Nice story JAM but one thing I find interesting is Rempe talking about the higher tables. I am short and have played on may Gold Crowns in many places and I have never encountered a table that seemed or was 2 inches taller. I have played on Gold Crown 1's, 2's, 3's and currently have a Gold Crown 4. All of the tables were comfortable height for me and I would certainly notice a 2" higher table if I encountered one. Anyway thanks for posting and I hope the pool room is able to repair and reopen.

Kevin
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Thanks, Kevin. That is an unusual story from King James.

Somebody on FB just left Salt City this morning and said the entire place is totaled. :sorry:
 
Cardigan Kid said:
Terrible news....
http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index..._in_salina.html#incart_river_mobileshort_home

I'm just learning about this now.

I don't know the extent of the damage but this is the last remaining pool hall in Syracuse, N.Y.
In terms of local pool leagues and a contributing stop on the joss northeast 9-ball tour - losing Salt City Billiards would be devastating.

Awaiting any and all updates.
Click to expand...

Ryan,

Terrible news indeed. If you happen to see Frank. Please give him my best. Sure hope SC gets re-opened! Please keep the forum updated.

Frank promised me he'd come to Rochester to play in East Ridge Billiards Joss 9 Ball event last October. When he didn't show up, I told him I'd get even ;) . Sure didn't want this to happen :sorry: Ever want to eat the words that come out of your mouth? Even in jest?

Lyn
 
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Holy $#!+ I drove by around 2:45 this morning after work and the gym. Terrible news
Jason
 
cardiac kid said:
Ryan,

Terrible news indeed. If you happen to see Frank. Please give him my best. Sure hope SC gets re-opened! Please keep the forum updated.

Frank promised me he'd come to Rochester to play in East Ridge Billiards Joss 9 Ball event last October. When he didn't show up, I told him I'd get even ;) . Sure didn't want this to happen :sorry: Ever want to eat the words that come out of your mouth? Even in jest?

Lyn
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Will do, Lyn.

While they were waiting for the investigators to finish, Frank and his family were pulling out water logged, smoke stained cases and cues. Players who left their cues over night were searching for them.

Dan Dishaw was there and I saw the remains of his custom cues he was handed from his display case that was at the front counter. Gorgeous cues now up in smoke or destroyed from the heat.

I had to leave to go to work, but the last I saw they were going to the bolt cutters to salvage the cue lockers and anything that might have survived that belongs to the area players who leave the cues over night in the lockers.

It appeared that the fire took to the ceiling and the fire department got to it before it took over the entire structure. The water damage is probably just as bad as the fire if not more.

Yes, lots of prayers and strength to Frank and his family - since they took it over from Joe, the improvements and enhancements they made were well worth it and I was always impressed with how it stood the test of these times of closing pool halls.

Just yesterday, I drove by in my line truck around 2 pm and the parking lot was filled with cars and I thought how business was doing good for Frank and it was nice to see.

How quick things change.
 
Terrible news....first Cap's and now Salt City.
Had some wonderful times there.

...Ron Kady and Joe Speach and I used to have heated discussions on the menu....
...they listed 'pasta fagioli'....but pronounced it 'pasta fazool'.....
...I would say if y'all are going to pronounce it the Naples way....
....then list it as pasta fazool....:rolleyes:

...so then Ron Kady would ask me if I was still playing with those French tips....
...he would pronounce it CHANDIVERT...phonetically.....
...and I would be adamant that one should say ' shahn de vair'.....
...the three of us always ended up laughing our heads off.

I sure hope the insurance company doesn't stall. Maybe asking too much....
 
Cardigan Kid said:
Will do, Lyn.

While they were waiting for the investigators to finish, Frank and his family were pulling out water logged, smoke stained cases and cues. Players who left their cues over night were searching for them.

Dan Dishaw was there and I saw the remains of his custom cues he was handed from his display case that was at the front counter. Gorgeous cues now up in smoke or destroyed from the heat.

I had to leave to go to work, but the last I saw they were going to the bolt cutters to salvage the cue lockers and anything that might have survived that belongs to the area players who leave the cues over night in the lockers.

It appeared that the fire took to the ceiling and the fire department got to it before it took over the entire structure. The water damage is probably just as bad as the fire if not more.

Yes, lots of prayers and strength to Frank and his family - since they took it over from Joe, the improvements and enhancements they made were well worth it and I was always impressed with how it stood the test of these times of closing pool halls.

Just yesterday, I drove by in my line truck around 2 pm and the parking lot was filled with cars and I thought how business was doing good for Frank and it was nice to see.

How quick things change.
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A few of the times I've stopped by they had no open tables so business was good. Great people working there and the owners also, never felt so welcome anywhere before. They invited me to ride along to a tournament this ot an upcoming weekend(can't remember when) great people!
Jason
 
Looks like a cool joint. Might try doing some sort of GoFundMe-type money raising deal. Good luck to the owners, hope you get back open.
 
Bad news.

Makes you wish Holiday Billiards and Cap's were still going,.

All the best,
WW
 
Sad day in Syracuse

Crazy... a total loss.
 

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Terrible news. If any of the players who lost their cases want to buy a new case at some point we will provide a 50% discount to help offset the loss in some small way.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
 
JB Cases said:
Terrible news. If any of the players who lost their cases want to buy a new case at some point we will provide a 50% discount to help offset the loss in some small way.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
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That is very kind of you, John! What a generous offer!
 
JB Cases said:
Terrible news. If any of the players who lost their cases want to buy a new case at some point we will provide a 50% discount to help offset the loss in some small way.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Wow, class act right there. Thank you John.

I only played there a few times, but great place and nice folks.
 
I just seen this on FB.
Shared by Jake Sharp, a Cuse regular and great all around guy !

And set up by Michael Dominick Bellucci
He writes;

First off, no one asked me to do this. I found myself laying in bed thinking about the unfortunate event that happened at Salt City Billiards and all the people effected by it. How I've been going to Salt City since I was 16yrs old. How it's become a home away from home and the DelConte family has become close family as well. I know we all feel the pain of this and the DelConte's more so. So why do we show our love and support to them and to Salt City Billiards so that maybe we can have our home away from home back. All the memories and good times we all have had at this establishment, it's the least we can do and I truly believe the right thing to do. Salt City has been there for all of us over the many many years, let's give back and show how much we actually do care. We need to stick together, come together in this time of need and show our support in any way possible. So please donate if you have ever been there, or feel so passionately about this place as I do.

Thank you
Help spread the word!

https://www.gofundme.com/salt-city-billiards-restoration

Have at it all you good pool fans ! :yeah:
 
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