good pool halls in NJ?
- Thread starter bgb
- Start date
There was a room in Elizabeth that Mizerak used to frequent when he was living up there; they had a weekly tournament that drew some top-notch players back in the mid-80s (and is actually where I first Nikki Benish Hollingsworth, who would later be my roommate on tour!!). Is that place still open? I wish could remember the name.......It was a great room!!
Secaucus Fats
Banned
Kerry Impson said:
Hi Kerry,
I believe the room you asked about in Elizabeth is the now defunct West End Billiards.
The room died a slow and painful death. The neighborhood decayed into another urban ghetto cespool, and as the neighborhood decayed, the room went right down the tubes. Even in broad daylight you had to watch your back because you could wind up being robbed or carjacked.
Towards the end, the place was filthy, the tables looked like hell, and the "clientele" consisted mostly of thugs and drug dealers.
In better days it was one of the premier action rooms on the east coast and you could always count on seeing the best straight pool players at the tournaments held there.
Kerry Impson said:
You're referring to Westend Billiards. I don't know if it's still there. I haven't been out there in years.
Comet is great but it's not south of New York.
MaryD said:Jude - have you forgotten that New York is more than just the city?
Route 80 runs nearly due west from NYC. I live and work along the 80 corridor, and Comet's about halfway through my commute. I actually grew up in Parsippany, where it's located. I'd agree with you that it's not south of NYC, it's west.
However, the original poster described his location - Aberdeen - as south of New York. I'm in Jersey and thought I might be able to help him, but didn't know where Aberdeen was. So I looked on mapquest and found it in the northwest corner of NJ. It appears to be just a few miles south of Jersey's northern border with New York state. He's right. He's south of most of New York. And I am, and Comet is - and *you* are - south of him.
LOL!
M
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
So basically, it'd be like my asking, "I'm looking for a room in New York. Something south of Canada would be preferred."
MaryD said:Pretty much! From his post, I thought I'd find Aberdeen down the shore (warning: Jersey native lingo there.)
I suppose locals would think of the area as south of the border...
M
Something is strange as the other town mentioned by the Original Poster is Hazlett, where i played in either a TRi State Event or that spin off tour run by Pat Fleming's brother and Hazlett is near the shore and well South of NYC.
That's a shame. It was awesome back in the 80s! (Now I feel really old.....)Secaucus Fats said:
Thanks for the update, Fats and Jude!!
Kerry Impson said:
I do have to agree, that was a GREAT room. For those that don't know, Westend was a two level poolroom with an arcade in the front. The first level had two rows of tables with a raised walkway going right down the middle. Plenty of space for playing and watching. Upstairs was their "tournament room" that was only used for its intended purpose. Bleacher seating, TD desk and again, plenty of space to go around. It was the ultimate players' room layout.
Eric. said:"good pool halls in NJ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South of New York, in the Aberdeen/ Hazlett area?
Thanks in advance..."
Eric
Eric, we meant that he picked a place that is Northern New Jersey, west of New York City but SOUTH of New York State. Well, Jersey on the whole is south of New York State. That's kinda a given so when you say "south of New York", you immediately think he's referring to New York City but he wasn't. He was referring to New York State.
Jude Rosenstock said:
Well i hate to nit pick (actually i like nit picking).
New Jersey is North of certain parts of New York and South of certain parts and vice versa.
What you might not know however is that certain parts of New Jersey are South of certain parts of Virginia and W Va too.
Last edited:
Jude Rosenstock said:
All I was saying is that the original poster was pretty specific about location i.e. South of NY and in the Aberdeen/Hazlet area.
I was getting a kick about how something so exact can be misconstrued and end up as something vague. Kinda like the kiddie game of "telephone".
Eric
ill be in s.jersey weds. thru sun. i plan to hit the two pool halls in vineland. capones and q ball.
i guess i meant to say 'just south of new york city' - but i have to thank y'all for making me feel like a total idiot 
I don't have a clue where anything in NJ is, just for the record - it's like being in the twilight zone, but thanks all for the information.
I don't have a clue where anything in NJ is, just for the record - it's like being in the twilight zone, but thanks all for the information.
bgb said:i guess i meant to say 'just south of new york city' - but i have to thank y'all for making me feel like a total idiot
I don't have a clue where anything in NJ is, just for the record - it's like being in the twilight zone, but thanks all for the information.
bgb, what? Do you want us to treat you differently? Name one person who gets off easy here and I'll eat my hat! Seriously, you should think nothing of it either way and just enjoy the banter.
bgb said:i guess i meant to say 'just south of new york city' - but i have to thank y'all for making me feel like a total idiot
I don't have a clue where anything in NJ is, just for the record - it's like being in the twilight zone, but thanks all for the information.
Don't worry about it man! I can get up in the morning and feel like a total idiot without any help at all from these guys! Hell, I'm from New Jersey and was back there last year for a couple of weeks and didn't know where I was going. Thank God for Mapquest!