Hard Times Bellflower
Corey is correct. We opened it in 1988. I did the floor plan for Chuck and Mike Markulis. I wanted to put bleacher seating on both sides of the tourney arena, but there just wasn't room. We actually tried to buy the restaurant next door to expand, but they weren't selling.
It was made famous in two ways. First and foremost it became the site of the biggest and best poolroom tourneys ever held. Year after year we attracted world class fields to play there. We always scheduled in conjunction with the Reno events, so players could come out West for two good tourneys. Chuck and Mike were the probably the first poolroom owners to add 10K and more to a tournament (my apologies to Barry B. if he added more at the Q-Master for the early U.S. Opens).
With very tight Gold Crowns, decent prize money and a nice tourney set-up the players loved it. And Chuck loved the pool players, comping rooms and entry fees for the top players.
Some of the winners of those late 80's and early 90's events included Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Earl, Jay Swanson, David Howard and Dennis Hatch. The final matches were always great with outstanding play on both sides. I always enjoyed handing the winner that envelope stuffed with hundreds.
The only top player who we never could get to play there was Mike Sigel. We tried everything but he would not come. First time I ever saw him play a match there was three weeks ago at the IPT qualifier.
Now the second thing that put Hard Times on the map was a full chapter in David McCumber's book, "Playing Off The Rail". He went on and on about all the action that was there and pretty soon every hustler alive was haunting the place. That went on for a few years until Mike and Chuck sold out in the late 90's. Everything died down after that, but Brook and Kenny have kept the place on the map with some well planned events.
There were many great money games there featuring Morro, Francisco, Efren, Tang, Ernesto, Bob Hunter, Earl, Stalev, Steve Knight, Rodney, John Schmidt and a host of others. So many players came thru there it would be impossible to recount all the games played during that time frame.
The glory years were 1988 to 1998, but Hard Times is alive and well.
Corey is correct. We opened it in 1988. I did the floor plan for Chuck and Mike Markulis. I wanted to put bleacher seating on both sides of the tourney arena, but there just wasn't room. We actually tried to buy the restaurant next door to expand, but they weren't selling.
It was made famous in two ways. First and foremost it became the site of the biggest and best poolroom tourneys ever held. Year after year we attracted world class fields to play there. We always scheduled in conjunction with the Reno events, so players could come out West for two good tourneys. Chuck and Mike were the probably the first poolroom owners to add 10K and more to a tournament (my apologies to Barry B. if he added more at the Q-Master for the early U.S. Opens).
With very tight Gold Crowns, decent prize money and a nice tourney set-up the players loved it. And Chuck loved the pool players, comping rooms and entry fees for the top players.
Some of the winners of those late 80's and early 90's events included Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Earl, Jay Swanson, David Howard and Dennis Hatch. The final matches were always great with outstanding play on both sides. I always enjoyed handing the winner that envelope stuffed with hundreds.
The only top player who we never could get to play there was Mike Sigel. We tried everything but he would not come. First time I ever saw him play a match there was three weeks ago at the IPT qualifier.
Now the second thing that put Hard Times on the map was a full chapter in David McCumber's book, "Playing Off The Rail". He went on and on about all the action that was there and pretty soon every hustler alive was haunting the place. That went on for a few years until Mike and Chuck sold out in the late 90's. Everything died down after that, but Brook and Kenny have kept the place on the map with some well planned events.
There were many great money games there featuring Morro, Francisco, Efren, Tang, Ernesto, Bob Hunter, Earl, Stalev, Steve Knight, Rodney, John Schmidt and a host of others. So many players came thru there it would be impossible to recount all the games played during that time frame.
The glory years were 1988 to 1998, but Hard Times is alive and well.
)? Seems to me there was a cardroom/casino nearby.
