How's the layout? Would you play here? Need opinions please!
- Thread starter drenkel
- Start date
1-League players..need seating..if that is the market you are going for then definitely a must. Teams of 7-10 per team sit together usually.
2- Seating: elevated seating is almost a requirement for pool halls. Stools work fine as long as there is space for lots of them.
3- Bench/ booth/ bleacher seating works well too. There should be at least 16 inches of elevation from the ground to the customers foot. So that they can easily see the games while they enjoy food and drinks. Nobody likes to stand up while eating.
4- Action tables definitely need a place for rail birds to view the action and not distrub players
5-Quality equipment must be obtained and maintained in order for the players to come. The employees should always wipe down the tables after each customers leave and vacuum the cloth once a nice maintain the longeviy of the cloth. Most pool halls I've been to requires customers to use a "break cloth" for tables that have new cloth installed. It's a scrap piece of cloth that came from the table being refelted. Usually hangs on the light and players place it under the cue ball before they break each time. This prevents the cueball from burning the cloth as they break.
6-Break and run contest are always a good crowd pleaser. This was listed in the thread above. Almost indefinitely will bring in players.
7-Having a cue repair shop and not just a place that sells pool cue accessories is always an added bonus but not neccessary if it takes up too much space.
8-Having clean restrooms with automatic dryers is nice to have. As the majority of your customers are going to men. *nuff said
9-Carpet..carpet carpet!!!
2- Seating: elevated seating is almost a requirement for pool halls. Stools work fine as long as there is space for lots of them.
3- Bench/ booth/ bleacher seating works well too. There should be at least 16 inches of elevation from the ground to the customers foot. So that they can easily see the games while they enjoy food and drinks. Nobody likes to stand up while eating.
4- Action tables definitely need a place for rail birds to view the action and not distrub players
5-Quality equipment must be obtained and maintained in order for the players to come. The employees should always wipe down the tables after each customers leave and vacuum the cloth once a nice maintain the longeviy of the cloth. Most pool halls I've been to requires customers to use a "break cloth" for tables that have new cloth installed. It's a scrap piece of cloth that came from the table being refelted. Usually hangs on the light and players place it under the cue ball before they break each time. This prevents the cueball from burning the cloth as they break.
6-Break and run contest are always a good crowd pleaser. This was listed in the thread above. Almost indefinitely will bring in players.
7-Having a cue repair shop and not just a place that sells pool cue accessories is always an added bonus but not neccessary if it takes up too much space.
8-Having clean restrooms with automatic dryers is nice to have. As the majority of your customers are going to men. *nuff said
9-Carpet..carpet carpet!!!
I agree with most of the suggestions mentioned. If you are going to stick with two 9 footers, I would put them in the middle area where the two 7's are right now. It looks like there is more seating around and would be better for people to watch any action.
If it were me, I would get at least 4 nine footers. Keep the two you have in place and replace the two 7's in the middle. The newest room near me has 5 seven ft and 3 nines. During tournaments, the bar tables are well used, but there is usually a wait to get on the big tables for action. I wish there were a few more 9 footers so people weren't waiting to gamble.
I like the room, wish there were more big tables (I think even two more would make a big difference).
-Brandon
If it were me, I would get at least 4 nine footers. Keep the two you have in place and replace the two 7's in the middle. The newest room near me has 5 seven ft and 3 nines. During tournaments, the bar tables are well used, but there is usually a wait to get on the big tables for action. I wish there were a few more 9 footers so people weren't waiting to gamble.
I like the room, wish there were more big tables (I think even two more would make a big difference).
-Brandon
If your league pool is APA, you'll need 16 seats for 1 table, unless you're opening one match table and one practice table, in which case you still need 8 seats for each table. If you're planning on hosting an in-house APA division, you go right back up to 16 seats for 1 table. If you've got 10 to 12 seats per table, the players can make it work (people wander, it's true), but you at least need one obvious place for everybody to put their jackets, cases, purses, midol, etc., with the seating nearby.
If your league pool is BCA, you'll need 8 seats per table, and a practice table gets you down to your 4 seats per table, unless you're closing off a section of the bar for league pool.
Otherwise, hell yeah, that looks awesome.
Is temple Texas a college town, oil town? That may push for more coin op tables like you have. If the other pool rooms are mostly coin tables, then I would follow that idea. I don't play small tables and I like the 9 footers away from the bathrooms. I don't want drunk ball bangers walking by me when I am trying to play some serious pool. I say leave the 4 coin tables near the toilet in the back room.
Temple is that where they have the rangerettes dance team? Give them free pool and drinks one night a week and see if it helps get guys in there.
Are the 9 foot tables per hour?
The half walls are really a great idea because it will also make the place look bigger.
Temple is that where they have the rangerettes dance team? Give them free pool and drinks one night a week and see if it helps get guys in there.
Are the 9 foot tables per hour?
The half walls are really a great idea because it will also make the place look bigger.
One small change, might be to reverse the tables where you have the 3+1 row of tables!! Give them a 180 degree turn so your breaking the other way, that way someone
doesn't get a flying ball coming at them when they walk out of the lounge or around the corner!! Same could go with the 2 tables on there own as well! Very nice room!!
doesn't get a flying ball coming at them when they walk out of the lounge or around the corner!! Same could go with the 2 tables on there own as well! Very nice room!!
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Ya the 2 9's are by the hour. We will also offer the 7's by the hour too at request.
Can't make half walls unfortunately, that's out of the budget.
I'm gonna play with the layout a bit and add more seating tomorrow. I'll post up another pic soon as it's done. Thanks for the specs walrus, it's APA in my town.
I agree cesarmorales, I don't want the left side to be 9 footers. I got the serious players up front away from the commotion as much as possible. I'll see if there is room to add one more 9 footer after I play with the seating.
Can't make half walls unfortunately, that's out of the budget.
I'm gonna play with the layout a bit and add more seating tomorrow. I'll post up another pic soon as it's done. Thanks for the specs walrus, it's APA in my town.
I agree cesarmorales, I don't want the left side to be 9 footers. I got the serious players up front away from the commotion as much as possible. I'll see if there is room to add one more 9 footer after I play with the seating.
Maybe I am missing something obvious, but what did you envision the brown tables with the black chairs section being used for ?
I'd definitely add at least 2 more 9 footers.
Not exactly related to the room, but auto-flush urinals and toilets are a nice touch... I would think less clean-up and maintenance.
Are you going to offer pay-as-you-go lockers for players wanting to leave their equipment there?
Are you may want to put a thread in the Room Owners Discussion forum... with a link to this thread.
They may have some valuable input.
Are you going to offer pay-as-you-go lockers for players wanting to leave their equipment there?
Are you may want to put a thread in the Room Owners Discussion forum... with a link to this thread.
They may have some valuable input.
Ok gotcha. Not sure I would like to sit at a table where I am grouped up with people facing toward me. Hollywood Billiards here in Hollywood, CA had a set-up where they had countertops with stools facing the tables for spectators/players. Following link shows. This might be better for the 9-foot tables for action gawking. Just food for thought. I like your layout otherwise.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/_WpWiSjoKYfLGWhtwrYZAg?select=eSRzxzUHXfZjEh0VjQlPsg
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Entrance is in the front, where the tile is. Bathrooms are in the back left. The bar isnt fully formed in that design, here's the bar below this post:
No snooker tables, they are all going to be regular diamonds. 14 of the 7' smart coin op tables, and 2 regular diamond 9' tables.
Hmmm, you had me sold as a customer up until you said they are mainly 7 foot tables. Only 2 9 footers?
MULLY
only plays on the big tables
Hey guys & gals. Gonna be opening a pool hall soon and I wanted to get some feedback about the layout we have put together. We are going to be focused on league play during the week, and tourneys on Fri. and Sat.
14 7' Diamond Coin Ops
2 9' Diamonds Pro-Am
Full bar /w liquor
Lounge /w couches & TV's (PPV events when applicable)
For grand opening we are going to be doing a few $10 tourneys where the house throws $500 in the pot for each one. Hoping to get about $1K payout for the players who come.
Pool will be .75 cents a game, draft beer ~ $1.50
Anyway, I wanted to get an opinion from the players. How's it look? Is there anything we could do to make customers more comfortable? Would you play at a pool hall like this?
Thanks!
The one thing that jumps out at me is the layout will require more employees at one time then should be needed for a 16 table room. Looks like a very hard room to manage. That may not sound like a big deal till you realize that with a bad layout it could cost you $30,000 or more a year that would be in your pocket with a few changes. On a slow night you will have employees standing around sucking up your profits because you may need them. Those are the little things that can make the difference between above water and under water. Also I don;t know what the investment for full liquor is where you are but I know from experience that at least 80% maybe 90% of the sales in a place like your will be beer. If the liquor causes any restrictions or add greatly to the cost I would do an honest demographic in that area and see if it is worth it. You may also need a non partisan person who can give you some advice maybe even tell you things you don't want to hear. It is too easy to get caught up in the color of the wall paper and excited plans and forgetting what it will take for the business to make money.
I once built a 60 foot horse shoe bar that cost me $5000 taking out two pool tables. It seemed like a good idea till I saw it in practice. In two months I ripped it out and essentially put everything back the way it was in the first place. It is important to recognize and correct a mistake.
I can't tell from your sketch but do you have any full size windows facing the main road? That can be big. At night with the place busy and a big picture window it is like a giant animated flashing sign. It will bring in new customers like crazy. No windows where they can't see in and they often don't stop. Or when they finally come in they say "Wow I passed here a thousand times, I always wondered what it was like". Any one new customer could be worth thousands to you. You never know the value of people.
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The place I go to here in Japan remodeled recently and I like what they did. They put the counter right at the entrance. When you come in you have to pay a 10 dollar "down payment" and they give you a poker chip. That 10 dollars will eventually go towards your bill so you're not paying 10 bucks just to get in. If your final bill comes up to say....15 dollars, you give them the chip and 5 bucks. There is also a one drink minimum, but, you get a free drink if you play at least 2 hours so if you only have one drink it takes care of it. Pretty good system and with the counter right there at the door, no one is sneaking out and there is no need for a ton of staff. They usually have 3 people on duty.
MULLY
MULLY
Very good advice macguy thank you.
Liquor vs beer in my area is only a $2500 startup and $500 a year difference. Not many extra restrictions. Will be worth it in the long run.
Ya the entire front of the building is big windows. It used to be a retail store. It's on the access road of I35 the major highway that runs through our town. Gonna get a big sign and do a lot of advertising. Should get a lot of attention.
Thanks again for all your advice everyone it has been invaluable. I will read this thread a few more times tomorrow and rework the design. Will post the new layout tomorrow afternoon so you guys can see the changes.
Liquor vs beer in my area is only a $2500 startup and $500 a year difference. Not many extra restrictions. Will be worth it in the long run.
Ya the entire front of the building is big windows. It used to be a retail store. It's on the access road of I35 the major highway that runs through our town. Gonna get a big sign and do a lot of advertising. Should get a lot of attention.
Thanks again for all your advice everyone it has been invaluable. I will read this thread a few more times tomorrow and rework the design. Will post the new layout tomorrow afternoon so you guys can see the changes.
Just so you get what I meant, when I said giant sign I was referring to the window it's self. At night, lit up with people having fun, it is hard to even put a price on it's worth.