Here in my area, there's a guy who runs his pool room darn near about 18 hours out of the 24-hour day. He used to have day help, but when he discovered the day counter person was playing pool and helping himself to the money in the cash register from time to time, he decided to bring in his family to help run the business, a wife and two college-age daughters.
His kitchen area, located behind the pool counter, is in full view, and is clean as a whistle. He is constantly emptying ash trays, wiping down the table rails, vaccuming the aisleways, making sure the bathroom has everything one needs, and is NEVER still. Although a modest kitchen area, he has quite a big menu, offering a variety of treats, not the usual blood mud consisting of fried cheese sticks and the like. When in the kitchen, he washes his hands quite often, and the food is always FRESH. Wanting to keep his regulars happy, he offers a variety of beverages, to include Starbucks mocha drinks

, always catering to his patrons. He had some coffee mugs printed up with the name of his pool room and presented me with one upon arrival one day, a gesture that is not forgotten.
He's an action-friendly pool room owner. Since there is no alcohol served at this facility, he doesn't experience the same heat as other room owners. MANY times, he kept the room open after hours to allow the games to continue, even though he had been up almost 24 hours, trying to keep his regulars and visiting players happy. I have witnessed, on more than one occasion, action players battling it out until the wee hours of the morning, sometimes until 8:00 a.m., and when they arrive at the counter to pay the time, they balk, whine, and moan at the cost. I feel like slapping 'em and telling them to wake up and smell the coffee.
There's another pool room in the area which is run by a female pitbull bitch, watching your every move, ready to pounce. One day, I happened to be with a GROUP of players who were attempting to engage in action immediately after a tournament, and as players are wont to do, they began barking. The pitbull manager, seeing gambling in the making, came over and howled at the top of her lungs, warning all they will be barred forever. She read each one of them the riot act, and it was quite loud, enough to make the whole room pause until it was over. Meanwhile, nothing had occurred YET. It was only a verbal barkfest. I was sitting on the sidelines, watching the whole incident, and couldn't wait to get out of there, thinking I'd rather bar myself from a joint, than be barred. In my haste, I left my coat there, not a real expensive one, but one that I kind of liked.
Several weeks later, I was in the area and decided to see if somebody turned in my coat. I walked in and there she was, a middle-aged woman, brandishing her trademark scowl. I approached her and politely asked if somebody had turned in a coat recently, and when she recognized me as friends of one of the group of action players from several weeks before, her facial expression immediately changed. "We get lots of coats. How would I know?" And that was it.
Well, I had had enough of her action. I smiled sweetly and looked her dead in her eyes and said, "Is there some reason that you have a problem with me? I left my coat, and I've politely asked you if it was turned in. You seem to be upset with ME for no reason I can think of. Can I re-word my question differently, so that you may understand the intent of my inquiry?" She immediately changed her tempo and smiled, escorting me to the Lost and Found closet. And there was my coat, thankfully. Ironically, her boss happens to be the son of my old boss, and thoughts of making a few phone calls began to dance in my head, but for what? Maybe she's just a crappy people person, but a good manager.
The atmosphere of any pool room is created by the owner and/or the staff, and I sure do know where I like to take my business. The really cool pool rooms are run by owners who have the same passion for the game as most of us here on this forum. I'd much rather go to a room where my business is appreciated and where I'm with like-minded folk than to a billiards emporium where you have to send a flare up to get service.
Moral of the story, pool players and room owners are people with varying dispositions and personalities. There's some good apples and some nasty rotten ones. In my experience, folks recognize room owners who want to create a good pool environment. In every community, there's always one room that stands out, above all the rest, and there's where I take my business. As far as the players go, I make sure me and mine do the right thing.
JAM