ACL
Well-known member
Me too. Where in CT?
Is Now the right time to open a pool hall
- Thread starter Bigdaddi44
- Start date
ACL
Well-known member
Gotcha. I'm lucky where I live because I am only about 20 minutes from US1, Yale, Bullseye, and Cue n Brew. Plus only 30 minutes from Shooters. It's nice to have so many rooms with 9' tables so close by.
1pocketguru
Registered
Long gone
1pocketguru
Registered
The facts remain when the economy are down, people will spend it to entetian themselves i worked building boats years ago, the econmy was in a pinch, people were buying anything recreational, like it was their last dollar and they wanted to enjoy before the crash.
I do know from life experiences a pool hall r a gym are the tow hardest hit businesses to make a go. In the gym you need suppliments and people showing the support, so others buy. In the pol hall you need prople that drink and eat excessivley, you don't make mney renting your expensive pool tables.
Number one in any business, is location. usually pool thrives in the south, tourist locations. ( if you had a gas station on the corner on a heavily trafficked road you might be out of business in a couple years, because you were on the corner, and people could only get to you if they were in te right direction)
I do know from life experiences a pool hall r a gym are the tow hardest hit businesses to make a go. In the gym you need suppliments and people showing the support, so others buy. In the pol hall you need prople that drink and eat excessivley, you don't make mney renting your expensive pool tables.
Number one in any business, is location. usually pool thrives in the south, tourist locations. ( if you had a gas station on the corner on a heavily trafficked road you might be out of business in a couple years, because you were on the corner, and people could only get to you if they were in te right direction)
I know a guy in, of all places, Flint Mi. Started Earl's place around 20 years ago. Bought his tables off Craigslist one at a time. No distributor. No rip off of brand new tables. He has 5 9 foot crowns. A huge snooker table. 3 bar boxes. No alcohol, no food other than chips and pop. Open noon til 11or midnight every week day and I dont know weekend hours. He may not make alot, I don't know, but he can't be losing. Nicest part is that it's real pool players. No apa or bca but there was a straight pool league. So it can be done if you love pool
it can be done if you have lots of money
pool time isnt paying rent employess and taxes and the kids college
infact the only reason pool exists at all anywhere in the world is because of rich guys that like it
and for money laundering
Well a few years has past since my long winded reasons on the first couple pages of this thread about why pool rooms are tough action.
What’s changed?
A few things.
Some commercial rents are in fact lower, pool seems healthy in some markets. In others like LA it’s still impossible to open a pool room.
I’m more optimistic about the pool room biz now than I was 5 years ago by 15%.
I don’t think it’s still the highest and best use of $ as an investment. But I do think in the right market with the right formula it’s a good way to have a small return on a large amount of money.
I’d still pass, or have a hard look at the facts. If it’s tied to another profit center (liquor, etc) and you like to hang out all the time watching over your biz. It’s a possibility.
Ask me in 5 more years…..
So ya still gotta do it cuz ya luv it. Helps if the smallish return is there. Three of my pool pals opened up a small but tasteful pool bar. I wish them the best, but am a bit scared for their capital.
That’s how I feel. If ya luv it and you can afford it, ok. But it’s not a printing press type of biz. I’m certainly a bit more optimistic than I was 5 years ago.
It’s a lifestyle choice if you like being around the game and can afford it, but most likely your servers will make more $$ than you will.