Largest Billiard Parlor in the North & South America

[mikepage]

From another thread, it appears there are mega-billiard parlors elsewhere in the world (e.g. someone showed one in St Petersburg, Russia). And there are large ones that used to be in business in the US but are no longer. My place won't be open for about two months, but it appears to be near the top of the list. If anyone could add or correct anything here, that would be good. Let's stick to places that have 45 or more tables.

Largest by number of tables

(1) Shooter's Billiards, Burnsville (Minneapolis) MN -- 64
(2) Fargo Billiards & Gastropub , Fargo, ND ---- 58
(2) Q-Masters, Virginia Beach, VA ---58
(3) Big Dog Billiards, Des Moines, IA -- 50?
(4) Main St. Billiards, Tuscon, AZ -- 47
(5) Chris's, Chicago, IL -- 46?
(6) Country Club USA Chelmsford, MA --46
(7) Two Stooges Bar & Grill, Fridley, MN ---45?



Largest by area

(1) Fargo Billiards & Gastropub, Fargo ND -- 28,536 sq. ft.
(2) Shooters - 22,000
(3) Q-master - 20,000

??


Anybody know of any bigger places or want to add to this list with numbers. [And no, the bowling alley upstairs doesn't count ;-)]

It would be good to get the top ten or so

 

[jay helfert]

Both Hard Times (Bellflower and Sacramento) have over thirty tables in about 15,000 square feet. The biggest I know of out West.

Dave and Busters are the largest "recreation" facilities I've ever seen in this country, encompassing over 40,000 square feet (maybe 50K). They have EVERYTHING, including pool. I saw a similar facility in China that was larger, over thirty pool and snooker tables, over thirty ping pong tables, a huge arcade with many exotic games that I don't see here, plus a very large bar area and restaurant. It may have been close to 75,000 square feet in total area. I was in there twice and it was busy both times, with most tables going.

 

[JAM]

Here's a little pool trivia:

The world’s largest billiard hall was built during billiards’ “Golden Age.” “The Recreation,” a mammoth seven-story health spa, was a bustling Detroit business in the 1920s. It featured 103 tables, 88 bowling lanes, 20 barber chairs, three manicuring stands, 14 cigar stands, a lunch counter on each floor, a restaurant that could seat 300, and an exhibition room with theater seating, that could accommodate 250 spectators.

Source: http://home.bca-pool.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=41 [Retrieved 4 May 2009]

Some more interesting pool snippets:

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) in 2008, there are more male billiards participants in the US than female ones. A survey conducted shows that about 63% of all pool players in the country are men. Some of the regions in the States with the highest percentage of billiards participants are in Pacific, East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio) and South Atlantic (Georgia, Florida, North Carolina.) The SGMA also reports that most billiard players also enjoy pastimes like bowling and darts.

The most expensive billiard table was made by Vincent Facquet, and as reported in late 2008, this costs about $177,000 or €130,000. Some of the luxury add-ons to these tables are gold and platinum etchings, such as on the sight markers, as well as intricate engravings on the sides. The billiard triangle is built-in onto the table, and all you need to do is push it so it pops out. Custom-made tables may also be ordered, and even precious stones could be requested.


WOW! Does ANYBODY have a photo of this "The Recreation"? Holy pool balls, I'd love to see it! :grin-square:

 

[JAM]

Here's the most expensive pool table below:

The Luxury Billiard is a 117-by-67-inch table with a 100-by-50-inch playing surface made of Iwan Simonis 860, the same cloth used on tables at any major billiards event. Surprisingly, the sights—a. k. a. “diamonds”—on the most expensive billiards table aren’t made with diamonds. You heard that right—someone actually managed to resist the urge to deck out an ultra-luxury item in precious gems. Instead, they’re inlayed with gold or platinum. Gold or platinum are also used in leaf-form to create the exquisite pattern on the table’s legs.

The Luxury Billiard is just as functional as it is beautiful. It features an automated drawer that can hold a set of pool cues and balls. Additionally, the triangle is built into the table so that you need only push on it—like the CD-ROM drive on a laptop—to eject it from the table.

The most expensive pool table in the world can be had for a mere $177,000. It comes in three models—Noblesse (18k gold), Majesté and Royal (platinum)—but custom configurations are available.

 

[Island Drive]

Romines in Milwaukee has 51 tables and many 4X8 Gold Crowns along with 9 footers and such. Their 360 degree island bar overlooks the whole room with numerous nooks and areas designed for parties. It's probably 30,000 sq ft. and has pool room decorations everywhere.

 

[jay helfert]

Here's the most expensive pool table below:

The Luxury Billiard is a 117-by-67-inch table with a 100-by-50-inch playing surface made of Iwan Simonis 860, the same cloth used on tables at any major billiards event. Surprisingly, the sights—a. k. a. “diamonds”—on the most expensive billiards table aren’t made with diamonds. You heard that right—someone actually managed to resist the urge to deck out an ultra-luxury item in precious gems. Instead, they’re inlayed with gold or platinum. Gold or platinum are also used in leaf-form to create the exquisite pattern on the table’s legs.

The Luxury Billiard is just as functional as it is beautiful. It features an automated drawer that can hold a set of pool cues and balls. Additionally, the triangle is built into the table so that you need only push on it—like the CD-ROM drive on a laptop—to eject it from the table.

The most expensive pool table in the world can be had for a mere $177,000. It comes in three models—Noblesse (18k gold), Majesté and Royal (platinum)—but custom configurations are available.

I'll take two!

 

[fish on]

great post thx

Thx for the info another great post no BS intended!:thumbup:

Here's a little pool trivia:

The world’s largest billiard hall was built during billiards’ “Golden Age.” “The Recreation,” a mammoth seven-story health spa, was a bustling Detroit business in the 1920s. It featured 103 tables, 88 bowling lanes, 20 barber chairs, three manicuring stands, 14 cigar stands, a lunch counter on each floor, a restaurant that could seat 300, and an exhibition room with theater seating, that could accommodate 250 spectators.

Source: http://home.bca-pool.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=41 [Retrieved 4 May 2009]

Some more interesting pool snippets:

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) in 2008, there are more male billiards participants in the US than female ones. A survey conducted shows that about 63% of all pool players in the country are men. Some of the regions in the States with the highest percentage of billiards participants are in Pacific, East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio) and South Atlantic (Georgia, Florida, North Carolina.) The SGMA also reports that most billiard players also enjoy pastimes like bowling and darts.

The most expensive billiard table was made by Vincent Facquet, and as reported in late 2008, this costs about $177,000 or €130,000. Some of the luxury add-ons to these tables are gold and platinum etchings, such as on the sight markers, as well as intricate engravings on the sides. The billiard triangle is built-in onto the table, and all you need to do is push it so it pops out. Custom-made tables may also be ordered, and even precious stones could be requested.


WOW! Does ANYBODY have a photo of this "The Recreation"? Holy pool balls, I'd love to see it! :grin-square:

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Our little community room has 29 Gold Crowns. 25 Pool, 3 Snooker, and Carom Table, but it is not open to the public. Membership thing, would be a GREAT Place to hold a Tourny, as we have a Resturant that serves Beer & Wine in the building.

 

[watchez]

Shooters in Olathe - Don Coates could give the specifics but I know on sq foot it would rank in your top. I would say they have at least 40 tables.

 

[memikey]

The most expensive pool table in the world can be had for a mere $177,000. It comes in three models—Noblesse (18k gold), Majesté and Royal (platinum)—but custom configurations are available.[/color]

To be honest I think that table is absolutely hideous and so garishly camp that even Liberace might think twice about giving it house room

 

[JimS]

To be honest I think that table is absolutely hideous and so garishly camp that even Liberace might think twice about giving it house room

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I don't care for it either. I'll take a Diamond Pro over that any day. :groucho:

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Bull Shooters & Main Street in the Valley of the Sun both have 42 Tables I believe, both 4.5 x 9.0's, and Bar Boxes.

 

[JoeyA]

From another thread, it appears there are mega-billiard parlors elsewhere in the world (e.g. someone showed one in St Petersburg, Russia). And there are large ones that used to be in business in the US but are no longer. My place won't be open for about two months, but it appears to be near the top of the list. If anyone could add or correct anything here, that would be good. Let's stick to places that have 45 or more tables.

Largest by number of tables

(1) Shooter's Billiards, Burnsville (Minneapolis) MN -- 64
(2) Fargo Billiards & Gastropub , Fargo, ND ---- 58
(2) Q-Masters, Virginia Beach, VA ---58
(3) Big Dog Billiards, Des Moines, IA -- 50?
(4) Main St. Billiards, Tuscon, AZ -- 47
(5) Chris's, Chicago, IL -- 46?
(6) Country Club USA Chelmsford, MA --46
(7) Two Stooges Bar & Grill, Fridley, MN ---45?



Largest by area

(1) Fargo Billiards & Gastropub, Fargo ND -- 28,536 sq. ft.
(2) Shooters - 22,000
(3) Q-master - 20,000

??


Anybody know of any bigger places or want to add to this list with numbers. [And no, the bowling alley upstairs doesn't count ;-)]

It would be good to get the top ten or so

I want to know when Fargo Billiard's tournaments are going to start. Also need some hotel information. My God, your place is HUGE! Are there any current photos of the work in progress?

With one of the Delta flights from New Orleans to Fargo taking 13 hours including lay-overs, I may have to bring Jay's book and a couple of Inside Pool Magazines to pass the time on the extra stops. j/k, there are some 5 hour flights as well. Please post your pool rates. It could be a trip breaker.

JoeyA

 

[uwate]

The Country Club in Chelmsford MA has 50 tables.

 

[mikepage]

I want to know when Fargo Billiard's tournaments are going to start. Also need some hotel information. My God, your place is HUGE! Are there any current photos of the work in progress?

Here's about 10% of it:

You're in a conference room (the teaching hub: We have three BCA-recognized instructors) and looking through double doors into two private rooms, each 1000 sq. ft. and each with two tables and leather furniture. We will cater to these rooms. There will be an accordian wall between them, so you can reserve one, or both, or both and the conference room.

Also our classes will use these rooms with the five tables so that students don't feel so on display.

 

[drhanson]

I'm glad my sister lives in Fargo so I'll have a place to stay. Mike, how many of the 58 tables will be 9'? What make(s) of tables? Keep us posted on the Grand Opening date!

 

[Rick S.]

(1) Shooter's Billiards, Burnsville (Minneapolis) MN -- 64
(2) Fargo Billiards & Gastropub , Fargo, ND ---- 58
(2) Q-Masters, Virginia Beach, VA ---58
(3) Big Dog Billiards, Des Moines, IA -- 50?
(4) Main St. Billiards, Tuscon, AZ -- 47
(5) Chris's, Chicago, IL -- 46?
(6) Country Club USA Chelmsford, MA --46
(7) Two Stooges Bar & Grill, Fridley, MN ---45?



[

4. Main St. Billiards Tucson Az......no longer has 47 tables.

They are in trouble....and changing part of it into a dance club (over 21) is what I'm hearing. Some tables are already gone.

 

[Steve - Detroit]

Here's a little pool trivia:

The world’s largest billiard hall was built during billiards’ “Golden Age.” “The Recreation,” a mammoth seven-story health spa, was a bustling Detroit business in the 1920s. It featured 103 tables, 88 bowling lanes, 20 barber chairs, three manicuring stands, 14 cigar stands, a lunch counter on each floor, a restaurant that could seat 300, and an exhibition room with theater seating, that could accommodate 250 spectators.

WOW! Does ANYBODY have a photo of this "The Recreation"? Holy pool balls, I'd love to see it! :grin-square:

There is a picture of the outside in Mizerak's book Complete Book of Pool on page 2. I remember my father talking about the place but he referred to it as Detroit Recreation or just Detroit Rec. I know he used to bowl there as did some other people I've known. If I can find out anything about the place, I'll let you know.

 

[Cuebuddy]

I never counted all the tables but it seemed to me that the Antique billiard museum in Colorado Springs has about 40 Diamonds and a handful of Gold Crowns. I think they kept a few old Brunswick's and a 6x12 snooker table with scary tight pockets. There might even be a 3c table set up. I am thinking about 50 tables total, I will be back there in July so I will count and maybe snap a photo or two.

 

[JAM]

There is a picture of the outside in Mizerak's book Complete Book of Pool on page 2. I remember my father talking about the place but he referred to it as Detroit Recreation or just Detroit Rec. I know he used to bowl there as did some other people I've known. If I can find out anything about the place, I'll let you know.

I don't know if I have this book, but I am going to check it out, if I do.

That place sounds like the nuts! Only in that "golden era" would such a place like that exist. Interestingly, since it was in the '20s, I can only imagine that the Great Depression sealed its fate. There was probably no expendable income to play pool, go bowling, eat out in a restaurant, smoke cigars, and get a manicure.

I am going to see what I can dig up. This Detroit Rec has now piqued my interest!