Largest Billiard Parlor in the North & South America

Crap. I found this: In the
1950s, the Recreation Building still housed
billiard tables and a bowling alley as well as
Silver’s office supply store, Summer’s Good
Food, and the Federal Bar, a drinking
establishment. However, it eventually reached
the end of its useful life and was torn down.
Since then, the site has served the District
Court as a parking lot convenient for visitors
to the federal courthouse.

And this: the "Recreation Building," across the street from the Federal Building. Since the 1930s Federal Building was built on the same site as the 1890's Federal Building, the government needed temporary quarters during the demolition/construction.

I think I found a picture of it. It is the dark-colored brick building in the upper right corner. I need to do some more research later. I've gotta go to work now! I love this kind of stuff.:o
 

Attachments

  • 44027.jpg
    44027.jpg
    48.6 KB · Views: 418
Definitely matches the picture in Mizerak's book although at a different angle. Still in business into the '50's would make sense too if my father had bowled there. I'll ask around at work today and see if anyone remembers hearing any stories about the place.
 
detroit recreation largest....

Detroit Rec eventually had 142 tables(see the 1923 Brunswick catalog), up from the original 103. The top floor was the world's largest bowling alley and if you look at the photo there are arched windows at the top.... the top, inside, was 2 stories tall with a balcony around for spectators watching bowling tourneys and the arched windows were for this balcony area. Before the Rec the largest was the Plankinton Arcade, which the Arcade table was named for, with 60 Arcades. The largest single-floor room as far as I know was the Hudson Recreation which had 70 tables on one floor, although there is a thread showing pics of poolrooms around the world that shows a room in Kansas that the thread claims had 70 tables also. I have been to Shooters in Burnsville and it's very nice! Although visually on the inside it does not look bigger than Shooters in Olathe until you count tables.
 
mikepage said:
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
Click to expand...

Romines, in Milwaukee, WI has 51 tables, these include a 12ft snooker table, 2 3cushion tables, and a mix of 8ft. and 9ft tables. as well as 5 or 6 coin-op 7ft tables. I'm taking some pictures tonight for their facebook page, so I'll post them on here tomorrow.
 
Fargo Billiards

Hey Mike, looks like things are coming along. I heard July 4th for an opening date, is that true? I know Rory is one of your instructors, but who else is doing some teaching? I noticed one guy asked what your pool rates were going to be. Do you have a set rate yet in mind?

Hope everything is good up there, and hope to see you guys soon.

JB
 
Romine's in Milwaukee, WI...

The biggest room I know of and have been in is Romine's on south 27th street in Milwaukee, WI. Used to be a former roller skating rink, no poles anywhere!

I believe they have over fifty, 9' Gold Crowns, at least three heated billiard tables, four, maybe more Valley bar boxes, a full service restaurant/bar/dance floor and a small pro shop.

Great place to play, great place to eat, really good food.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top