New business in OKC

TheOneGnat

TheOneGnat

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
My wife and I are thinking about starting a pool hall here in Edmond, OK. We are thinking of around 8-10 Diamond 7' and 1-2 Diamond 9'. Along with the tables we would serve grill items and other concessions including a beer only bar. To top it off we would like to start of non-smoking, or having a smoking lounge type area.

We have been looking at buildings in the 5000-6000 SF range with a lease payment of $2000- $3500 per month.

I would like some insight from room owners here about this business plan. We have a strong APA and BCAPL presence in OKC. We would also hold 1-2 weekly tournaments.

We would like this to have more of a pool hall feel vs. a bar with pool tables feel. Geared a little more to players. Any thoughts would be welcome!

Thanks,
Nat
 
I'm not terribly familliar with the OKC pool playing scene, but if you want to be a pool hall feel and less of a bar feel, why 8-10 bar boxes and only 1-2 full size tables?
 
As much as I would love to have nothing but big tables, the pool scene here is very much bar table driven. All of the leagues and weekly tournaments are played on them as they are the easiest to find. There are a only a couple of places that have 9 footers and even they have taken out a few to replace them with bar boxes. Sadly, I don't think that a "poolhall" in the traditional sense would work here.

So I think my plan might be the next best thing. We have one similar out here (a little larger) with liquor and smoking that seems to be going good. Just wondering if not having those things would break the deal.

Thanks for the response.

Nat
 
You've got a better shot than I've got out here. The rent out here is prohibitive. I don't know HOW Shooters (local joint out here) can possibly be making it in a city of about 300,000 and having 20+ tables. He must have a sweet deal on the rent for his location, because retail places out here now are looking for $30/sqft/yr and that's just not going to work for a pool hall.

I don't know what the hell business that will work for out here, but that seems to be somehow where the market is. How the hell do I see "Vacuum Cleaner Repair" stores eh? WTH?
 
laserbrn said:
You've got a better shot than I've got out here. The rent out here is prohibitive. I don't know HOW Shooters (local joint out here) can possibly be making it in a city of about 300,000 and having 20+ tables. He must have a sweet deal on the rent for his location, because retail places out here now are looking for $30/sqft/yr and that's just not going to work for a pool hall.

I don't know what the hell business that will work for out here, but that seems to be somehow where the market is. How the hell do I see "Vacuum Cleaner Repair" stores eh? WTH?
Click to expand...

That's why I got the hell outta there. It was sucking me dry in all the bad ways! Shooters has been there for a while now, must help. What are they charging hourly?

I wouldn't even be thinking about opening up something with those prices, that's outrageous! They just mark their inventory through the roof and people pay it, like a tax for living in the great and all knowing SoCal.
 
I'm opening a similar pool hall very soon in Temple, TX. Don't skimp on the extra money to get the full liquor license. My city is also very league oriented (I'm getting 12 diamond 7' smart tables and 4 9' Pro-Am's). The leaguers are out to have fun, and if you have liquor they will drink it and you will make more money than just beer.

We are also going full smoking, but installing smoke eaters to clean the air. Many pool players smoke, I wouldnt limit them to a "smoking area". Just get enough smoke eaters to keep the place clean and both your smokers, and your non-smokers will appreciate it.

Also make sure you build a nice bar and get a lounge area with plenty of TV's. If all your planning on doing is a pool hall it will be hard to make a good living. You want the casual drinkers in there as well to supplement your income. The pool hall / sports bar & grill seems to be the best business model from the research I've done. In our lounge area (approx 1,000 sqft) we are putting in a 120" HD screen for the football games and fights. Again, catering to the general populace so you can profit on both ends. Pool & Bar.

Anyways that's just my recommendations. I went through what your going through just a couple months ago. My place will be opening at the end of September and there is huge anticipation already. I go out to the other places for tourneys and such and hear people talking about "that new place that's coming" with great excitement. I just smile to myself and know that I've done a good job putting the word out and that I will be successful.
 
Magoo's does well in OK.................In my area ( Mich) if there is no booze then it dies, we have no smoking here also...........it is a tuff buisness have enough cash on hand to last 1 year. This will make it easyer in the long run, dont start up then hope the biz can make the note and other costs the first year...Dont look for your profit the first few years, everything needs to be re invested to succeed.......OTB
 
You need a "Full Liquor" license. Otherwise you have the worst of all worlds. You are regulated like a bar (hours, age limits, etc..), but will loose your visiting "bar teams", who will go back to their home because of the "team members" who drink the "hard stuff". I agree with OTB that you must reinvest when starting up but...Remember unlike other "goods and services' businesses, your table rates can not be increased every time your other expenses go up. If your rent, gas, electric, insurance, taxes etc...etc..go up 8-10% from 2011 to 2012...you can not "bump" up your table rates to keep up with that (especially if you have coin op tables). What ever table rate you start with you will have to "LIVE" with it for at least 3-5 years. Then ask yourself how much can you actually increase it when you do "hike" it up. If you start at $8 an hour in 2011, in 2014 or 2015 WHAT do you think you can raise it to ???? MAYBE $10 hour and believe me your "players" are going to "*****" to high heaven. Then you are stuck with that $10 until at least 2019 or 2020. It is the "law of diminishing returns". So your business/operational plan should have your "peripheral" aspects of the business (food, booze, cue sales, lessons etc...) take care of all those 10% (ish) a year increases you will have to cover in your bills. ALSO: factor everything you can think of into your "opening costs"...look at that figure then ADD 25% for stuff you forgot or don't know about. Remember your "payroll" costs will likely be more than your rent/mortgage. Do not plan on "sleeping much" in the first couple of years. DONATE HEAVILY to the "Mayor" or whatever "powers that be" in your area. You will need a "friendly ear" at city hall when problems arise. Good Luck. (PS make sure if "leasing" you have long term "options" (i.e. set % rent can increase when your initial lease runs out....otherwise you will be building a business for MR. LANDLORD, who will see you have a successful business and "triple" your rent when the lease runs out to put "his kid or brother-in-law" in there. ALL your sweat and building it...and "ADIOS")
 
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