Offline billiard retail stores in the US - still present?
- Thread starter Vahmurka
- Start date
There are quite a few around, but I think all are combination Swimming Pool / Outdoor Furniture dealers along with Billiard equipment.
Specialized Sports
1701 Old Minden Rd. #3
Bossier City, Louisiana 71111
(318) 741-0004
(800) 942-1002
Billiards and Dart Supplies
No swimming pools, no hot tubs . . . Just Pool!
Also have website specializedsports.net
1701 Old Minden Rd. #3
Bossier City, Louisiana 71111
(318) 741-0004
(800) 942-1002
Billiards and Dart Supplies
No swimming pools, no hot tubs . . . Just Pool!
Also have website specializedsports.net
Specialized Sports
1701 Old Minden Rd. #3
Bossier City, Louisiana 71111
(318) 741-0004
(800) 942-1002
Billiards and Dart Supplies
No swimming pools, no hot tubs . . . Just Pool!
Also have website specializedsports.net
.. ALMOST just pool.. Card Tables, Air Hockey, Foosball, Shuffle Board Tables, Ping Pong, Pub Tables, Bar Stools, Darts
But all just about in the same category
I never in my life seen a billiards-only store that specialized in cues and such.
I've heard they exist but never saw them.
There are, for some reason, a few places that sell pool tables with hot tubs. It's never gold crowns or diamonds either, usually olhausens and such.
Basically, as far as I'm concerned they don't exist. You can buy cues, gloves, tip tools etc. in a pool hall and everything else you use the internet. Come to think of it you should use the internet for the cues and such also because the pool hall marks it up 100%.
I've heard they exist but never saw them.
There are, for some reason, a few places that sell pool tables with hot tubs. It's never gold crowns or diamonds either, usually olhausens and such.
Basically, as far as I'm concerned they don't exist. You can buy cues, gloves, tip tools etc. in a pool hall and everything else you use the internet. Come to think of it you should use the internet for the cues and such also because the pool hall marks it up 100%.
I totally forgot about the pro shops in poor halls, they are more or less "retail outlets".
I don't agree too much about the mark up, while the MARKED price is often higher than online, if you know the owner/manager at all, which most of us do in our regular rooms, you will get a good discount. Some I know even sell at cost or just a few bucks more to keep people coming to the room to play with their new fancy sticks.
There are a few "pool only" (or pool, darts and poker) stores left, but they are rapidly disappearing. It's hard to compete with a $1300 table from China when you have to charge twice that for a US table.
An ex-storeowner I talked to also didn't want to install the Chinese tables because then he would have to make all the return visits to fix the problems. Return visits cost a lot of money. He isn't totally closed down, but his retail shop is very limited and he mostly works on restoring antique tables for which you can still get a reasonable price. He used to have three retail outlets in this area.
An ex-storeowner I talked to also didn't want to install the Chinese tables because then he would have to make all the return visits to fix the problems. Return visits cost a lot of money. He isn't totally closed down, but his retail shop is very limited and he mostly works on restoring antique tables for which you can still get a reasonable price. He used to have three retail outlets in this area.
A brick and mortar store in Loganville, GA.
This photos were taken around Christmas 2012.
Several tables are also set up for the public to play and pay by the hour. I spent a lot of hours playing in there before I got relocated to DC.
They do have a web presence that is rapidly growing.
Talked to the owner a couple of weeks ago and said they are so busy, they are having to expand.
Smokey Ramone
Registered
Best Quality Billiards - 10405 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood
I found this place when I moved to the Denver area about 6 months ago, the prices are decent and the selection is good. Other than a small darts section, everything else they sell is pool related.
I can't post a link to it because I'm brand new to the board, but the web address is the name of the store dot com
I found this place when I moved to the Denver area about 6 months ago, the prices are decent and the selection is good. Other than a small darts section, everything else they sell is pool related.
I can't post a link to it because I'm brand new to the board, but the web address is the name of the store dot com
The local shop, which had a great selection of everything, including gameroom equipment - just went under, after 40 years in business. I've been recommending them for new students to test out and buy their first cues.
As of now, the nearest store is about 40 miles away.
As of now, the nearest store is about 40 miles away.
retail billiard stores are a dying breed....
Very few still exist imo. I'm familiar with one in the city I use to live, Ankar's Billiards in Chattanooga...that's in a metro area of over 300,000. There are none where I live now in a 3/4 county area, that's more rural but about the same total population within a hour's drive.
Very few still exist imo. I'm familiar with one in the city I use to live, Ankar's Billiards in Chattanooga...that's in a metro area of over 300,000. There are none where I live now in a 3/4 county area, that's more rural but about the same total population within a hour's drive.
I think pool halls should go back to maintaining a pro shop with real inventory. I hate when they say we can order it for you. Sorry but i can order it too online. I hate online pool sales it hurts the pool halls. Cue sticks international and pool dawg same company. Thats only good for them the local pool room is screwed. Imo of course. No im sorry thats a fact. Bad business for pool rooms.
Around here there is one combination swimming pool/billiards supply place that I've heard good things about, but haven't been to yet.
There is a game room supply place that's been in business forever right around the corner from me. They have pool stuff, ping pong, darts, foose ball, etc. But for pool cues it was mostly Cuetec and Rage sticks, and the guy working there had no clue what I was talking about when I went there looking for a butt to match a specific threaded joint.
Then there is another place semi-locally that has been in business since the 50's, if you believe their site they're the best anywhere.....but when I called looking for a specific, run of the mill, Players brand cue, the old guy on the phone had no idea what I was talking about. I might give them a try in person some day, but the conversation on the phone wasn't very encouraging
There is a game room supply place that's been in business forever right around the corner from me. They have pool stuff, ping pong, darts, foose ball, etc. But for pool cues it was mostly Cuetec and Rage sticks, and the guy working there had no clue what I was talking about when I went there looking for a butt to match a specific threaded joint.
Then there is another place semi-locally that has been in business since the 50's, if you believe their site they're the best anywhere.....but when I called looking for a specific, run of the mill, Players brand cue, the old guy on the phone had no idea what I was talking about. I might give them a try in person some day, but the conversation on the phone wasn't very encouraging
Why should a pool hall do that if there's no money in it? Nostalgia?
They can maintain a stock of cues if they want, but people will just google to see what the "real price" of the cue is. You can do that on the spot with the cell phone and see whether he tried to upcharge you 10% or 100%.
Then, depending on how cheap someone is, they'll either order through the owner just to throw him a bone, or they'll save that $20-$50 and order it online.
IMO a room owner's best bet, besides a few cheapos for beginners to impulse purchase for $100... is to sell well-known custom cues, something you can't order online. Preferably something unique. Then they can reasonably jack up the price (custom cues are supposed to go up in value) and the customer won't have online prices to compare it to.
Game Room Gear in Slinger Wisconsin. Well stocked pool supplies, new and used tables, darts, and other game room stuff, like used pin ball machines and video games. He is also a custom cue builder, Jackson Custom Cues. I try to buy everything I need from him, including my recently purchased Simonis and Centennials, I would rather spend a little more if needed to support local business than save a couple $$ and purchase over the interweb.
http://www.gameroomgearco.com/
http://www.gameroomgearco.com/
Charlie's Pro Shop in Dundalk Maryland. Seller of cues, repairs, and other equipment and billiard apparel.
We also have a few locations that sell tables and game room supplies.
We also have a few locations that sell tables and game room supplies.
