Pool Room in SF??

Funk Master

Funk Master

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About 12 years ago, when I was dating my wife, we found a room in downtown San Francisco. From what I remember it was upstairs and was what you would call a "Old School' type of environment. I also seem to remember it had a neon "Billiards" sign along the top of the building...any clues? :confused:
 
Unless Hollywood closed down in the last month, they're still open.

61 Golden Gate Avenue
SF, CA 94102
510 252-9643
 
Hollywood SF closed, Temporarily

Hollywood is closed for a few months for "remodeling" the owner is taking out about 1/2 the tables. Three people got shot there back in Dec. (one died) so they had their liqour license suspended, so the owner took the opportunity to remodel. I'm not exactly sure what he's doing with the place but I know he wants to make it more of a club with some pool tables than a pool hall. He's supposed to reopen in a couple of weeks. It's in a sketchy neighborhood but it still has some of the best equipment in town. The only other options in SF are Family Billiards out on Geary or The Great Entertainer on Bryant.
 
What about the place that was on 1st and Brannon? And the place in the Rincon Center? I can't remember the name of the place, they used to have another one in Emeryville. There's also a Family Billiards at the top of Mission Blvd. I don't mean to be a smart a== but I used to live there.
 
Don't know about the one on 1st and Brannon but the one at Rincon Center was called Chalkers and has been closed for a little over a year now. They really took a beating when the bubble burst because that's where they got most of their income. The one in Emeryville is still around but different owners.
 
Thanks Cletus. Yeah, Chalkers, I just couldn't remember the name. Is the new place in Emeryville named the "Broken Rack"? As big as SF is, you'd think they'd have more pool halls, don't you think?
 
I don't know about 1st and Brannon? I'm about two blocks from there right now and I'm pretty sure there's no pool tables there. There is Jullian's in the metreon that have saveral 8 footers at 3rd and Mission. The one at the top of the hill on Mission is Probably Town and Country in Daly city and there is also Billiard Palacade at Geneva and Mission. I was speaking more of SF proper.
 
Oh, I just remembered what you must be thinking of at 1st and Brannon,that was the old South Beach Billiards, been gone a long time.....
 
Hollywood Billiards shut down about 1month ago after a shooting occurred. The new owner was using the previous owners liquor liscense and was caught after the police investigated the shooting.
Right now the main pool hall in S.F. is Family Billiards on Geary.
 
great entertainer closed

ge (6th and bryant) closed last week - hollywood billiards closed last year and re-opened as club q (61 golden gate ave).

as far as i know, club q and family billiards are the only two pool halls left in san francisco - Q being the only one with a full bar now that ge has closed its doors.

someone, please correct me if i'm wrong. thnx
 
fuse02 said:
ge (6th and bryant) closed last week - hollywood billiards closed last year and re-opened as club q (61 golden gate ave).

as far as i know, club q and family billiards are the only two pool halls left in san francisco - Q being the only one with a full bar now that ge has closed its doors.

someone, please correct me if i'm wrong. thnx
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Do you know why the Great Entertainer closed? I thought they were always busy, great location right off freeway, near SBC park and a lot of night life in the area. When I used to go to tournaments there it was always over 100 players. Outside parties singing Karoke and a lot of food. Must have been the overhead, or bad managment. Of course they might have lost their lease which is the saddest way to go.
 
nfty9er said:
Do you know why the Great Entertainer closed? I thought they were always busy, great location right off freeway, near SBC park and a lot of night life in the area. When I used to go to tournaments there it was always over 100 players. Outside parties singing Karoke and a lot of food. Must have been the overhead, or bad managment. Of course they might have lost their lease which is the saddest way to go.
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I heard that they did lose their lease. They had been on a month to month deal for quite a while. The owner of the poolroom wanted to buy the property but the landlord would not sell. This leaves San Francisco as a one poolhall town, unbelieveable. Delbert has got to love it!
 
Wow! I'm really surprised that the Great Entertainer shut down! Family on Geary is a nice place but it must get pretty crowded in there now. The Great Entertainer was a pretty big place and Family isn't that big at all. The Family ph on Mission was pretty run down the last time I was there but that was a long time ago. I hope it's nicer now. The overhead must be pretty staggering there in the city though. A tough place to be able to pay the rent and make enough to survive on.
 
Yes, the Great Entertainer lost their lease. Actually, it wasn't renewed.
Also, the cost of insurance became exorbitant.
Last week they had an "auction" of most equipment.

Troy
 
Troy said:
Yes, the Great Entertainer lost their lease. Actually, it wasn't renewed.
Also, the cost of insurance became exorbitant.
Last week they had an "auction" of most equipment.

Troy
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Damn, wish I had known. So sad. The cost of insurancel, although higher should not have been a deterrent considering the business they had. If he tried to buy the property it sounds more like a landlord problem.
 
Rickw said:
Wow! I'm really surprised that the Great Entertainer shut down! Family on Geary is a nice place but it must get pretty crowded in there now. The Great Entertainer was a pretty big place and Family isn't that big at all. The Family ph on Mission was pretty run down the last time I was there but that was a long time ago. I hope it's nicer now. The overhead must be pretty staggering there in the city though. A tough place to be able to pay the rent and make enough to survive on.
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I was at Family yesterday afternoon, they had a waiting list for tables at 4 in the afternoon! On a Tuedsay afternoon, I heard that in the past, the Bank of America next door to the poolroom has offered to give up some of their space to Delbert. He did not want to do it in the past, but I think he may be interested now. I'm sure his rent is astromomical, but I know he is making money there.
 
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