Pool Rooms Going

[Jodacus]

The recent thread about pool rooms closing because of no smoking laws only reflects the tip of the iceberg. Laws resulting in higher property taxes. higher minimum wages, higher water and sewer costs all contribute to the difficulty of operating a profitable room. Greater regulation on gas and electric companies result in higher costs to all consumers, commercial as well as personal. Ever increasing insurance costs to be protected our ever increasingly litigious society. Greater transportation cost (fuel and associated taxes) increase the cost of opening and maintaining a room. Lets not forget the taxes collected from everything that is imported as well as licensing fees and business taxes.

Whether or not one thinks these costs are good or bad is irrelevant. They add to the cost and difficulty of operating a room.

There are people out there willing to accept the modest living a pool room would support if it were in any way possible, unfortunately our politicians and society are exterminating there opportunity.

 

[vasilios]

First

bill

 

[JC]

You are exactly correct. I run a small business with three employees. My monthly nut from "incidentals" like you mention has gone up 40% in the last three years. Most of the increased costs are in fact associated with entities meeting government mandated "standards" of one kind or another or the fear of being sued. 40% more out without myself providing one more service to my customers. But alas, one person's ridiculous regulation is another's important job. I wonder how many pool halls are running in Greece these days?

JC