R.I.P. - Broadway Billiards in NYC

StevenPWaldon

StevenPWaldon

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It's with a heavy heart that I have to let everyone know that Broadway Billiards at 10 E. 21st Street, in NYC, is going to be closing its doors tomorrow evening.

They'll be open tomorrow, but it's unknown for how late. Tables (Gold Crowns) are being sold for $500 for anyone interested.

Due to a rent increase, they're choosing not to renew their lease. This leaves only a few good places in Manhattan to play, although none of them in my opinion had the seedy characters that Broadway had. And for sure, none of them are open 24 hours.

Broadway has been my home away from home for the past three years, and I'm sad to see it departing this great City. Some of my favorite memories of New York City are at 7am, walking up the steps to finally go home after a long 12+ hour session. Without any 24-hr joints convenient to me, those days/nights are over.

For anyone in the area who wishes to pay their respects to the neon green walls and insanely tight pocketed tables up front (or if you just *really* have to to see Choi one last time) I urge to you stop by tomorrow for a rack or two.
 
Broadway Billiards is not a place I ever play at, but I mourn it's loss on behalf of my many friends that play there. My condolences to the owners, staff and players that kept Broadway Billiards going for years.
 
This sucks- I thought of Broadway as "Old Reliable"

I didnt play there often but i would stop in now and then. I was there less than 10 days ago for a cup of coffee on my way to somewhere.

How long were they open? I remember it being there during Chelsea's glory years. What is going to open in that space?
 
I have given lessons at Broadway Billiards several times. It was always a pleasant experience, and Choi was very hospitable, letting me set up my camera and equipment. I was in NYC briefly (for the day), just last week, and should have stopped in, for a last look. Whatever goes in there, it won't be a poolroom!:(

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Nostroke said:
What is going to open in that space?
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Damn, that's lousy news. I mean, it was depressing to go there, but it'll be more depressing not to be able to go there.
 
i've never been there but i feel a deep hole in my heart for another ny legend going down. i moved out of the tri-state area in 1990 and when i left the place for me and my friends to go was chelsea. when i heard that was gone i almost shed a tear. it sucks to hear when a spot like these goes away.
 
I might be working the grave yard shift for a short while and had Broadway Billiards in my schedule to go afterwards. Well! the plans are never to be. The place is a seedy but the characters in there are like no other. I loved the two older straight pool players in the back. Funny, as much of a dive this place is, it was once, back in 1989, the choicest pool room in the city. It was called Society Billiards and upstairs was Cafe Society. My friend Dave (the first manager of Amsterdam Billiards) managed the room. There was even a 9 ball competition held at Society and Eva Mataya and Allen Hopkins were at attendance. I happen to sit right next to Allen Hopkins that evening. Memories, and more memories is what we will have left. Good night to Broadway....... Billiards.
 
Ah, the old straight pool players. I'm assuming you're talking about Vinnie (a 100+ runner) and Louie.

It's a great place, and it's place in the NYC pool scene will be missed.


Justlovecues said:
I might be working the grave yard shift for a short while and had Broadway Billiards in my schedule to go afterwards. Well! the plans are never to be. The place is a seedy but the characters in there are like no other. I loved the two older straight pool players in the back. Funny, as much of a dive this place is, it was once, back in 1989, the choicest pool room in the city. It was called Society Billiards and upstairs was Cafe Society. My friend Dave (the first manager of Amsterdam Billiards) managed the room. There was even a 9 ball competition held at Society and Eva Mataya and Allen Hopkins were at attendance. I happen to sit right next to Allen Hopkins that evening. Memories, and more memories is what we will have left. Good night to Broadway....... Billiards.
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S-

I think you'd bring too much class to ever play there, but it's nice to hear your words.

A lot of the ABC guys would practice there early on Thursdays before league, so it definitely had the ABC connect.

The owners seem not too disappointed. They were all there tonight, I guess to finalize business and perhaps to see it one last time. They even posed for pictures, and negotiated with a couple of guys for the tables. Through broken Korean and plenty of hand gestures, it seemed like they got everything squared away by the time I left. I was going to play some cheap sets, but upon learning the news I just didn't have it in me. I just sort of became a wallflower and soaked it all in.

Lots of great guys were there frequently. Flaco and Ray were always fun regulars (I remember busting Ray, all of 10 years old, of his quarters for a night.... only to later repay him with my earnings by buying him a Snapple), along with the mainstays of Chinese Frank, Frank the Belt, Spanish Eddie, Steve the Book, Isaac, MGM.... it's as if we're all orphans now.

Continuing the trend, it seems like pool is definitely being relegated to the sidelines now. It's a sad thing.


sjm said:
Broadway Billiards is not a place I ever play at, but I mourn it's loss on behalf of my many friends that play there. My condolences to the owners, staff and players that kept Broadway Billiards going for years.
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I didnt think it was that seedy. Heck, Hollywood billiards in FL is about the same to me. A cheap players room.
 
Travis Bickle said:
Damn, that's lousy news. I mean, it was depressing to go there, but it'll be more depressing not to be able to go there.
Click to expand...

Perfectly said. :( It will be missed although, the bathroom will not!

Looks like getting a table at Amsterdam will be THAT much harder.
 
FWIW, they finally installed a lock in the men's bathroom! Too bad their timing could have been any worse.

cleary said:
Perfectly said. :( It will be missed although, the bathroom will not!

Looks like getting a table at Amsterdam will be THAT much harder.
Click to expand...
 
I used to play in the original Broadway Billiards in the 60's! It was on Broadway about 42nd St. I think you went downstairs to that one too. I get it mixed up in my head with the old McGirrs. They were close to each other.

I guess that's another era now. In those days, the joints were packed all day and games (and players) were abundant. Every one of the old NYC rooms was full of hustlers. If only I could play a little back then. I was a sardine in a school of sharks. :)
 
There was a Broadway Billiards underneath an arcade during the 70's ,
around Bway 53rd - 55th.
 
This actually reminds me of a post from last year. I had said the bathrooms were pretty gross and I got this response....

"cleary, This is nonsense. The restrooms at Broadway are clean and kept that way. The Asian Gentlemen that operate the room are very strict about keeping it clean. Also there is a worker that brushes and wipes the rails of every table as soon as it is cleared. It is a clean and well lit room. A good selection of beers and not overpriced. In other words a good poolroom. When were you last in there?"

So the last time I was there, about a week or two ago, I took a panorama of the bathroom.

BWAY_BATH.png


I guess it will now be something to remember it by
 
Memento

Steven,
You should be sure to go by and pick up a memento of this establishment. A sign, an ashtray, a cue used for keeping the customers in line; you know something to remember Broadway by. In years to come, you won't regret it.

Best Regards,
JoeyA

That picture of the bathroom by Cleary and the sign that says Employees Must Wash Their Hands might do it for me. lol (A genuine Broadway Sign would be better)
 
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I'm going to see if I can try and pick up a rack of balls or the "No Smoking" sign that everyone would smoke in front of on the stairway. Good times!

JoeyA said:
Steven,
You should be sure to go by and pick up a memento of this establishment. A sign, an ashtray, a cue used for keeping the customers in line; you know something to remember Broadway by. In years to come, you won't regret it.

Best Regards,
JoeyA

That picture of the bathroom by Cleary and the sign that says Employees Must Wash Their Hands might do it for me. lol (A genuine Broadway Sign would be better)
Click to expand...
 
I fully agree, I used to warm up at Broadway billiards before I head over to Amsterdam because of the lack of practice tables.

As for the bathroom issue, hold it in until you get to Amsterdam. :-)

cleary said:
Perfectly said. :( It will be missed although, the bathroom will not!

Looks like getting a table at Amsterdam will be THAT much harder.
Click to expand...
 
A few people have asked so I figured I'd reply here:

The tables are in decent condition, and a bargain at $500.

Two of them are purchased already, #5 and #18.

Everything must be out by Monday.
 
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