Shocked by this actually. Lots of pool rooms in St. Louis are on their way out but never thought Larry's place would be one of them. Thought they were doing well.
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Sad News - Sports Center in St. Louis closes
- Thread starter cueandcushion
- Start date
I have no idea why it closed but I am just a firm believer that no place goes out of business because of something that singular. I am sure it is a combination of factors. Increased rent, economy etc.
Next time I talk to Larry, I will ask him.
Next time I talk to Larry, I will ask him.
Sad...
I have been there many times over the years...
My first memory is being a young boy and seeing Louie play there once...
I have been there many times over the years...
My first memory is being a young boy and seeing Louie play there once...
action at the rail
Hopefully it will just mean more action at the rail now. It is only a few minutes away and some decent action can be called in.Maybe a new location for the Sports Center in the future also.
Hopefully it will just mean more action at the rail now. It is only a few minutes away and some decent action can be called in.Maybe a new location for the Sports Center in the future also.
expensive
I know how expensive it is just to stay open and break even and that was working way more than full time. Kids have too many sports and video games too play and summertime gives adults too much stuff to do and the economy has hurt pool all the way around. I have been playin at Larry and Scotty's other place a few days a week lately for the $10 all night specials. If ai go play one pocket anywhere else time adds up fast.
I know how expensive it is just to stay open and break even and that was working way more than full time. Kids have too many sports and video games too play and summertime gives adults too much stuff to do and the economy has hurt pool all the way around. I have been playin at Larry and Scotty's other place a few days a week lately for the $10 all night specials. If ai go play one pocket anywhere else time adds up fast.
Sad day indeed - this is where I came in the door as just a customer not knowing anyone and the first night saw Louie play. He beat this guy out of all his money and his cue. Louie was wearing some World Championship hoodie. After he won, he turned to a guy (Mustard) and offered to pay for a ride home. I had no idea what I was seeing skill wise until about 6 months later.
I wish I would have taken notes and documented the action and events I saw in there over the years. Would make a great pool book.
This is the place where I learned about pool, learned about life, where I got my nickname and where I made many life long friends, including my best friend still to this day.
Business closed due to age/condition of building and smoking ban.
They hope to open a sportsbar/pool room in the next year along with concentrating on Ride The Rail.
RIP Sportscenter.
I wish I would have taken notes and documented the action and events I saw in there over the years. Would make a great pool book.
This is the place where I learned about pool, learned about life, where I got my nickname and where I made many life long friends, including my best friend still to this day.
Business closed due to age/condition of building and smoking ban.
They hope to open a sportsbar/pool room in the next year along with concentrating on Ride The Rail.
RIP Sportscenter.
I wish them the best of luck
Sorry to hear about Sports Center closing. I played in a tournament there years ago when Mark owned it. I was looking forward to getting to watch Louie play but he was at a pro tournament somewhere and wasn't there. It wasn't long after this that he passed away and I never did get to watch him play live. I do have a dvd of him matched up with Gary Serville. What a great talent. I ended up finishing in the top 8 and was seeded the next year but unable to attend. RIP Sports Center.
Sorry to hear the Sports Center is closing. Larry and Mark always had some nice tournaments.
Got to watch a lot of great players play there. It was the action room.
John
Got to watch a lot of great players play there. It was the action room.
John
That was my regular pool hall. It was closest to my house with a decent 9' table. When the smoking ban hit, there wasn't much difference initially. Then in March, when it started to stay above freezing, business started to dwindle. Well, I should say, the number of people in the room started to dwindle.
There were *always* a bunch of kids back by the video games, just hanging out - and smoking. They went there because it was cheap/free, and they could smoke. No more smoking meant they quit going there. They didn't spend a lot of money there, but when things are tight, every $5 matters.
The building they were in was set to be demolished later this year anyway, so the landlord quit doing any maintenance on it. As such, with all of this snow/rain this winter/spring, the place was a swamp. Seven tables were either ruined or covered up because of ceiling leaks. The rear of the place had enough water on the floor/carpet you could it from across the room, and plenty of splashing while walking around.
I heard the reason they closed yesterday for good (they started closing on Mondays, last week) was because somehow one of the leaks got into some piece of equipment and started a small fire. I haven't talked to either of the owners yet, but one of girls in the business next door told me.
There were *always* a bunch of kids back by the video games, just hanging out - and smoking. They went there because it was cheap/free, and they could smoke. No more smoking meant they quit going there. They didn't spend a lot of money there, but when things are tight, every $5 matters.
The building they were in was set to be demolished later this year anyway, so the landlord quit doing any maintenance on it. As such, with all of this snow/rain this winter/spring, the place was a swamp. Seven tables were either ruined or covered up because of ceiling leaks. The rear of the place had enough water on the floor/carpet you could it from across the room, and plenty of splashing while walking around.
I heard the reason they closed yesterday for good (they started closing on Mondays, last week) was because somehow one of the leaks got into some piece of equipment and started a small fire. I haven't talked to either of the owners yet, but one of girls in the business next door told me.
I certainly didn't see any evidence of a fire when I was there yesterday (that's my pic actually, C&C just beat me to the post here. heh); but what's what the lady next door said. *shrug*
I know they're selling all their tables, for pretty cheap from what Larry was saying (before they closed)... I wonder about the wall decorations? I'm gonna ask Larry/Scotty when I see them next. Had some nice posters and whatnot.
I know they're selling all their tables, for pretty cheap from what Larry was saying (before they closed)... I wonder about the wall decorations? I'm gonna ask Larry/Scotty when I see them next. Had some nice posters and whatnot.
I've known this was coming for a while and am suprised how sad it makes me. In the late 80's through mid 90's this place was IT for action in St. Louis. I spent more time there than I care to admit, watching Louie do things on a pool table I still haven't seen anyone be able to do to the all night "Spots" games to sleeping on the benches because I had to go to work that morning and being woke up to see if we had gone busted or done the busting on the side bets. Hats off to Larry and Scotty for making it work for this long. Once the boats moved into St. Louis that was the beginning of the end of pool halls in our area and continue to watch the numbers dwindle.
BTW, everything at the Sports Center is for sale, except the "Pit" table, Terry Huelsman bought that.
BTW, everything at the Sports Center is for sale, except the "Pit" table, Terry Huelsman bought that.
I was born and raised in the St. Louis area and always distressed to hear
of a Pool Hall closing.
Many of my best teenage memories are centered around those Old Pool Halls.
of a Pool Hall closing.
Many of my best teenage memories are centered around those Old Pool Halls.
I think the smoking ban hit them especially hard because the area has a lot of Bosnians, who have a very high percentage of smokers. I remember last time I went there it was all teenagers and the smoke was unbearable. And I practically live in a pool hall. People need a lot of time to adjust to the smoking situation so customers take a while to adjust. I lost a few heavy smokers when the ban went into effect, but picked up a lot more non smokers in my room. We have a huge date crowd on the weekends and that crowd went up in business. I hope when they reopen a new place, they pick a plan that avoids the smoking all together, because eventually it will be banned everywhere.
