Sidepocket in Austin closing

StudntofHmanMvs

StudntofHmanMvs

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
...or it might be closed already. I hear it's gonna be a tejano bar instead. Anyone know what they're gonna do with their tables? I haven't been there in a couple years but I logged many hours on those olhausens up front. I usually worked out a deal with the dude workin where I would bus the tables and wash the dishes and get free pool and soda in return.
 
Wow....what memories - some good, some bad! I used to play there a lot in the mid to late 70s....table #6, a 41/2 x9. I never was a big ol' gambler, just enjoyed the game.
 
The guys from Jeckle and Hyde have bought the place. The new owners are suppose to take over on the 16th of Jan. I've heard that the new owners were going to take out the bar boxes out and put a dance floor in. Most of the tables are staying. I've also heard that they were going to redo the bar and were going to have a full bar and live spanish music on certain nights. They are just waiting on the liquor license.

Side Pocket as we know it will be lost. I've been hanging out there since '91 and even worked for Eric as a doorman for a short time. There was a lot of people who would "make rounds" like StudntofHmanMvs for free pool and sodas. This place has a lot of history. I'm not really sure what year they opened, but I think its been 35+ years. It's had 2006 Texas 9Ball Open Winner (Bastrop) and a ladies Professional pool player (Belinda) work as bartenders there. In the 90's, they had a great Tues night 9 ball tournaments. I've met a lot of people and have made some good friends there.

Shane
 
Wow, this is sad news. My older brother worked nights there for about 10 years. I think his last year was around 1992 or 1993. I spent some time there doing the rounds too:)
 
Dead Money said:
Wow, this is sad news. My older brother worked nights there for about 10 years. I think his last year was around 1992 or 1993. I spent some time there doing the rounds too:)
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Mike Jones?
 
Is the Sidepocket the poolroom that Joe Cromley used to own? I haven't heard anything about Joe in a long while. Can anyone update me?
 
I've only been there a handful of times and it was in absolutely deplorable conditions.... I recall once seeing duct tape on the felt of a table... Every time I went there was little/no players present and definitely no action.

I'm not surprised by this in the least, to be honest...
 
I'm considering moving to Austin in the very near future... Are there many other good places to shoot at? How's the pool scene there?
 
DeadPoked said:
I'm considering moving to Austin in the very near future... Are there many other good places to shoot at? How's the pool scene there?
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The pool scene's not too bad, IMO. There's still a good number of places to play, with a ~$10 entry fee tournament almost every day of the week. If you don't mind driving a couple hours, there's bigger tournaments (like regional ones or whatever) with more, better players and a higher entry every week too. The Fast Eddies tour, Waco, etc. There's always something goin' off within a couple hours drive. Some of Texas' best players call Austin home.
 
DeadPoked said:
I'm considering moving to Austin in the very near future... Are there many other good places to shoot at? How's the pool scene there?
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There are some great players there, no doubt...

The biggest thing is you won't find a Diamond table and everyone is still looking for a level Gold Grown...
 
1pRoscoe said:
There are some great players there, no doubt...

The biggest thing is you won't find a Diamond table and everyone is still looking for a level Gold Grown...
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Damn. I've been spoiled playing on nothing but Diamonds for the last 2 years.

It all depends on finding a good job there. The job market for IT in Austin doesn't seem very good. I may end up moving to San Antonio due to jobs available working for the military.
 
harkin back over the olden days

Wow, I didn't know it'd been open since the 70s. This really is the end of an era, then. If those walls could talk, then they'd have some good stories. One pleasant memory I have is of watching an after hours challenge match. The bar shut down at 2 and once everyone was out and we were all locked up, we turned off all the lights in the joint, except for one row of tables, and Jr and Kenny Greer got down on some nine ball. I don't remember at all what they were playing for, it was so long ago, probably ten years ago. I was just then getting into the game, and I loved stuff like that-after hours action with no jukebox, no drunk loud bar customers, and no lights cept the ones above a few tables. No noise except the balls colliding and dropping. Good times.
 
1pRoscoe said:
I've only been there a handful of times and it was in absolutely deplorable conditions.... I recall once seeing duct tape on the felt of a table... Every time I went there was little/no players present and definitely no action.
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Yeah, I doubt it ever won the Cleanest Pool Hall in Austin plaque. Or the Best Cared For ribbon. Cheap table time though, which, at the time, was what I needed.

As far as no players or action, I disagree. I could always walk in and find $20/set action. If you wanted to play higher, odds are somebody in there could make a phone call and get yer action just like Domino's, it'd be there in thirty minutes or less.
 
DeadPoked said:
Damn. I've been spoiled playing on nothing but Diamonds for the last 2 years.

It all depends on finding a good job there. The job market for IT in Austin doesn't seem very good. I may end up moving to San Antonio due to jobs available working for the military.
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I hope you don't end up in San Antonio. I know a few that live there and wish they could get out, but can't afford it. It shouldn't be too hard to find an IT job in Austin. If the big employers are not hiring, then check out the little guy's including the non-profit org's. If you want to play on a Diamond, the closest one is in the League city, near Houston. Then there is the billiard den in Dallas. G cue in Round rock is probably the best place to get some action around Austin. They have several 9' gold crown III tables with ball return. IMO, they are easy. Hope to see you here someday.

Best regards
 
punter said:
Is the Sidepocket the poolroom that Joe Cromley used to own? I haven't heard anything about Joe in a long while. Can anyone update me?
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The place that Showboat owned was the Bankshot. It was downtown somewhere. Eric Tegman owns(ed) Side Pocket.
 
"showboat" Joe worked at the Sidepocket in the mid-90s.

I bought a Brunswick "Heritage", leather pocketed 4.5x9 from Eric's original location of Austin Billiard Supply at Lamar and Brentwood. This is about '72 or '73. I was only 20 or 21 at the time but they actually let me pay it off over time - had a year but I took care of it in 6 months. Man....do I wish I had that table back.
 
Are they still doing the Tues Tourney? I am wanting to get by there and look around some..maybe even play some too before the place is changed forever. Rough playing conditions or not lol:smile:

Also any of ya'll remember when the place was much bigger and went up stairs on the north side of the building into the video game/foosball area? Seems like they used to have a few Bar Boxes right there by the steps too.
 
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