Smoking Ban Kills Pool Hall, Say Owners
- Thread starter Rich93
- Start date
True...that's why I think restaurants will take a smaller hit from smoking bans than poolhalls/bars...most smokers who go out to eat don't smoke while they eat and usually smoke after they leave...MrLucky said:Someone smoking while they eat and subjecting others to have to partake is the ultimate in disgusting and nasty behavior!
StormHotRod300 said:
If Manwon and I were the only two pool rooms in a city...I think we would both do fine.
I also think it would be the beginning of my Master Plan to RULE THE WORLD!!
MUAHAHAHAHAHA.......
Ha ha! You must not have much of an imagination if that is the most disgusting and nasty thing you can come up with, LOL!! Being a smoker, I can see both sides of this issue. I live in Washington and actually am very happy to see the smoking ban in effect. It's too bad the whole country didn't do this years ago.MrLucky said:Someone smoking while they eat and subjecting others to have to partake is the ultimate in disgusting and nasty behavior!
As for the Slate's dilemma, I have to side with those who feel it was bad management. There are many things you can do to mitigate the smoking ban. My feeling is that they were operating with a very small margin leading up to the smoking ban and a very small hit would have sent them over the edge. There are several things that I can think of off the top of my head that they could have done. They could have warned their smoking customers of the upcoming ban and made them feel valued by letting them know they would be setting up a heated smoking kiosk outside. They could knock a half hour off of the time for smokers to take breaks during play. They could give away a free pack of cigarettes to smokers that play a certain number of hours. Advertising the smoke free environment. Offering discounts for awhile to underage customers to get them in the door. Sell off some of the tables to make room for some other money generating endeavor. It's all about looking at obstacles/problems as opportunities rather than sticking to business as usual and watching the bottom fall out.
It's just a guess as I know nothing more than what I read, but my feeling is that the last rent hike put their business in jeopardy. They gambled and lost. Then again, I could be totally wrong and the smoking ban did kill their business. In that case, gee, that sucks, but that's just one of the many factors that could destroy a business, even a well established one. Any business owner that doesn't plan for and anticipate failure isn't dealing in reality. My hope is that they were on top of things enough to get out before the debt became unmanageable and that they have a good fall back plan in place.
The problem is in the area they are in there are 2 other pool halls within 8 miles of slate street and they are both still smoking. I have been to slate street about 20 times and it was always busy so I don't think you can blame the owners, or managment. Il. should ban smoking in the whole state not city by city. just my 2 cents
Gentleman, everyone here keeps bringing up the point about smoking and non-smoking and this is not the main issue. The issue and the challenge to any business owner is to find ways of generating an environment, and appealing to a segment of the population by offering services that they want.
Sometimes, major changes are necessary in order to grow with the times. These changes do not take place over night, they take many years to be implemented. This being said, it is part of a business owners responsibilities to adapt to these changes over time. No business closes it's doors over any single change. There are always many other factors involved, the choices the business owner makes or doesn't make are always the key to success or failure.
When you are resistant to change, do not know how to change, or think that change will never be a necessary evil for your business you will fail!!!!
This is not just my opinion, it is also a fact that can be backed up with statistics.
Sometimes, major changes are necessary in order to grow with the times. These changes do not take place over night, they take many years to be implemented. This being said, it is part of a business owners responsibilities to adapt to these changes over time. No business closes it's doors over any single change. There are always many other factors involved, the choices the business owner makes or doesn't make are always the key to success or failure.
When you are resistant to change, do not know how to change, or think that change will never be a necessary evil for your business you will fail!!!!
This is not just my opinion, it is also a fact that can be backed up with statistics.
well seeing as how locals have even pointed out that the bizz has opted to go to the place that caters to them .... it is catering to them b/c of the law...or should I say prohibiting slate st form catering to those needs/wants....manwon said:
This doesnt even make one bit of sense to me. Im from California so maybe thats the reason. But you cant smoke indoors anywhere here and the poolhalls are doing fine. Here is an idea......step outside if you want to kill yourself with smoking.
I think its crazy that you can legislate against something that is legal. Why shouldn't a business make their own decision on smoking . It's total desrimination! If you look a little closer insurance companies are behind most of this kind of legislation. They have a stone license to steal!
RunoutalloverU said:
California poolhalls may be doing fine but that may not be true in colder climates, like Vernon Hills, Illinois where Slate Street was located. Of course, we've already discussed the statewide ban vs. local ban issue.
I wonder how Chris's Billiards in Chicago has been doing since the ban. That's an old style poolroom where you walk up a flight. Pretty inconvenient for smokers to step outside, especially in winter when the Windy City is living up to its name.
Anybody know how Chris's is doing since the ban?
RunoutalloverU said:
The poolhalls here (California) are far from fine. I've lived in a lot of places and the pool action and leagues here is pretty pathetic compared to all other areas I've lived. Maybe coincidence, but all of the places I've lived where it was better all allowed smoking.
Many of the legendary poolhalls in my area have closed over the last few years.
Cheers,
RC
Rich93 said:
Chris's, like most places, was never exactly a cash cow to begin with and the ban basically killed off most of the action and subsequently killed off a large group of regular players and railbirds. There's some still there, but basically, there's not the crowds there used to be. I'm not sure where everyone went.
Things have changed there quite a bit. There are rumors that it is up for sale, but I have also heard from a somewhat reliable source that their lease won't be up for another eight years. Might both be true, might not.
When I first started going there a couple years ago, I was in awe of the level of playing, the level of money on the games on the main table, the woofing, it was intense. The haze of smoke was just all part of the circus to me.
It's still a great place to play, but it's not as fun in the main room as it used to be. I like the smoke free thing for myself as do some, but certainly not all, of the other regulars. But honestly, if I could choose, I would have no problem going back to the good old days of smoking, woofing, gambling and shooting. Hopefully things will level out and the business will recover, but the culture most definitely has been changed permanently.
Johnnyt said:
There is a smoking ban in Tampa? Funny, Planet 9 Ball was doing fine the last I heard..
Russ
daniel said:
Tobacco is not legal just like alcohol and anyone that believes either one is legal has a clouded mind.
Go grow some tobacco and make some alcohol then try to sell either one without jumping through hoops of government fire and taxes. They will bury you under the cocaine dealers in prison if you do (fact).
They tell you where, when, how, and how old you have to be to use either one. They are both tightly controlled illegal substances that are only tollerated by the government because of the mega tax dollars that they generate.
I smoke and just boycott places that don't allow it here. I won't go into to many details but I've been in thousands of poolrooms in 26 states in the last 10 yrs and there is a big difference between the west coast and east coast ( I saw less than 5 real poolrooms in the whole state of CA).
just my .02