Surf City Billiards, Santa Cruz CA

[nfty9er]

What a ridiculous statement

I read some reviews of Fast Eddie's, and none were very favorable. They all left the impression that out-of-towners weren't readily welcomed there. I was with my girlfriend and her son, and I really didn't want to bother with anything that could be a hassle. If I were by myself, I'd have checked it out. Next time.

First of all get the name right. Eddy's, maybe that is why you got bad reviews. You know of course you cannot satisfy all of the people all the time but some people all the time. I call you a liar to your face. This is a tourist town, why in the hell would I not be friendly to out-of-towners. You think I don't get the beach crowd in on weekends with their families? Common sense. I suggest you don't open your trap unless you know the facts. We have been here 31 years, that speaks for itself, and trashes any b.s. you have to say. I have 7 kids, they all worked for me, they are all respectful and love kids. Tomorrow I am opening early so "tourists" can come in and watch the womens World Cup. Now talk some more trash.
Dick and Sally Cady
Proprietors
Fast Eddy's Billiards
fasteddysbilliards.com

 

[Baxter]

First of all sir, there are not 20 tables at Surf City,there are 15, which just shows your observations are lacking. The biggest complaint when they opened was the tables were too close together, and you can see that from the website picture. You can also figure out the layout and 15 table count. They may have seemed far apart to you because nobody was in the friggin place and you played on one of the tables that had a little more room longway but not sideway. Why they changed to dark blue and red from tournament blue and pink(lol) is beyond me unless the yuppy college kids like it. Look at their hours, is that the hours of a legitimate pool room? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind them in town competing cause the more people playing pool the better but man when they first opened it took them six months to even put spots on the tables. The owners are a fine bunch but know nothing about running a pool room. And as for the price, come on your from Northern California, tell me how many pool rooms in San Jose, just over the hill charge 10 or less. Zilch. How much does CBC in Mt. View charge? Way more.
More to follow.

They do have 15 tables, my mistake. I couldn't remember the number from memory. The point was, they have enough tables that getting one wouldn't be a problem. As far as price goes, Hard Times in Sacramento charges 8 an hour, 6 by yourself.

Sounds like you do mind them in town competing and are holding a grudge against a nicer "family style" pool room. All the reviews I read on your room weren't that good, and left me with the impression you had a "typical" seedy pool room. Get mad all you want. I don't really care. Maybe you should work on changing the image of your room and get the business that Surf City is getting over you. Just a thought.

 

[nfty9er]

Good for you

Yeah, didn't get his name. He even left me a nasty-gram on the windshield of my rental car that I found when I left to go back the airport in San Jose reminding me how I'm a moron and could have taken $20 grand off him if I'd played. I'm not convinced the guy was even a pool player. I'm just thankful he didn't screw with the car.

The folks at the counter, a gal and some guy were quite nice actually. I'd give it a try again, I'm fairly comfortable in almost any pool hall whether it's plushed out or a dive. Funny how I'll steer clear of bad neighborhoods and stuff but feel home in just about any pool room anywhere - as long as the parking lot is well lit, lol! Maybe it's because in a pool room I've always got a weapon in my hands.

I believe this any less. I cannot believe you would not tell this nice guy and gal working about this. The guy was probably my oldest son who is one of the best employees I have ever had, and I am not saying that because he is my son. In business you have to be objective and hard and he has passed all tests. The gal was probably Ashlee , a beauty and a great employee that has been here for 5 years, never missing a day.
Thank you very much. Come back and like Ernie say if you know him and mention him you get treated like a king.
Dick Cady
Fast Eddy's Billiards.

 

[Baxter]

Maybe I am wrong, not for Nor Cal like your avatar indicates. Where are the diamonds then, I am unaware of any but may be wrong.

My home room, The Downlo in Chico, CA has 8 Diamond tables.

 

[Baxter]

First of all get the name right. Eddy's, maybe that is why you got bad reviews. You know of course you cannot satisfy all of the people all the time but some people all the time. I call you a liar to your face. This is a tourist town, why in the hell would I not be friendly to out-of-towners. You think I don't get the beach crowd in on weekends with their families? Common sense. I suggest you don't open your trap unless you know the facts. We have been here 31 years, that speaks for itself, and trashes any b.s. you have to say. I have 7 kids, they all worked for me, they are all respectful and love kids. Tomorrow I am opening early so "tourists" can come in and watch the womens World Cup. Now talk some more trash.
Dick and Sally Cady
Proprietors
Fast Eddy's Billiards
fasteddysbilliards.com

I'm not talking any trash, you seem to be doing that enough for everyone. I was simply stating the facts, of what I read online. Do a search for pool rooms in Santa Cruz, then read the reviews on your room. That is all the information that I am stating.

 

[nfty9er]

Thanks Ernie

Dogs, by all means, give the place another try. The place is run by our own fellow AZ'er, nfty9er. If you get the chance to meet him (he's there a lot), tell him you know me and he'll treat you like a king.

You have always been a good friend, customer and great guy , and thanks for the kind words.
Dick

 

[Baxter]

Basically dude, you're coming in this thread acting like an ass. You could have just said "yeah they have an ok room, but you should really come check mine out if you're in the area." Instead you resort to trash talking on another room and attacking me for writing a review. You're not making yourself or your room look any better right now. I wouldn't doubt if all the crap you've said will end up driving away business. Getting defensive and attacking any would-be naysayers isn't helping your cause.

 

[nfty9er]

Sorry for the rants people

`But I have to defend my good name and business. This thread was a real bummer for me as people are using specualation, heresay and downright lies. Why? I don't know, but I will argue face to face about our reputation with anybody, anytime.

 

[Baxter]

`But I have to defend my good name and business. This thread was a real bummer for me as people are using specualation, heresay and downright lies. Why? I don't know, but I will argue face to face about our reputation with anybody, anytime.

And I respect that. I made no mention of anything negative about your room, I just said what I had read. If you look, I even said that if you can go to the room I reviewed, you can also visit your establishment. I also said that if I didn't have my family with me, I would have visited your establishment. My review was not intended to take away from your establishment whatsoever. I simply visited a room I found to be good all-around, and wanted to share my experience, nothing more nothing less.

 

[nfty9er]

This statement really crazy

Yeah, FE probably has more action, Surf City is more of a "family" type place in that regard. I checked out Fast Eddie's while I was up there but the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. When I got there some jerk came up to me in the parking lot, interrupted me while I was on the phone and kept bugging me to play $5K sets. He followed me in, wouldn't leave me alone and proceeded to hassle me at my table to play for at least $1K. When I finally got rude and basically told him to F off he called me a nit and told me I'm an idiot cuz I just cost myself $10K. I'm just way past that in my life where I need that chaotic crap.

Probably just an isolated incident and other than that I liked the place (though certainly not as "nice" as Surf City) but I'm in no hurry to go back.

I still wonder what happened to the GC4's they had in Surf City. I'm trying to think of a scenario where they would have gotten rid of all of them just to replace them with lesser Brunswicks. Not to mention what a hassle that would be for a 2nd floor pool room.

Baxter - please take a look at the pictures on the website I linked and tell me if those are the tables you saw there. If so they are GC4's.

Now I realize you state the guy harassed you at your table. Were you at the downstairs tables? Why in hell would you not tell the bartender what was going on. We would have had that guy out the door in a heartbeat.
We allow no harassment by anyone. We want our partrons to have fun. I am beginning to think you are confused at where you were.
Also our parking lot is well lit by floodlights, only mention because in a following thread you mention lighting.

 

[kvinbrwr]

Now I realize you state the guy harassed you at your table. Were you at the downstairs tables? Why in hell would you not tell the bartender what was going on. We would have had that guy out the door in a heartbeat.
We allow no harassment by anyone. We want our partrons to have fun. I am beginning to think you are confused at where you were.
Also our parking lot is well lit by floodlights, only mention because in a following thread you mention lighting.

Dogs gave you a fair review and even said it was probably an isolated incident yet you berate him for the way he reacted to some jerk in your place? You own a business, if you don't by now know this this is EXACTLY (first impressions) how clientele grows or shrinks, you maybe would be well served to read Dog's review again with an eye towards learning a lesson yourself, instead of teaching him how to be. He came in, he had a bad experience, he is lost for life as a customer. And like most customers with a poor taste, he is sharing his experience with potential clients.

Teaching him how to control the bad experience isn't really the answer. Controlling the experience you provide is.

Kevin

 

[Scott Lee]

nifty9er...Well I'm sure it was Santa Cruz. It must have another poolroom that I thought was on Pacific. What poolrooms were in Santa Cruz in 2005 (besides yours)?

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Sorry Scott but that room was never there until late fall of 2008. Before that it was an art gallery with a cafe.

 

[Cuebuddy]

Mostly sitting on the side and watching this thread unfold......I must say that it would be cool to back up and start over, I don't think Baxter meant any disrespect by starting this thread. Dogs PP and 8ball E seem like top notch members here and I would love to meet up with them on one of my Cali trips.

Having typed that I also can see an owner of a business feeling protective over a thread like this. Dick I would be happy to stop in and say hi if I get a chance in early August. Reviews on the internet must be taken with a grain of salt, we all know that people with a grudge can trash someone very easily and very few happy customers take the time to write a favorable review.

If I do get a chance to shed the fam for a few hours I will check these places out, Dick I will let you know.

 

[8ballEinstein]

At this point I should mention that Dick (nfty9er) can come off a little rough around the edges and when he perceives an attack on his business, he can get wound up. But I've known him for close to 15 years and I can tell you that he loves the game and its players. After you get beyond his gruff side, you can talk pool with Dick all night long and have a good time doing it.

I was prepared to give you MY review of the two rooms but instead, I'll just say that if you're in town and are looking for a place that most AZ'er would enjoy hanging out at, I recommend Fast Eddy's in Capitola.

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Did not the original o.p. say they were GC4's? That is what I read unless he went back and corrected it. They did change awhle ago the color of the tables. Don't know why.
More late for you.

Yes, it did say they were not Gold Crowns

Again, the original op says GC4, and that is still what they have except for new ugly cloth.

Wow are you wrong on Surf City being the family place. They now have hard liquor and want to cater to college crowd and try for the ladies with half price pool. All Fast Eddy's advertising is geared to family room early and party crowd late. We have most kids out by 11. We cater to tons of kids birthday parties(not really tons) but a lot. We have a private enclosed room for that. Does this sound like less a family room? I think not.
As for your story of your experience in front of my establishment. That has got to be embellished. Like to know for the life of me who that could be. First there is no one left here that has that kind of money to challenge a stranger to that kind of game. The people I know here that do gamble have no personality or mode of operation that wold lend to what you are saying. If that happened you should have complained to my help or asked what the deal was at least. That kind of attitude is basically not allowed but probably uncontrollable. I cannot believe it happened that way. It sounds like just some drunk that got out of line or did not like your looks. I would apologize for that.
Can u remember what night or day of the week and time. My help has been the same for years on the same nights. I would like to know if they remember something like that and also how long ago?

Again with whether the OP said they were GC's? Either you are obsessed or you are trying to imply that I'm such a confused individual that my story about what occurred to me at your room must be BS. I'm not and it's not. If you had read the whole thread you would have seen where the OP said in post #8 that he must have been mistaken about the tables.

Well, when I was in Surf City there were numerous families with kids playing pool and eating. I also saw several pre-teen boys there with their own cue sticks. So as far as I'm concerned it definitely attracts the family crowd. The lack of any action there should be an indication of that. I don't drink so I don't know if they had a full bar but I'm pretty sure they at least had beer and probably wine at the time.

No, my story was not embellished. It happened exactly as I described. There is no reason your staff would remember it because they weren't involved and there was no big scene.

You say you can't believe this happened the way I described. May I ask why? It was not that big an incident and I didn't make it out to be. Some guy was barking at me in the parking lot when I first got there, obviously a degenerate without a pot to piss in, trying to get me to play for insane amounts of money. He followed me in, woofed at me at my table for 5-10 minutes 'til I finally convinced him it wasn't happening. By the time I left it was all but forgotten until I saw the note on my car. As I said, I question whether the guy was even a real player. I didn't claim he sprayed the room with gunfire, stabbed anyone, or set the place on fire. It's the same kind of crap that goes on in pool rooms all the time. Why can't you believe it, are you saying you've never had an "incident" in your room - ever? As incidents go, this was not that big a deal, but you're saying that not even something like this could possibly occur in your establishment? I've seen worse things have happened in nicer places. Even saw a pretty good fist fight in the billiard room of a YMCA, of all places. I certainly didn't bad mouth your room, your management, or your staff, but not being familiar with the area or your room it did leave me with a bad impression. I don't think that's illogical.

As far as when it was, it occurred on Friday the 20th of March 2009. Is that specific enough? I was at your place for 1 - 1.5 hours or so and since my flight was leaving San Jose at 8:30P I probably left your place around 4:30 or 5P. It wasn't real dark out when I left. You can probably research who was "on" that day from your records but as I said, your staff wasn't involved. I do remember there was a gal behind the counter that was very nice and friendly.

I believe this any less. I cannot believe you would not tell this nice guy and gal working about this. The guy was probably my oldest son who is one of the best employees I have ever had, and I am not saying that because he is my son. In business you have to be objective and hard and he has passed all tests. The gal was probably Ashlee , a beauty and a great employee that has been here for 5 years, never missing a day.
Thank you very much. Come back and like Ernie say if you know him and mention him you get treated like a king.
Dick Cady
Fast Eddy's Billiards.

I can believe I would not go to your staff about it even if you can't. It never got to the point where I didn't feel I could handle the guy myself. I've been around enough to know I don't walk into a strange pool hall for the first time and complain to the management (crying to momma) about some guy that, for all I know, is a well-liked regular with other friends there and get him in trouble with management just to have to deal with his crew later in the parking lot. As long as I was able to handle it myself, that's what I did. It was an uncomfortable experience but I felt safe enough inside that I didn't think he was dangerous, so there didn't appear to be the need to make it worse and escalate it by calling the cavalry on the guy. It wasn't clear from your post if you were calling me a liar so I 'll assume you weren't and we won't go down that road.

`But I have to defend my good name and business. This thread was a real bummer for me as people are using specualation, heresay and downright lies. Why? I don't know, but I will argue face to face about our reputation with anybody, anytime.

Since I didn't post any speculation, hearsay or lies about your place I will assume you were not directing this to me, so I've no response.

Now I realize you state the guy harassed you at your table. Were you at the downstairs tables? Why in hell would you not tell the bartender what was going on. We would have had that guy out the door in a heartbeat.
We allow no harassment by anyone. We want our partrons to have fun. I am beginning to think you are confused at where you were.
Also our parking lot is well lit by floodlights, only mention because in a following thread you mention lighting.

I think I already explained why I chose to handle it myself. BTW, if it matters I was at one of the tables to the right when you first walk in, IIRC they are up on a platform a little above the tables more in the back. Bar and register was on the left side when you walk in. Nope, don't think I'm confused about where I was.

-----

I also mentioned in one of my posts that I liked your place and would go back, but you seem to have made it clear to me from your tone that I'm not welcome in your establishment so when I'm up in that area I suppose I'll simply have to play pool elsewhere. Too bad really, this whole thing is silly and I bet we'd probably like each other. I was even going to buy a T-shirt before I left but all you had were sweatshirts at the time, at least in my size. If I read your tone wrong please let me know and next time I'm up that way I'll stop in and introduce myself. Even if you are a friend of Ernie's - I won't hold that against you.

 

[nfty9er]

Not sure of year

nifty9er...Well I'm sure it was Santa Cruz. It must have another poolroom that I thought was on Pacific. What poolrooms were in Santa Cruz in 2005 (besides yours)?

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

But the only other pool room for years was the Break Room on Soquel Ave.
near Ocean St. (the main st. through town to the Boardwalk). Not sure what year they closed down, they lasted about 8 years and I think closed around 2005 or earlier.