This is Ames Mister

L.S. Dennis

L.S. Dennis

Well-known member
"No Bars, no pinball machines, no bowling alley just pool this is Ames Mister!" Now in the shadow of the closing of Steinway, how long do you think a pool room would stay open if they used this as their business model? It's no wonder why so many rooms have closed here in the states with today's business climate. Sad state of affairs for pool in this country.
 
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Baby Huey said:
I own a room in Ventura Ca. Stiix Billiards. This business is tough as we've seen pool rooms close in bunches in the 70's, kick in again in the 80's due to the Color of Money craze and begin a decent in the 90's and continue on from there. Look it's about Overhead period. You can make a living selling dirt if you can keep the overhead down. Leagues are and will be the salvation of pool as we know it today. No mistaking that fact. So how you corral that and serve your specific community needs is the question. Trying to own the building is very important. I was lucky, I own the building and made it through Covid. Paying rent in NY has to be like climbing up a hill that's greased down. Most pool rooms that make it are on the fringes of the city they operate in. Difficult to be in the high rent districts and you got to have parking at least in Cali. That's difficult as well. Anybody who thinks they know it all and haven't had the pleasure of making payroll and their monthly bills shouldn't be telling the rest of us how it's done. LOL
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That's a very correct statement but not sure who it's directed at? If me, show me where I was giving advice? However, I would also recommend not getting advice from someone who has had 3 chances and failed, or someone who thinks that kicking out people trying to enjoy a pool match is how business should be done.

The beauty is, a pool room can be many things - a place for people to come have some food and drink and a place for pool players to go - all at the same time. So for someone to sit there and say they'd kick people out because they're watching a match, when that person has failed three times, is absolutely hilarious and probably shouldn't be listened to.

There's a place local to me that caters to everyone. The owners are players themselves, they have multiple leagues where people come and have fun, regular people come in off the street and have a good time, all the regulars come in and gamble, play tournaments, etc. For decades it was a shitty place with shitty tables, today - it's full of Diamond's and has hosted professional players (exhibition) and almost every local league team I know plays out of there. What changed? Ownership. The previous owners simply owned a business, not a pool hall. The new owner is much more in tune with the customers (doesn't throw them out for watching a pool match in a pool hall) astute at getting people in the doors and keeping them there.

That's the person I would go to for advice, not some guy who used to own 3 halls that had to shutter their doors, probably because he kicked someone out of the pool hall for watching pool. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
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Baby Huey said:
I own a room in Ventura Ca. Stiix Billiards. This business is tough as we've seen pool rooms close in bunches in the 70's, kick in again in the 80's due to the Color of Money craze and begin a decent in the 90's and continue on from there. Look it's about Overhead period. You can make a living selling dirt if you can keep the overhead down. Leagues are and will be the salvation of pool as we know it today. No mistaking that fact. So how you corral that and serve your specific community needs is the question. Trying to own the building is very important. I was lucky, I own the building and made it through Covid. Paying rent in NY has to be like climbing up a hill that's greased down. Most pool rooms that make it are on the fringes of the city they operate in. Difficult to be in the high rent districts and you got to have parking at least in Cali. That's difficult as well. Anybody who thinks they know it all and haven't had the pleasure of making payroll and their monthly bills shouldn't be telling the rest of us how it's done. LOL
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Present day pool rooms that have lasted have managed to do it on either alcohol sales, food sales or most likely both as their major source of revenue.

Our pool room has survived 27 years on less than 10% of our sales from pool table revenue, over 90% of our sales from food, and 0% of our sales from alcohol. Over 90% of our customers have never played a game of pool here.

I’m guessing Hard times in Sacramento may be one of the few poolrooms in the country that brings in well over $1,000+ / day average on pool table rental time alone. And even for them, I’d guess their pool table rental revenue is still less than 25% of their total revenue.
 
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Chili Palmer said:
That's a very correct statement but not sure who it's directed at? If me, show me where I was giving advice? However, I would also recommend not getting advice from someone who has had 3 chances and failed, or someone who thinks that kicking out people trying to enjoy a pool match is how business should be done.

The beauty is, a pool room can be many things - a place for people to come have some food and drink and a place for pool players to go - all at the same time. So for someone to sit there and say they'd kick people out because they're watching a match, when that person has failed three times, is absolutely hilarious and probably shouldn't be listened to.

There's a place local to me that caters to everyone. The owners are players themselves, they have multiple leagues where people come and have fun, regular people come in off the street and have a good time, all the regulars come in and gamble, play tournaments, etc. For decades it was a shitty place with shitty tables, today - it's full of Diamond's and has hosted professional players (exhibition) and almost every local league team I know plays out of there. What changed? Ownership. The previous owners simply owned a business, not a pool hall. The new owner is much more in tune with the customers (doesn't throw them out for watching a pool match in a pool hall) astute at getting people in the doors and keeping them there.

That's the person I would go to for advice, not some guy who used to own 3 halls that had to shutter their doors, probably because he kicked someone out of the pool hall for watching pool. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
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Talk is cheap, do something to show you know something, or sit back and be the back seat driver that you really are!!
 
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ames was a dump. i went in a bunch of times and very little action and most times almost one one in there.
all the gamblers hung at 7/11. thats where i went, or if you liked money, the golden cue in queens. if you wanted to make money.

ames stayed open 24 hours so maybe some action late at night from the black crowd. i dont know about that. but most of them went to micgurs room.

country, played in the bars in harlem and made more money than anyone else.
 
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Chili Palmer said:
That's a very correct statement but not sure who it's directed at? If me, show me where I was giving advice? However, I would also recommend not getting advice from someone who has had 3 chances and failed, or someone who thinks that kicking out people trying to enjoy a pool match is how business should be done.

The beauty is, a pool room can be many things - a place for people to come have some food and drink and a place for pool players to go - all at the same time. So for someone to sit there and say they'd kick people out because they're watching a match, when that person has failed three times, is absolutely hilarious and probably shouldn't be listened to.

There's a place local to me that caters to everyone. The owners are players themselves, they have multiple leagues where people come and have fun, regular people come in off the street and have a good time, all the regulars come in and gamble, play tournaments, etc. For decades it was a shitty place with shitty tables, today - it's full of Diamond's and has hosted professional players (exhibition) and almost every local league team I know plays out of there. What changed? Ownership. The previous owners simply owned a business, not a pool hall. The new owner is much more in tune with the customers (doesn't throw them out for watching a pool match in a pool hall) astute at getting people in the doors and keeping them there.

That's the person I would go to for advice, not some guy who used to own 3 halls that had to shutter their doors, probably because he kicked someone out of the pool hall for watching pool. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
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And if you understood what I wrote, you'd have understood I wasn't me kicking the customers out unless they were betting, that was the room owner in Germany. As for my 3 rooms, the problems I ran into wasn't from not.selling food and alcohol, it was from the CITY I was operating in! Everytimeni turned around they were trying to give me a citation, or tell me I couldn't have any kids under the age of 18 after 10pm on the weekends, just a whole bunch of shit, because I had over 500 kids at night, showing up to play pool and video games for a $7.00 cover charge and everything inside was free to play! So keep showing how ignorant you are as to think you know me!!!
 
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L.S. Dennis said:
"No Bars, no pinball machines, no bowling alley just pool this is Ames Mister!" Now in the shadow of the closing of Steinway, how long do you think a pool room would stay open if they used this as their business model? It's no wonder why so many rooms have closed here in the states with today's business climate. Sad state of affairs for pool in this country.
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The issue with the modern world is that entertainment, and even daily needs, is fast paced and everywhere. In the 50s, 60s and even most of 70s there were no Top Golfs, phones and TVs with instant world wide media libraries built in, video game systems, Tinder and other dating apps, instant Amazon and eBay ordering of anything you could want, home delivery of carrots. People had to actively go out and do things. You want to meet people or get a date, you had to leave the house, you want entertaiment, you had to leave the house. Learning and doing things took work, you don't sit at home and have a pick of 50 YouTube videos on a draw shot, you had to go and learn it on the table or from someone at the pool hall.

Pool/Billiards for most people is secondary to the drinking, eating, going on dates you would do in places with pool tables now, so very few rooms can survive just on being a pool hall with tables.
 
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realkingcobra said:
And if you understood what I wrote, you'd have understood I wasn't me kicking the customers out unless they were betting, that was the room owner in Germany. As for my 3 rooms, the problems I ran into wasn't from not.selling food and alcohol, it was from the CITY I was operating in! Everytimeni turned around they were trying to give me a citation, or tell me I couldn't have any kids under the age of 18 after 10pm on the weekends, just a whole bunch of shit, because I had over 500 kids at night, showing up to play pool and video games for a $7.00 cover charge and everything inside was free to play! So keep showing how ignorant you are as to think you know me!!!
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Below are your words, not mine. Are you backtracking now or do you think people who are watching a pool match at a pool hall should be kicked out? Face it, you spewed a lie, wanted to act tough and cool and spewed more crap and got called out and now you're trying to backtrack.

EDIT: LMAO, you are essentially kicking out all the railbirds. That's a smart business decision if you own a pool hall.

I can't make this stuff up.


How many times have you seen people just standing around watching 2 top players going at it, being entertained, for free!!

If I were to open another room on the basis of $20 an hour for table time, my policy would be to all the watchers, keep something to eat or drink in front of you at all times, give your receipts to the players your watching to cover their table time and keep watching, or leave because customers pay, watchers leave! Not making any money off of you anyway, so I've lost nothing when you leave either!!!
 
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hang-the-9 said:
The issue with the modern world is that entertainment, and even daily needs, is fast paced and everywhere. In the 50s, 60s and even most of 70s there were no Top Golfs, phones and TVs with instant world wide media libraries built in, video game systems, Tinder and other dating apps, instant Amazon and eBay ordering of anything you could want, home delivery of carrots. People had to actively go out and do things. You want to meet people or get a date, you had to leave the house, you want entertaiment, you had to leave the house. Learning and doing things took work, you don't sit at home and have a pick of 50 YouTube videos on a draw shot, you had to go and learn it on the table or from someone at the pool hall.

Pool/Billiards for most people is secondary to the drinking, eating, going on dates you would do in places with pool tables now, so very few rooms can survive just on being a pool hall with tables.
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Yep, times have changed. Unless you live in an area with a population that can sustain a pool only hall, you better have some options.
 
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Chili Palmer said:
Below are your words, not mine. Are you backtracking now or do you think people who are watching a pool match at a pool hall should be kicked out? Face it, you spewed a lie, wanted to act tough and cool and spewed more crap and got called out and now you're trying to backtrack.

EDIT: LMAO, you are essentially kicking out all the railbirds. That's a smart business decision if you own a pool hall.

I can't make this stuff up.


How many times have you seen people just standing around watching 2 top players going at it, being entertained, for free!!

If I were to open another room on the basis of $20 an hour for table time, my policy would be to all the watchers, keep something to eat or drink in front of you at all times, give your receipts to the players your watching to cover their table time and keep watching, or leave because customers pay, watchers leave! Not making any money off of you anyway, so I've lost nothing when you leave either!!!
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And that right, that's what I said IF I were to do it again!!!
 
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Chili Palmer said:
Below are your words, not mine. Are you backtracking now or do you think people who are watching a pool match at a pool hall should be kicked out? Face it, you spewed a lie, wanted to act tough and cool and spewed more crap and got called out and now you're trying to backtrack.

EDIT: LMAO, you are essentially kicking out all the railbirds. That's a smart business decision if you own a pool hall.

I can't make this stuff up.


How many times have you seen people just standing around watching 2 top players going at it, being entertained, for free!!

If I were to open another room on the basis of $20 an hour for table time, my policy would be to all the watchers, keep something to eat or drink in front of you at all times, give your receipts to the players your watching to cover their table time and keep watching, or leave because customers pay, watchers leave! Not making any money off of you anyway, so I've lost nothing when you leave either!!!
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Rail birds DON'T spend any money!!!
 
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realkingcobra said:
Rail birds DON'T spend any money!!!
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So, again, you're going to kick the railbirds out of a pool hall? Why am I not surprised you "owned" 3 pool halls.
To others reading this - raise your hand if you have ever gone to a pool hall to watch a pool match?

Oh, and I know they don't spend money, but that's not who I would expect to pay my bills, I would; however, not treat railbirds like shit and kick them out. That's how places lose business and close.

realkingcobra said:
And that right, that's what I said IF I were to do it again!!!
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Good, three strikes and you're out.
 
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Chili Palmer said:
So, again, you're going to kick the railbirds out of a pool hall? Why am I not surprised you "owned" 3 pool halls.
To others reading this - raise your hand if you have ever gone to a pool hall to watch a pool match?

Oh, and I know they don't spend money, but that's not who I would expect to pay my bills, I would; however, not treat railbirds like shit and kick them out. That's how places lose business and close.



Good, three strikes and you're out.
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When YOU actually open a pool room, then say something, otherwise scared money ain't never done a thing!!!
 
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The classic small town, late 50s, 4-table room where I grew up charged 60 cents per hour, or 15 cents a rack (10 cents for 9 ball), # of players regardless. Never hardly ever had to wait to play (Sat. night maybe), so they likely couldn’t have stayed in business without tobacco/candy, magazine, soda fountain, & back room card table revenue. There were raised theater seats (& spittoons) adjoining the tables, usually occupied even when nobody was playing. It was always ‘a place to go’, and NEVER empty (even without music, food, or alcohol).
I guess those days are gone forever, unless a well-healed/seriously dedicated owner/enthusiast with the right location & low-enough overhead could absorb the red ink.
 
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The Cueball in Salem, OR is about as close as it gets to old school halls - that I've visited. Close to 20 tables, Brunswick Centennials, a 3C table, vending machines for food, and no alcohol. Been in business for almost 60 years.

Pool Hall| Salem, OR| The Cue Ball

Looking for some pool table maintenance? The Cue Ball in Salem, OR has all pool-related needs. Click here to learn more.
www.thecueballsalem.com www.thecueballsalem.com
 
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Chili Palmer said:
The Cueball in Salem, OR is about as close as it gets to old school halls - that I've visited. Close to 20 tables, Brunswick Centennials, a 3C table, vending machines for food, and no alcohol. Been in business for almost 60 years.

Pool Hall| Salem, OR| The Cue Ball

Looking for some pool table maintenance? The Cue Ball in Salem, OR has all pool-related needs. Click here to learn more.
www.thecueballsalem.com www.thecueballsalem.com
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AND Jim owns the city block, so he don't have rent payments to make to a landlord, keep that in mind!
 
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Chili Palmer said:
Here's a question - didn't you learn something from the first pool hall that closed? Maybe stupid money should be left in the bank?
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You're like the reporter that asked Thomas Edison after he invented the light bulb, so what do you have to say about the 1,000 failures before you invented the light bulb, to which Thomas replied, I never failed, I proved a 1,000 ways NOT to make a light bulb!

Chili Palmer, why don't you show everyone how it's done, and open a pool room yourself, and let's see what you come up with, because all you are is talk!!
 
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