VIP Billiards in Catonsville, Maryland – New Management and Starting Tournaments

C

Cuefan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A quick note to let everyone know that VIP Billiards is under new management. This is a large room in the Catonsville, Maryland area with twenty 9-foot size pool tables and five 3-cushion type tables. Please check out their website at http://vipbilliards.net/default.aspx for information.

They are also starting to run tournaments. Check their tournament announcement schedule at http://vipbilliards.net/Tournaments.aspx for dates and times for 9-ball, 8-ball, straight pool, and one pocket tournaments.

This room is easy to get to from major roads (located on Route 40 and also near Route 695 – Baltimore Beltway, and Route 70). It has a clean and friendly atmosphere. I spoke with one of the owners and the new management is making a sincere effort to make this room a success. They realize that tables will need recovering and will be addressing this as funds permit.

If you’re anywhere near the area, please consider supporting VIP Billiards by playing in the tournaments or just stopping by to hit some balls. They are also interested in your suggestions so please let them know while you’re there.

(Note: I have no affiliation with this room or owners. Just wanted to get the word out.)
 

Attachments

  • vip pictures 009.jpg
    vip pictures 009.jpg
    26.4 KB · Views: 1,597
  • vip billiards 012.jpg
    vip billiards 012.jpg
    21.5 KB · Views: 1,490
Last edited:
I don't recall ever having visited this pool room before. It is so unusual to see five billiard tables today in a pool room, so that's kind of cool.

I'd love to read more about this room in the future. Thanks for the thread. :)
 
Thanks for the information Guy. I just may be forced to stop in for a tournament one of these days.
 
VIP under new management!

All I can say is "Wow!"

I "cut my teeth" at The Blue Jay across the street from 1986 - 1995...then stopped going altogether.

We occasionally went across to VIP but there was never any action there, which was strange because VIP was always better than The Blue Jay from a layout and equipment standpoint...plus it stayed open later.

I remember Bud worked there and ran the place for many years. Not sure if he ever owned it or ended up selling it to this new management.

Now that The Blue Jay is closed (and has been for 3 or 4 years), VIP will be the only room on Route 40 around Ellicott City that's worth going to.

I think Centennial up the street opposite The Enchanted Forest is still open, and the Golden Triangle (or something like that) is a little closer, before you get to St. John's Lane, but that is a little dive with 8 or 9 tables in a row...not very appealing to me.

VIP will have a lot of work to do to place themselves back on the pool scene in Maryland.

I hope they succeed.

Guy, do you know if they will be interested, or able, to host a Planet Pool event?
 
VIP looks like it would be good for a large event like Planet Pool due to the number of tables. I forwarded information about Planet Pool to VIP's owner and gave him Mike R's contact info. Also gave him links to BCA, TAP, and APA pool leagues.
 
inside_english said:
VIP under new management!

All I can say is "Wow!"

I "cut my teeth" at The Blue Jay across the street from 1986 - 1995...then stopped going altogether.

We occasionally went across to VIP but there was never any action there, which was strange because VIP was always better than The Blue Jay from a layout and equipment standpoint...plus it stayed open later.

I remember Bud worked there and ran the place for many years. Not sure if he ever owned it or ended up selling it to this new management.

Now that The Blue Jay is closed (and has been for 3 or 4 years), VIP will be the only room on Route 40 around Ellicott City that's worth going to.

I think Centennial up the street opposite The Enchanted Forest is still open, and the Golden Triangle (or something like that) is a little closer, before you get to St. John's Lane, but that is a little dive with 8 or 9 tables in a row...not very appealing to me.

VIP will have a lot of work to do to place themselves back on the pool scene in Maryland.

I hope they succeed.

Guy, do you know if they will be interested, or able, to host a Planet Pool event?
Click to expand...

The reason Blue Jay was so popular was the machine action was so good.
 
The website is put together very well and I enjoyed the little bit of humor thrown in.

I also respect that they posted the Rules and Ettiquette, now hopefully they enforce it to keep the room nice.

I used to live right down the street from there, while not the greatest part of town then, I imagine it could have changed in 10+ years. :D

Carl
 
CarlB said:
The website is put together very well and I enjoyed the little bit of humor thrown in.

I also respect that they posted the Rules and Ettiquette, now hopefully they enforce it to keep the room nice.

I used to live right down the street from there, while not the greatest part of town then, I imagine it could have changed in 10+ years. :D

Carl
Click to expand...

Nope,no better carl.
 
8&snap said:
The reason Blue Jay was so popular was the machine action was so good.
Click to expand...
"Machine action"...LOL

You mean those nasty old poker and fruit machines that were black with cigarette smoke?

The ones that drained paychecks and social security checks, day in, day out, week in, week out for years?

The machines that made grown men cry and beg?

Sadly, you're 100% right, LOL.
 
VIP's new owner said he will be joining AZ soon to introduce himself. Also see the post in the tournament announcement section for details about his first tournament this Sunday.
 
Used to play there from time to time years ago, while the Blue Jay was still open. Preferred the Blue Jay because playing at the VIP was like trying to play pool in a rock concert. The music was always blasting like they were more interested in making a fun place for kids to hang out rather than a good place for good players to play. Hopefully they will become more of a players room now. They certainly have the setting for it.
I'll be sure the stop by the next time I'm down that way.
 
Goldcues said:
Used to play there from time to time years ago, while the Blue Jay was still open. Preferred the Blue Jay because playing at the VIP was like trying to play pool in a rock concert. The music was always blasting like they were more interested in making a fun place for kids to hang out rather than a good place for good players to play. Hopefully they will become more of a players room now. They certainly have the setting for it.
I'll be sure the stop by the next time I'm down that way.
Click to expand...
So who are you? PM me if you want. Maybe you beat me for some cash back in the day (who hasn't?...LOL)
 
Introductions...

Thank you, Cuefan for getting the ball rolling over here and for telling me about AZBilliards. For those I haven't met yet, my wife and I are currently managing and are in the process of buying VIP Billiards in Catonsville. We are both experienced recreational shooters and have been around VIP in some form or another for many, many years. I wouldn't be surprised if I know some of you already!

We are making some changes here, and our goal is to turn the place back in to a "real" pool hall, complete with serious shooters and recreational players alike. I am open to suggestions, comments, and criticism from past and present customers - I won't know what you want changed if you don't tell me. I think we're heading in a good direction here and would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone who has been here before and left for different reasons, and to pool players in the area willing to give VIP a second chance. Thanks all!!

Steve Didier
VIP Billiards - Catonsville
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top