:: Warning!! :: Don't visit Red Shoes @ Chicago ! Unless.....

[lfigueroa]

Red Shoes is one of the great pool rooms in this country.

The equipment is first class and well maintained, there are tournaments and leagues, instruction if you need it, a whole gaggle of friendly regulars with and Monsignor Lavin (John) -- one of the most cordial hosts you'll ever find -- presiding. He is friendly, fair, tough, and a player himself.

Oh, and there's action there. If you can't get a game at Red Shoes you have no pulse.

As to the neighborhood, it's fine. It's located where you'd expect a pool room to be located and there is not a one of us who hasn't been in far, far worse in our pool travels.

Lou Figueroa

 

[jrhendy]

Red Shoes

Great Room with a great host who can play a little himself. The pizza in Chicago is the best in the country, and then there is the Chicago Beef sandwiches.

I would love to go back, just need to line up the right game or two and try and pay for the trip.

Nice pictures.

 

[Tobermory]

Poolrooms you can look right into from the sidewalk and see all the way through make me suspicious. I am always concerned that they have nothing to hide.

 

[bdorman]

Poolrooms you can look right into from the sidewalk and see all the way through make me suspicious. I am always concerned that they have nothing to hide.

Agreed. I mean, what "good" can be happening if it's something you don't have to hide?

Chicago has some great rooms. I just wish we had more of them.

 

[alphadog]

Red Shoes is one of the great pool rooms in this country.

The equipment is first class and well maintained, there are tournaments and leagues, instruction if you need it, a whole gaggle of friendly regulars with and Monsignor Lavin (John) -- one of the most cordial hosts you'll ever find -- presiding. He is friendly, fair, tough, and a player himself.

Oh, and there's action there. If you can't get a game at Red Shoes you have no pulse.

As to the neighborhood, it's fine. It's located where you'd expect a pool room to be located and there is not a one of us who hasn't been in far, far worse in our pool travels.

Lou Figueroa

100% spot on.

Great Room with a great host who can play a little himself. The pizza in Chicago is the best in the country, and then there is the Chicago Beef sandwiches.

Great food of all ethnicities ! Chicago Beef sandwiches are the bomb.

 

[Willi Makaball]

Why did you post that Pizza, now Im hungry for one , it looks good

 

[alstl]

Seriously...I've heard so many people warn me about going to Red Shoes like I was gonna leave the place broke and naked...I mean I appreciate the heads up guys but I think all the worries are unfounded.

That's a shame but it unfortunately is the direction society is headed in these days. The good old days when you could walk into a pool hall and get broke and naked are gone, probably never to return.

Just kidding. Having seen some of Dennis Walsh's 14.1 videos from Red Shoes I would have been surprised if you had anything other than a positive experience.

 

[fastone371]

That is a nice, well written review you posted about Red shoes.
I was hoping they wold have another AZBer get together this year, I am about 2 hours north of them but I would gladly make the drive for a day of pool, Red Shoes looks and sounds like a great place. I missed the first one due to work and the second due to illness, I hope J-Flo has another AZBer gathering.

 

[TheThaiger]

Is this the club yappy is, ahem, 'club pro' in?

Lol.

 

[gehawe]

Red Shoes - Nice place.
A lot of one-pocket and bank pool going on there. Was there to meet Freddy the Beard. Very fond memories.

Later in the evening, quite some good (and expensive) games going on some tables (too good and too expensive for me, though).

And the food was good there, too.:thumbup:

 

[Scott Lee]

Great room...great owner...very nice people playing and working in the room. I've taught in there many times, and always treated like a king! Can't wait to go back there again, the next time I'm in Chicago. :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Poolrooms you can look right into from the sidewalk and see all the way through make me suspicious. I am always concerned that they have nothing to hide.

I don't know about Alsip (where Red Shoes is), but here in Chicago there's a city ordinance (for pool rooms only) that the police must be able to see into the front windows all the way through to the back of the place. At my home room they had curtains on the front windows, but they were always pulled back - until a customer one day closed them to block the sunlight. Paid a $4,000 fine - no kidding!

pj <- whadda they think goes on in pool rooms?
chgo

P.S. In all the years I've known about and been going to Red Shoes, I've never heard a bad word about it. It's always been one of the highest regarded rooms in the area.

 

[KRJ]

If Lou, Patrick and RJ can agree on the same thing, that Red Shoes is terrific, it's gotta be true. :thumbup:

 

[Mr. Bond]

I don't know about Alsip (where Red Shoes is), but here in Chicago there's a city ordinance (for pool rooms only) that the police must be able to see into the front windows all the way through to the back of the place. At my home room they had curtains on the front windows, but they were always pulled back - until a customer one day closed them to block the sunlight. Paid a $4,000 fine - no kidding!

pj <- whadda they think goes on in pool rooms?
chgo.

Not surprisingly, the ordinance, long ago, even dictated that billiard rooms must be located on the first floor for that same reason. The Brunswick clan ( Bensinger et al and Mussey's were directly responsible for that change, thankfully)

If Lou, Patrick and RJ can agree on the same thing, that Red Shoes is terrific, it's gotta be true. :thumbup:

Ain't that the truth lol
Red Shoes is the cats pajamas.

 

[StraightPoolIU]

I don't know about Alsip (where Red Shoes is), but here in Chicago there's a city ordinance (for pool rooms only) that the police must be able to see into the front windows all the way through to the back of the place. At my home room they had curtains on the front windows, but they were always pulled back - until a customer one day closed them to block the sunlight. Paid a $4,000 fine - no kidding!

pj <- whadda they think goes on in pool rooms?
chgo

P.S. In all the years I've known about and been going to Red Shoes, I've never heard a bad word about it. It's always been one of the highest regarded rooms in the area.

So does the ordinance mandate that poolrooms must have windows, or just that if they do they must not be covered?

 

[mantis99]

I have always wanted to play there. I've always heard it was a nice players hall with some real talent there. I only live about an hour away, but job and family really limit my time away, so I haven't made it there yet. One of these days I'll get there to check the place out and shoot a few games.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

...here in Chicago there's a city ordinance (for pool rooms only) that the police must be able to see into the front windows all the way through to the back of the place.

pj
chgo

StraightPoolIU
So does the ordinance mandate that poolrooms must have windows, or just that if they do they must not be covered?

Interesting question. I don't know the answer but I'd guess so, especially if they once were required to be on the first floor as Mr. Bond says.

pj
chgo

 

[StraightPoolIU]

Interesting question. I don't know the answer but I'd guess so, especially if they once were required to be on the first floor as Mr. Bond says.

pj
chgo

I was curious because generally I've always considered large windows letting in a lot of direct sunlight an anathema to otherwise good poolrooms. But of course if a room is forced due to some silly ordinance well that's nobody's fault.

 

[robertod]

Jive, it was great to meet the happy face behind all those fabulous pool cue posts! John introduced us and you gave me your take on the Zen cues.

No problem with Red Shoes, great place and more importantly great players that are willing to spend time with you. After Bobby Hunter beat me real good in a straight pool game, he was more than willing to spend some of his time giving me valuable tips. And he is not the only one like that.

Highly recommend Red Shoes to anyone!

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I was curious because generally I've always considered large windows letting in a lot of direct sunlight an anathema to otherwise good poolrooms. But of course if a room is forced due to some silly ordinance well that's nobody's fault.

My "office", where I spend a lot of every day, is a small table next to a pool table right next to the front window of my local pool hall. The glare is strong when shooting toward the window, but I've gotten used to it over time - a useful edge (that I definitely need) when matching up there.

pj
chgo