Is it poor Management? Money problems? Not enough customers? Or perhaps a sign of the hard times? Thanks.
Many Regards,
Lock n Load.
Many Regards,
Lock n Load.
What do you think is the reason for so many good pool halls closing?
- Thread starter Lock N Load
- Start date
Hi,
I'd say that the bulk of the closures is a result of management that has money problems because of the lack of customers due to the current hard times.
Honestly, I would say that all of the factors you named are contributors. It is easy to be a bad business person in easy times. Hard times are where non-optimal business practices really show because you have to have planned for/made arrangements for low income periods.
That said, if times get hard enough, even the best of businesses with the best management have to fold.
it seem to me that all the owners wanna take in alot of money but not give any back pool is not a fast cash business takes time
The room I play in has 7 9 footers and the pool rate is $5 a day per person, yep, $5 a day. You rarely see all 7 tables in use. I'd say all 3 of the above contribute.
IMHO, all of it has impact, but management is the key. I've seen great rooms close in fat times, and been amazed at how some have managed to survive in thin times (with horrible location, depressed economy, no foot traffic, city council gunning for them, etc.). Sometimes a great room opens up, and the partners break up or they over-reach, etc., then close, blaming it on hard times. I've seen rooms manage to stay open thirty years and then the old guy that's been busting his hump to make it work and kept it running retires, only to have his kid or whoever took over the business give up on it and close/sell it. I think you need to have an owner who's committed to making it work, (until he's committed to a loony bin) to make one work, regardless of the other conditions!
That's beautiful. Take in a lot of money ... ha ... Are you kidding? Not give anything back?
I see, patrons want all new cloth, centennial balls, free coffee, water, and of course 10 dollars for "all day play". All 4 of the tables that are going, and ya'd think with all that extra cash they'd be reclothing those open tables.
I think they spend all their extra money on high speed bearings for the electric meter thats outside spinning it's guts off and the oil man who's out there filling up that 1000 gallon oil tank at 4 bucks a gallon. But I could be wrong.
i wasn't talking about every poolroom just the 1s around me ...... the poolrooms i see with things like u just said r the 1s that stay open
I also think that all the riverboat casinos opening in the last 15 years or so have had an impact. People are losing lots of their extra money at the casino and don't have enough left over for other things. They have also affected the gambling, which hurts pool rooms. Instead of spending time trying to get better at pool, its easier to go play poker. Its a combination of lots of things, but I think the casinos and the economy have been the two biggest contributors.
Andy
Andy
Hmm, interesting about the gambling. I'd like to see some stats on what people spend their disposable income on, and how much less we have had to spend. Aside from that, people are shallow. They wont be interested in pool again until Hollywood or TV says its time.
overhead
No one has mentioned overhead. There are some rooms that don't own everything out right. It's simple in slow times if you don't make anough money to cover the overhead. I worked at country club Billiards in Chelmsford Mass for 20 years. At one point it was one of the best rooms in Mass. About 70 GC3 & 4. Talk about a room with action You could find a game for $5 or $5000, at one point every pro you can think of has been there. The owner may he rest in piece
(David) Knew how to make a buck in hard times and good times. The manager Steve was good for the business of pool He really knew what he was doing and knew how to take care of the customers. The owner owed nothing. He owned the building,All the tables,everything. So he was able to stay open much longer then others. I don't think being commited really has anything to do with it. It's simple business if the place is not making money maybe it's time to let go.
No one has mentioned overhead. There are some rooms that don't own everything out right. It's simple in slow times if you don't make anough money to cover the overhead. I worked at country club Billiards in Chelmsford Mass for 20 years. At one point it was one of the best rooms in Mass. About 70 GC3 & 4. Talk about a room with action You could find a game for $5 or $5000, at one point every pro you can think of has been there. The owner may he rest in piece
(David) Knew how to make a buck in hard times and good times. The manager Steve was good for the business of pool He really knew what he was doing and knew how to take care of the customers. The owner owed nothing. He owned the building,All the tables,everything. So he was able to stay open much longer then others. I don't think being commited really has anything to do with it. It's simple business if the place is not making money maybe it's time to let go.
The reasons are many. Cost of staying in business is high, and Pool is being replaced by many other activities that were not available to the GENERAL PUBLIC say in the 1950's up to today.
Phoenix has had over 100 BARS & SPORTS BAR, AND POOL ROOMS Close in the last YEAR---REASON is simple, a one word RECESSION!!!
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I'm not going to list what reasons I believe are closing down the poolhalls, but I want to share what I saw a week ago in my local hangout.
A large group of eight young men and women (probably late teens to mid-twenties) came into the hall and promptly took over two tables. They stayed about an hour and a half. In that time not a SINGLE one of them ate nor drank anything. They turned their balls in, paid the table time and left.
Now, I don't know what the table rates are there, but I can assure you that NO poolhall can keep its doors open on revenue generated by table rental.
There HAS to be food and drink bought for the halls to stay open.
I get to shoot for free at my local hall because of league affiliation, but I do my part to support the hall by ALWAYS buying food and drinks (including alcohol) there and generously tipping the bartender/wait staff.
This group of kids that came in and bought nothing did very little to support this poolhall.
Maniac
A large group of eight young men and women (probably late teens to mid-twenties) came into the hall and promptly took over two tables. They stayed about an hour and a half. In that time not a SINGLE one of them ate nor drank anything. They turned their balls in, paid the table time and left.
Now, I don't know what the table rates are there, but I can assure you that NO poolhall can keep its doors open on revenue generated by table rental.
There HAS to be food and drink bought for the halls to stay open.
I get to shoot for free at my local hall because of league affiliation, but I do my part to support the hall by ALWAYS buying food and drinks (including alcohol) there and generously tipping the bartender/wait staff.
This group of kids that came in and bought nothing did very little to support this poolhall.
Maniac
ALCOHOL sale are what make many business's say in the GREEN.
KIDS years ago.
KIDS today.
END of Comparison.
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I think this is probably the most logical factor in these days and times. There are other factors, but people out of work or taking cuts in their pay or just fear itself (of impending doom) in the economy have done the most damage.
Maniac
I think pool halls fall into the same category as many other businesses in these times, and that is simply, if you don't use a sustainable business model, you won't' succeed. You can get by with a crappy plan in the fat times, but as soon as it's lean you will fail. This applies to almost all business, including the auto and airline industry. If at the end of the year you didn't make any money, you can either change the way you are doing things, or 'blame the economy' and stay the same, and slowly watch your business die. Maybe we should call our local congressman and request a billiards bailout....