What is the Largest Poolroom in America?
- Thread starter jason
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JoeyA said:
The place was operated very well also. I would like to open a place one day and I took alot of notes while in Shooters.
They do many things well.
Its very big but has definite sections to it.
I also liked Table Steaks in Denver as well. Some good things there.
BTW_- what was the nice pool room in Nawlins'. Late 90s or mid 90s maybe. Nicer than the others.
dave sutton
Banned
petey fuscos old room had atleast 60 tables
Also tacony billiards has around that. I was an old acme.
Both in pa
Also tacony billiards has around that. I was an old acme.
Both in pa
frankncali said:
Just outside of New Orleans in Slidell, LA, Frankie Haynes/Haines opened TWO SISTERS and he furnished it with a very nice bar, trim and Connely pool tables.
Pickles on Jefferson highway was kind of nice too when it first opened. Then you can't forget Gerald Huber's place, Rackateer's with its unbelievably high ceilings (virtually no ceiling and a roof about three stories high. Rackateer's had lots of tournaments in those days but the tables weren't new and the lights were the old style. Rackateer's was located in a building which was once used as a gambling casino.
JoeyA
Pushout said:
Leading up to the 2007 US Open he added a few more as JAM said (to make 58 total). They also have had 4 diamond professionals in the main room bordering the tournament room partition for quite a while (at least a couple years). They also added 5 diamonds to the tournament room before the US Open. Q-Masters is definitely the biggest pool hall I've ever been to that is still around today.
Shooters is very nice, but it is not even the nicest room in Minneapolis. I think Billiards Street Cafe (now Three Stooges, I think) was a little bit nicer. Tons of tables (maybe 60) and many of them were Gabriels.frankncali said:
I may be biased because I lived a little closer to Billiard Street Cafe; however, I spent a fair amount of time at Shooters, as well. Billiard Street Cafe was pretty awesome and would get my vote for Minneapolis.
Actually, a bunch of the tables in the large room, off to the side, are Gandy tables. It's easy to tell the difference between the Gold Crowns and the Gandys.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
spoons said:
cuejoey said:Chris's on Milwaukee av in Chicago has three rooms of tables..I believe close to 50 tables...Maybe FLEX or another regular can post the right number...
Over 40 tables, lot of 9 footers, well over 30, I believe, although I haven't actually counted them, plus a 12 foot snooker table, and 4 Verhovens, if memory serves.
Definitely, NOT the largest pool room, but plenty large. Front room is the players room, and has probably 14 or so 9 footers, the snooker table and the Verhovens. The tournament room has something like 12 9 footers (and a juke box too) plus an 8 footer, while the back room is probably most accurately called a bangers' room with a bunch of tables, Mr. Leo's Cue Repair shop, and a very loud juke box.
No liquor, just hamburgers, hot dogs, pizzas, fast food and so on.
One of a kind place, to be sure, with some one pocket action, and the other usual stuff.
Flex
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When I go to the US Open getting to go to Q-Masters Billiards is one of the highlights of my trip. It's the nicest pool room i've been to and they run it well. Each table is cleaned and wiped down before it's rented to the next players. We don't have a descent room where I live and I envy the people who can go to a room like Q-Masters anytime they want to play some pool.Hierovision said:
James
SCCues said:
Whenever you're in town I'm usually good for at least a few friendly games. I played in my first open tournament there this past Saturday (placed 5th
) and it was run extremely well. The director (Richard) does an awesome job and keeps everything going smoothly. I didn't wait more than 5 minutes between matches. Here's some info on their tournaments: http://www.q-masters.com/tournaments.php
SCCues said:
Q Masters is a nice room.
I might take the prize (or I might have to share it with Scott Lee) for having been to the largest number of the rooms mentioned so far.
Of rooms already mentioned in this thread, I've been to...
Q Masters - Virginia Beach
Chris's - Chicago
Two Sisters - Slidell LA (New Orleans)
Shooters - Burnsville (Minneapolis)
Two Stooges - Fridley (Minneapolis)
Table Steaks - Denver
Cue Club - Las Vegas
Hard Times - Bellflower (Los Angeles)
CJ Wiley's place - Dallas (with the 10-foot pool table and where Earl ran 11 racks)
California Billiards - Mountain View (I think. Bob?)
Of these, Shooters in Burnsville is the largest with 64 tables.
So is Shooters the largest right now?
According to this source of "Billiard's Unknown Facts":
The first public pool hall in history was built in England during the end of the 18th century. The pool hall featured one billiard table with one pocket. The biggest pool hall in history was built in Detroit in the 1920s; it featured more than 100 tables in addition to an exhibition room attached to a 250-seats theatre hall.
http://www.play89.com/Billiards-Facts.html
Here's a Detroit Nightmare Tale about a pool room: "The Fox and the Fly" may sound like one of Aesop's fables. But the actual story is true, and is probably one of billiards' most often-told tales. In 1865, Louis Fox and John Deery competed in a $1,000 match in Detroit. The 23-year-old Deery was handsome, athletic, and reputed to be totally fearless at the table. Fox, as him name implied, was a crafty veteran, known for driving his opponents crazy with his antics at the table. After a nail-biting struggle, Fox finally threatened to close out the match. In the midst of his surge, according to the legend, a fly took a liking to the cue ball, and continued to swarm around it, returning the moment the Fox took his stance. Efforts to shoo it away proved futile, and Fox, clearly rattled, missed his next shot. Deery proceeded to run the balls needed for victory, leaving the beaten Fox fuming in defeat. (Flies were actually a common problem in the mid 1800's. Most pool halls were lit with open flames from gas jets. This attracted the pests to the table, where they ultimately burned and fell onto the cloth.) So incensed was Fox over the constant interruptions, he literally blew after losing the match. He left the hall and plunged himself into the Detroit River. His body wasn't recovered for almost a year.
More about the Detroit pool room: The world's largest billiard hall was built during billiards' "Golden Age." "The Recreation," a mammoth seven-story health spa, was a bustling Detroit business in the 1920's. It featured 103 tables, 88 bowling lanes, 20 barber chairs, three manicuring stands, 14 cigar stands, a lunch counter on each floor, a restaurant that could seat 300, and an exhibition room with theater seating, that could accommodate 250 spectators.
Now, that's what I call a pool room! LOL!
JAM
The first public pool hall in history was built in England during the end of the 18th century. The pool hall featured one billiard table with one pocket. The biggest pool hall in history was built in Detroit in the 1920s; it featured more than 100 tables in addition to an exhibition room attached to a 250-seats theatre hall.
http://www.play89.com/Billiards-Facts.html
Here's a Detroit Nightmare Tale about a pool room: "The Fox and the Fly" may sound like one of Aesop's fables. But the actual story is true, and is probably one of billiards' most often-told tales. In 1865, Louis Fox and John Deery competed in a $1,000 match in Detroit. The 23-year-old Deery was handsome, athletic, and reputed to be totally fearless at the table. Fox, as him name implied, was a crafty veteran, known for driving his opponents crazy with his antics at the table. After a nail-biting struggle, Fox finally threatened to close out the match. In the midst of his surge, according to the legend, a fly took a liking to the cue ball, and continued to swarm around it, returning the moment the Fox took his stance. Efforts to shoo it away proved futile, and Fox, clearly rattled, missed his next shot. Deery proceeded to run the balls needed for victory, leaving the beaten Fox fuming in defeat. (Flies were actually a common problem in the mid 1800's. Most pool halls were lit with open flames from gas jets. This attracted the pests to the table, where they ultimately burned and fell onto the cloth.) So incensed was Fox over the constant interruptions, he literally blew after losing the match. He left the hall and plunged himself into the Detroit River. His body wasn't recovered for almost a year.
More about the Detroit pool room: The world's largest billiard hall was built during billiards' "Golden Age." "The Recreation," a mammoth seven-story health spa, was a bustling Detroit business in the 1920's. It featured 103 tables, 88 bowling lanes, 20 barber chairs, three manicuring stands, 14 cigar stands, a lunch counter on each floor, a restaurant that could seat 300, and an exhibition room with theater seating, that could accommodate 250 spectators.
Now, that's what I call a pool room! LOL!
JAM
Surprised Romine's High Pockets in Milwaukee hasn't made the list. They have around 50 tables. Of those, 3 or 4 are bar tables and the rest split about 50/50 between 8' and 9', all Brunswick Gold Crowns (III's I believe) covered with high quality cloth and changed regularly (think they use Granito?). Also have a tight-a$$ 6x12 snooker table and 2 heated 5x10 billiard tables. There was even a bumper pool table at one point in time...
Along with the tables, they have a full service Mexican restaurant, pizza/snack area, large bar, dance floor, arcade area, darts, and more TV's than you can count. Still one of the nicest places I've ever played in. And plenty of really good players as well.
Also like Chris's, used to make the trek to Chicago from Milwaukee several times a year for 9-ball tourneys but mostly for the 3-cushion action. 4 perfect heated Verhoeven tables, as well as some older non-heated Brunswick tables in the main room, and a lot of players who actually understand and can play the game.
Scott
[edit - funny, PROG8R posted the same time I was...]
Along with the tables, they have a full service Mexican restaurant, pizza/snack area, large bar, dance floor, arcade area, darts, and more TV's than you can count. Still one of the nicest places I've ever played in. And plenty of really good players as well.
Also like Chris's, used to make the trek to Chicago from Milwaukee several times a year for 9-ball tourneys but mostly for the 3-cushion action. 4 perfect heated Verhoeven tables, as well as some older non-heated Brunswick tables in the main room, and a lot of players who actually understand and can play the game.
Scott
[edit - funny, PROG8R posted the same time I was...]
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Romines...
Romines on south 27th street in Milwaukee, WI is located in a former roller rink. Last time I was there they had upwards of 75 tables. When I talked with Terry Romine, sr, before they built it, they were going to put in at least 100 tables. They decided to put in the full serve Mexican restaurant and fewer tables. Great room, full service bar and very tasty food. Well worth stopping in for food, pool or both.
Romines on south 27th street in Milwaukee, WI is located in a former roller rink. Last time I was there they had upwards of 75 tables. When I talked with Terry Romine, sr, before they built it, they were going to put in at least 100 tables. They decided to put in the full serve Mexican restaurant and fewer tables. Great room, full service bar and very tasty food. Well worth stopping in for food, pool or both.