I want to thanks everyone for the great inputs.. I love this community.
Another vote for quality equipment.
Recloth the tables regularly and keep 'em level. Usually that goes hand-in-hand
but I've seen tables with sparkling new simonis and horrible rolls, which is a total waste.
Clean the balls, it's such a small thing but everything just plays better... better breaks,
fewer skids, easier cue ball movement.
Fix stupid little things like a ball return that keeps getting stuck, nails sticking out of pockets,
broken wooden racks, etc.
If the tables are right, I could give a crap if they even have food or alcohol or music.
This is Ames, mister.
You would love Chris's! Two of the three rooms have NO music, and there is NO alcohol, and the new owners just recovered 16 of the tables in the two main rooms. Add to that seven 5x10 heated carom tables and a snooker table and you have a pool room!!
what is the most important to you about a pool hall?
If there was an episode of Pool Hall Rescue, they would run the hustlers out of the door, and get a full alcohol license. You can have a club type atmosphere with fantastic equipment and good (top 40? Dj) music.
A place about 20 min, from where I live has a bunch of Gold Crowns, centennial balls, and good house cues. It happens to be a Bikini Bar, but it doesn't have to be. The atmosphere works, and you don't feel like your slowly dying in a time warp. We wonder why pool isn't exactly thriving, but most pool halls have dead atmospheres. Add Old unsightly men, mingling with the shady hustler staring at everyone playing.
Pool must redo the venues the game is played in, before any progress with the masses is gained.