Your perfect pool hall?

Speaking of someone who was in Dallas recently and had to settle for Dave 'n Busters $22/hr rate... yeah...

Size: Large enough for 30+ tables
Food: Higher end bar style food(no cheesesticks!), but specials like catered BBQ or random specials for regulars.


Tables: 9ft Brunswick only. Gold crowns, Metros, A 12ft Riley Snooker table, 1 Carom table, and several bar-box type tables

Seating: NO STOOLS WHATSOEVER...other than that tables that don't wobble...

Smoking: No

Other Entertainment: Several LCD HD-TV's... PPV specials when applicable, dartboards, and music at a tasteful level.

Location: hmm.... not more than 15-20 minutes to drive.


oh and one other thing..... some restaurants have a patio section available for smokers, but in order to enter that area you have to be a paying customer... i'd like to see that as an area where smokers can go instead of standing outside the front of the pool hall or patrons can go outside and have a breather.
 
bigskyjake said:
It would have to be decently smokie, somewhat rundown (nobody likes smelling fresh paint). It would need to have decent equipment, really surly bartenders and really sketchy bar flies who are constantly bumming cigarettes. Also, it needs to have kinda crappy food and at least a few greasy assed rats scurrying around for the general atmosphere
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Jake, you forgot spitoons and really slutty pool groupie's. Then you'd have a really outstanding pool room.

Dick
 
firehawk062 said:
You must be in Thomasville. Those hot dogs are addictive! We have to get some everytime we come through. I understand you not wanting us women... if I ever came there to play, there would be some wounded male egos! ;)
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What she said... lol

Hey A

Dwight
 
Upscale pool hall is what I am after.

Seafood/Bistro with a fusion style menu.
Secondary bar menu for players that dont want a full meal.
Full bar.
Win cellar.

The room is set up such that the billiards area appears to be in a pit. The dinning area is a tiered crescent such that the diners may view the billiards action.
Also included would be a balcony area mirroring the lower dining area. But set up as a more interment area that could be rented for private dining and events.

A low wall with etched tempered glass runs along the perimeter of the both dinning areas. Acoustical ceilings and high grade carpet is in place to keep the the noise muted.
Musical selection would be jazz and blues with a mix of classic rock. It would be played low period.

Also present would be a separate cigar bar. Equipped with a humidor room and a fine selection of cigars.
The room would also have its own bar and be serviced for diners.

There would be a separate section of the building set up for tournaments and would have bleachers set up for viewing.

The tables would be either be all gold crowns or diamonds with the exception of 4 10 foot Verhoeven tables.

The main area would have 16 9 footers.
The 4 Verhoeven tables
8 7 footers. That gives the ability to accommodate an entire league division on any given night.
Cocktail tables and pool chairs are set up along the perimeter of the room.

Tournament area would be an additional 10 9 footers with room for expansion for an additional 10 tables. A false wall would hide the excess space. It would be mobile and be on a track system to be moved as needed.
The room would be equipped with cameras for streaming to flat screens located in the main area and the internet.

The over all decor would be Victorian-esk.
All cue racks would be built into the walls.
There would be a house pro resident to give lessons and would be sponsored for the tour.
A pro shop would also be on site for cue maintenance and sales of both custom and production cues as well as all the other accessories.
Individual cue safes for the regulars.

I have probably missed a few things but you get the gist.

Yes I have a dream. :D
 
i like old style rooms. just a whole bunch of gold crowns maybe a snooker and billiard table. high cielings low music. chelsea in manhattan the last time i was there in 91 or so was a good room. they had multiple rooms as well. sadly it's gone. i was at snookers in rhode island around the same time and it was cool too. it was upstairs, nice room. i have heard however that it has changed quite a bit. adding things like karoke (sp?) and a lot things to attract the young willing to part with their money. those things are fine but they are not why i go. i go to play pool. i understand rooms have to do what they have to do in order to make money, i own my own business myself, but i like rooms that are set up for players.
 
kaznj said:
The days of "Ames" are gone. Rents too high. You need more than pool to bring in customers. The "regulars" only want a flat rate and free coffee. They don't spend any money on anything else.
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Great point, but those places were the best.
 
Paradise Billiards

If you haven't had the pleasure of going to Paradise Billiards in Corpus Christi, Texas then maybe you should inquire about it. The setup is supreme to any other pool hall I have ever been in. One side is for the players and the other side is for the bangers. Music is only blasted on the bangers side and the non-players are just about banned from crossing into player country. I believe even the waitresses have undergone the proper training to work in that area because they will not walk in front of your shot or ask you anything while you are shooting. The chairs are all real pool hall chairs that sit up high so you can see the tables and in the area between the two divided areas there is an extensive spectators area also. I am pretty sure it is comprised of about 18 4 1/2 x 9, 6 4 x 8, and 1 6 x12 snooker table, and the tables all have more than enough between them that you never have to wait for anyone to shoot... you can't back into someone on another table unless you walk back 5 paces.., I may be way off on the exact numbers but something like that. The tables get reclothed in either Simonis 760 or 860, divided about half and half, about once a month... they never seem to need new cloth but are getting it anyway. The management respects, loves, and works with the players regularly to make it the best he can, often gives us free pool, if not a good discount and encourages competitive play.

I am not affiliated with the establishment I have just had the fine pleasure of playing there on many occasions and have great regards for what the owner has built, (yes, built, he built the pool hall from the ground up), for the great game of pool.

The only other thing I would mention is I would rather be playing on a Brunswick Manhattan pool table, I realize most people never have played on one because of the price of them is crazy but I happen to have one in my den and can't say enough about how great of a table it is, I love it way more than the Diamond I used to have and that is saying a LOT.

Thanks all, just my perspective, Thanks. Tully.
 
What happened to the room in Dallas that Billy Incardona was involved in? Did it die from lack of business? Seems to me that was the reason? Am I mistaken? I thought that was the dream spot for serious pool.

The perfect pool room for me is one where there are plenty of nine footers, plenty of bar boxes, all kept in great shape. Part of the room dedicated to bangers and part dedicated to serious players. Staff that knows pool eitiquette and is also trained in billiard equipment sales. Plenty of tournaments and plenty of leagues to keep people there all the time. One that doesn't close if warriors are battling it out on the green felt.

Staff that is attentive and friendly. A house pro who gives free lessons to all who ask, just pay slightly higher table time. A house pro who is there to play pool with you for a slightly higher rate per hour.

The world's largest selection of cues at your fingertips with people there all teh time who can competently guide you to the perfect one. Onsite cue repair that is top notch.

House cues that are always kept in great shape.

I have just described the best of poolrooms around the world that I have been to.

If I couldn't have the perfect pool room then I want to have a private club with about 4 tables and about 50 dues paying members like we had in Germany.
 
My "Perfect Pool Hall" in SacTown ... The Jointed Cue ...

My "perfect pool hall" already exists and has been around for several decades in South Sacramento, CA ... The Jointed Cue is as close to Ames as you will get on the West Coast ...

Eighteen, or so, 4.5 x 9 Brunswicks and Three 5 x 10 Carom Tables ... The Best Breakfast and Hamburgers in Town ... This place oozes Pool History from every nook and cranny ...

Dozens of Great Players of the past (and present) 50 years have played in Tournaments at "The Cue" ...

Some current pics from The Jointed Cue ...
DSC00005.jpg

DSC00009.jpg

jc1980.jpg

jcjohn1.jpg

jctroom.jpg
 
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Wow... the jointed cue looks like Heaven.

My dream pool hall would require draught beer, and a very small bar. A few gold crowns, and a few diamond tables 9' tables. A snooker and 3 cushion table... and since it is my dream pool room, there would be a an old school 5x10 pocket table.
 
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Da Bank said:
CJ no longer owns his place, CJ's Billiard Palace, and it has become very sketchy and run-down since then. It used to be the premier place to play pool. I don't know about Bob or Dick's place. Used to be called "Champs". Owned by the Tx Group....SPF=randyg


All we have now is Billiard Den, 2 Clicks, and Hawley's. There is MUCH room for improvement.
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Since CHAMPS, Dallas has never had a real "pool room". Bob & Dick invested in bars with pool tables, very nice places.....randyg
 
I prefer to have snooker well removed from those unwashed pool players:D :D

http://www.captainsnooker.com/

Look under Special Event to see the layout for pool and snooker

Weekly snooker tournaments - eat your heart out Fatboy;)

And members only to keep out the riffraff:p
 
nice place

Scaramouche said:
I prefer to have snooker well removed from those unwashed pool players:D :D

http://www.captainsnooker.com/

Look under Special Event to see the layout for pool and snooker

Weekly snooker tournaments - eat your heart out Fatboy;)

And members only to keep out the riffraff:p
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What are the membership requirements for this type of place?
 
Sev said:
Upscale pool hall is what I am after.

Seafood/Bistro with a fusion style menu.
Secondary bar menu for players that dont want a full meal.
Full bar.
Win cellar.

The room is set up such that the billiards area appears to be in a pit. The dinning area is a tiered crescent such that the diners may view the billiards action.
Also included would be a balcony area mirroring the lower dining area. But set up as a more interment area that could be rented for private dining and events.

A low wall with etched tempered glass runs along the perimeter of the both dinning areas. Acoustical ceilings and high grade carpet is in place to keep the the noise muted.
Musical selection would be jazz and blues with a mix of classic rock. It would be played low period.

Also present would be a separate cigar bar. Equipped with a humidor room and a fine selection of cigars.
The room would also have its own bar and be serviced for diners.

There would be a separate section of the building set up for tournaments and would have bleachers set up for viewing.

The tables would be either be all gold crowns or diamonds with the exception of 4 10 foot Verhoeven tables.

The main area would have 16 9 footers.
The 4 Verhoeven tables
8 7 footers. That gives the ability to accommodate an entire league division on any given night.
Cocktail tables and pool chairs are set up along the perimeter of the room.

Tournament area would be an additional 10 9 footers with room for expansion for an additional 10 tables. A false wall would hide the excess space. It would be mobile and be on a track system to be moved as needed.
The room would be equipped with cameras for streaming to flat screens located in the main area and the internet.

The over all decor would be Victorian-esk.
All cue racks would be built into the walls.
There would be a house pro resident to give lessons and would be sponsored for the tour.
A pro shop would also be on site for cue maintenance and sales of both custom and production cues as well as all the other accessories.
Individual cue safes for the regulars.

I have probably missed a few things but you get the gist.

Yes I have a dream. :D
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I actually think a place like this would be profitable. Inflated meal and table prices combined with a chic atmosphere. It'd be a hit with the yuppie crowd if the location is right. Top it off with a super expensive nightclub that will attract Paris Hilton and stick it in the Bellagio and you've got a recipe for success.
 
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