[Ezliving]

Where is there a discussion group forum for pool room owners?

I have found several discussion boards devoted to players. I haven't found a single one just for pool room owners.

One would think that it is in the best interests of the sport to encourage and support pool room owners. There are, of course, business issues for a successful pool room that are outside the interests of players. A password protected area for owners only on a players discussion forum is my suggestion.

Why do I ask? I am developing a business plan for a new pool room. Resources, aside from the BCA, are hard to find. I'd like to have a place to go to talk business. I'm guessing that other pool room owners would too.

Thanks.


[ Edited by Ezliving on 2005/10/17 4:17 ]

[WebDude]

If there is sufficient interest, I can create a forum for owners easily. Anybody else interested in something like this?

[Pelican]

Hey EZ, I too have been wanting a room. My problem is finding a location. I have already purchased some tables an have been looking for more (at a bargain price naturally) but finding a building at a reasonable lease is the problem in my area. Have considered buying property and building. Believe I could make payments cheaper than leasing. Harder to walk away from though.

Grady and I discussed it a few days ago and now I am not sure that at my age (61 next month) I really want the hassle. At this point I should be looking for ways to simplify my life instead of complicate it. Oh well, we'll see. Maybe I'll build it and get Grady to move down here and run it. He's hyper anyway so it would give him a way to vent some energy.

Pel

[Ezliving]

Landlords have told me, flat out, that they don't want to lease to "that kind of business". It's hard to negotiate from "no".

About 12 years ago I sold my interest in a sports bar with five 7' and 8' coin tables. Since then I have wanted to open a large pool room without alcohol.

A mortgaged building wil always be less expensive than leasing commercial space. Commercial property owners make money leasing space. Then later on, down the road, you can sell the business and lease your property to the new owner.

I think it could take a while for the word to circulate that a pool room owners' forum exists. It would, I believe, becom popular.

[Pelican]

I have not seen the rejection you have from leasors. The folks I have talked with have no problem with a pool room. They are just so high I would not make enough to make it worthwhile. I have asked for them to negotiate, say a reduced rate for one or two years to give it a chance to get on it's feet. They don't seem interested. Would rather let the building sit empty than have some type of income. Makes no sense to me.

My wife and I have some property for sale that if it sells I will have to 1031 the proceeds. Part of that will go toward buying a commercial lot and erecting a building to be leased to a LLC I will form to operate a hall.

Wish ya luck. Maybe a room owners (and wannabes) forum would be nice.

Later, Pel

[Leftoverchinese]

Count me in as a wannabe. Although, I have been told by many owners that I have talked to about it that I like to play the game too much as opposed to looking at it from a business stand point. I suppose my love of the game would get in the way. I have been told those that get into owning a pool hall for the love of the game close up shop quickly.

[Ezliving]

I enjoy the game. At one time I was on 3 league teams.

I am looking at this as being a profitable business venture or I won't put the business plan into motion.

I have concerns about my desire to do this without alcohol. I know it changes the whole dynamic of the environment. I also know it can limit my involvement with some pool leagues.

How many tables? That's still a major question for me. The number penciled in is 30. That necessitates about a 10,000 sq ft location.

I haven't seen any statistics on pool room clientel demographics or re: adequate number of tables relative to population. Are there any studies?

Are there any benchmark financial studies for pool room operations?

[Pelican]

Southern Billiards in Starkville, Miss is a no alcohol, no food, not even a jukebox poolhall. A while back one of the pool magazines contacted the owner, Mr. RH Gilmer, and wanted to do a write up on the hall. When the magazine guy said something about discussing the menu and wine list etc in the article RH told him he didn't have those things, all he sold was POOL. :-D They have 9 tables (one is a snooker) and the atmosphere reminds one of the old time pool room. They hold two major tournaments a year - the Spring Fling and the Fall Follies. The Fall Follies are coming up Oct 29/30th. We have been going up for just the last 3 and really have a great time. Starkville is a nice little town. Here is a link to their website: http://www.southernb....com/index.html

Later, Pel

[Pelican]

One other thing, 30 tables in 10K is not going leave much room for a sitting bar, tables/chairs, office/storage, etc. The plan I have been working on involves 6 big tables and 6 barboxes and after discussing it with Grady we figured 5K to keep it from feeling cramped. You might want to look for 12K if you can find it at a decent price.

Get it going and run a grand opening tournament and all us folks from the board will come give some support.

Later, Pel

[westhills2]

Count me in and excited about the possibility of a Pool Hall owner's forum on the boards.

I have been posting my interest in and market research questions concerning a few aspects of the business on the main forum. Getting LOTS of good replies.

My business partner and I are in the final stages of putting together a business model and making financial and creative decisions concerning the location and operation of a pool hall.

Our location is a college town of about 30,000. Anywhere from 10-20 tables. Plan on holding sanctioned and unsanctioned tournaments in games ranging from 8 Ball and 9 Ball to Cutthroat. We plan on running a little different. Hopefully cater to new players, young players on the hip side, but also vetran players because we know, respect, love the game and it's rich history. We plan on offering the best equipment and play in town. We will only have 1 rival, and it's a BAR with pool tables. This will not be.

Therefore, we expect good turnout at the college level, but we also STRESS that the place is for everyone from 21 to 80. We also hope to hold teen tournaments and teen nights. We want to cater to as many people as possible.

We plan to open and be open for a month before our grand opening and first major tournament event. Still working the details out on that, but it is most likely going to be a "King of the Table" 9 Ball style event with primary matches at one table with the winner staying on the game table as long as possible racking up wins. We will play all night rotating people through based on bracket seeding. Most wins wins.

Hey, it may take 6 months to a year, but when it opens, everyone possible to come out for the love of the game, and to help of course!!!, is welcome. I am glad I found PoolChat.net. It's an awesome site.

:-)

[WebDude]

Interesting tournament style... you'll either get an enthusiastic response because it's something people haven't seen or played under yet, or people might not show because it's too difficult. It would also take a very long time if it was only on one table.

Feel free to post the tournament and pool hall details on PoolChat. We always have room for more members, and I am quite glad you found us, too :-D

Welcome.

[FASTLARRY]

It might be nice to have the pool players being able to tell the room owners what they want and them explaining why they can't afford to spend a million bucks on a joint. The main thing each one needs to have is a suggestion box that gets read and reacted to. People write a note, toss it in the box, then nobody gets in hot water.