Opinion for new pool hall.

[Sobeman81]

I am planning on opening up a new pool hall here in Chicago. I have done a lot of research on it and what not. I'm not looking for pointers on how to run the business. Rather i'm looking for an opinion whether, running a pool hall with beer will be exponentially more successful than without. I am only talking about BYOB, not actually selling and serving.

My biggest concern is people getting rowdy, spills, fights, limiting time for underage players etc etc. The location i'm looking at is within the vicinity of about 4 schools (3 high-schools and one college) and am planning on doing like an inter-school league so to speak. So it would be hard to run, with limiting the time they can spend there cuz no booze is allowed. I personally want to keep it alcohol free. I think people can STILL have fun with no alcohol.

All comments are welcome. Just do us all a favor and save the ridiculously stupid comments for your dog. If you agree or disagree, then please explain why. Please don't try to say shit like i'm infringing on people's rights. I am doing no such thing. It's my place and i'm the host. Customers are my guests. They adhere to my rules or leave. I'm sure everyone understands that. Also, please don't turn this into a smoking and alcohol discussion and the pro's and con's of either.

[williamsvt]

Personally I would stay away from BYOB. You'd be responsible for making sure that everyone on the premises is 21 even if there bringing their own beer. I believe that law notes that whoevers hosting the event, even if they aren't providing the beer, must prove that everyone is 21, in a case that someone gets injured or in an accident.

Look at it this way, its kind of like having a college party, and someone gets killed in a car accident after. Whoever was hosting the party is probably going to get a pretty harsh slap on the wrist, even if they aren't directly providing the alcohol.

I know first hand on how much trouble you can get in if minors come to a party and the cops come (i didnt provide the alcohol), but i still took the fall, since there were people drinking on my premises that weren't of legal age.

[AbsurdNY]

Yea BYOB is never a good idea. What you could do is have 2 sections. One section is for people under 21. Then another section that separate like a room inside the pool hall that has a bar in it. That way it's easy to spot underage drinkers. If any alcohol is outside the 21 and up section, it is easily noticed. You really want to serve in a pool hall. You will get more business. Well at least that goes for NY. I know someone that owns a pool hall and at first they did not serve. Business was not that great. They got a license and started serving and the business went up dramatically.

[williamsvt]

Yea BYOB is never a good idea. What you could do is have 2 sections. One section is for people under 21. Then another section that separate like a room inside the pool hall that has a bar in it. That way it's easy to spot underage drinkers. If any alcohol is outside the 21 and up section, it is easily noticed. You really want to serve in a pool hall. You will get more business. Well at least that goes for NY. I know someone that owns a pool hall and at first they did not serve. Business was not that great. They got a license and started serving and the business went up dramatically.

True, but there's a difference btwn in BYOB and having a bar. Getting a bar in there would be great! because from my experience people of age love to have a few beers while shooting pool and watching tv (atleast i like to). However, a bar could be expensive (obtaining a license), bartender, and then the alcohol itself, but studies show that bars are what make the money in most places (restaurants, resorts, etc), so i'm sure you'd make the profit back.

BYOB would just create a wide open door for lawsuits (god forbid anything happens). Especially with highschools around there, the last thing you want is juniors and seniors trying to sneak beer in or buying beer off of others in the pool hall.

The best suggestion is to just spring and get the liquor license. Even if you just serve beer, you'll still make your money back very easily, and make 10 times the profit you would have otherwise made with the pool hall.

[Sobeman81]

The splitting idea isn't bad. But what happens when there are more patrons in one area than the other...i Don't want to turn them away cuz they wanna drink and the drinking section is full.

I'm also stuck in a moral dilemma. Drinking is against religion. Serving it, buying it, selling it or even offering a place to drink it is wrong. But, i know it brings business. Sadly.

I just want people to realize you can have fun without beer or any alcohol or drugs for that matter. You can still hangout with your friends and have fun without alcohol. Plus, everyone gets to go home at night, hopefully.

[Ralphie]

Your idea sounds awesome.

I can tell your not a fan of alcohol already and opening a place that has 0 alcohol has plenty of benefits.

I have never owned or operated an establishment but my uncle has owned 3 restaurants and one night club.

Some of the benefits i see of running an establishment(pool hall) without alcohol would be:

Less fights, less trouble(sneaking in, illegal activities), less mess(vomiting, spilled drinks).

Just think of how much mess drunk people make and x it by the amount of people on a busy night.

However id assume that as far as $ goes it might not do as well as other establishments with alcohol however if you could provide other mediums to make up for it it might not matter, like maybe a section for an internet cafe or a lounge with all kinds of non alcoholic drinks that are different.

Just use your imagination but the inter school league i think is a very good idea, it will be the local hangout for the schools and tournaments attract a lot of people.

Good luck with it bro and if you have any specific questions i wouldn't mind asking my uncle for some advice.

[Sobeman81]

YES! see that's my whole thinkgin. I'm setting up an internet jukebox. Couple elctronic dart machine. AND definetly an Initial D arcade game. Also a simple food menu. I plan on it being a Wi-Fi spot too. It might seem like a high school hangout or teen hangout, but that's fine. Their money is just as good as anyone else's. Also the location i'm thinking about is about 5 miles from the nearest pool hall (maybe a lil less). So, it's not like the area is saturated with pool halls. Plus there is a Police station like 2 blocks down the road. I'm sure they'd be willing to come in for a quick bit or shoot some for half an hour something for lunch. Their presence alone should give it a secure feeling and keep the hoodlums away.

[williamsvt]

YES! see that's my whole thinkgin. I'm setting up an internet jukebox. Couple elctronic dart machine. AND definetly an Initial D arcade game. Also a simple food menu. I plan on it being a Wi-Fi spot too. It might seem like a high school hangout or teen hangout, but that's fine. Their money is just as good as anyone else's. Also the location i'm thinking about is about 5 miles from the nearest pool hall (maybe a lil less). So, it's not like the area is saturated with pool halls. Plus there is a Police station like 2 blocks down the road. I'm sure they'd be willing to come in for a quick bit or shoot some for half an hour something for lunch. Their presence alone should give it a secure feeling and keep the hoodlums away.

Thats a perfect idea. It will draw in the younger crowd, but have a good feeling 'esk' about it, because there wont be drunken idiots running around.

Maybe have a local guest dj in every friday and saturday to spin some music during pool? At anyrate have something special each weekend and thats sure to draw a good crowd.

[Sobeman81]

DJ is NOT a bad idea at all. I can definetly do that. I was also thinking having a small separate section for hookah's since everyone's into em now. Though not as pasionately as i am..but still lol.

[Sobeman81]

anybody else??

[Ralphie]

DJ is NOT a bad idea at all. I can definetly do that. I was also thinking having a small separate section for hookah's since everyone's into em now. Though not as pasionately as i am..but still lol.

Well when you introduce hookah's or smoking into the equation i think you now have to make sure that everyone in the establishment is of age to smoke.

I could be wrong but i believe that is how it goes.

Not a bad idea but it has to be ventilated properly etc but it is cool(ive visited a place last year and it was chill).

[Sobeman81]

Well for something like that, which isn't as harmful, i can get an ID scanner and scan everyone's ID going into the smoking room and have a locking door that can only be unlocked from the inside to get past me or whatever. LOL, i have some ideas for that. But yea, it's less restrictive than splitting the pool hall.

[Lil' Whitie]

offer a simple menu that is cheap! some drinks like soda juice and stuff

then have a wifi or a acuall network where you can set up a LAN party any time. one room for pool and another room where u can have your own table or desk

consider it a place to do your homework and get loud and hang with your friends

[Law Grandeur]

if age is a limitation you should just make the place 21 and up only. have a guy at the door check IDs. that way you can have a bar and not worry about underage drinkers. a universal hookah area sounds awesome but has to be very sanitary and thats more dough out of your pocket.

if you want no alcohol and are aiming for youngsters then thats fine too. less to worry about. if you want, you could have "teen" nights if you do decide to make it 21 and up. teen nights being 16-18years of age ONLY. stuff like that

spills cannot be avoided no matter what. the tables will get ugly and messed up. you may also have to have the tables re-leveled every once in a while. a Dj is a good idea. over here the pool hall is like a club lol. it does attract a lot more people.

the wifi idea sounds great.

and as for music...i guess that depends on the people in your area. over here its hip hop and crap like that.