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BUSINESS CO-ORDINATOR: JESSICA WALLACE 778-471-7533 or email jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com
THE BUSINESS OF BILLIARDS
Charter member Rick Marshall has a passion for the game of billiards. He is among 11 charter members to open the Kamloops Billiard Club at 232 Victoria St. DAVE EAGLES/KTW
Pool players open first local hall since 2011 ally, they were asked to move to the basement — a space that became known as the “man cave,” even utilized by one of the upstairs businesses. “They used to rent it out at Christmas time and have a Christmas party down there,” Marshall said. The cave outstayed its welcome, however, and a change in management meant the pool players were out of the professional high-rise, ending that run in November of 2015. Once again, Marshall and Leroux had nowhere to play.
December, is tucked away downstairs — a new cave complete with eight pool tables, a vending machine, several televisions on the walls and bar tables and stools. hen Executive Marshall is one of 11 charter members, Billiards closed in a group of local players who got together to 2011, Rick Marshall help cover costs of a larger space to shoot and his buddy George pool — this time with a business licence. Leroux didn’t know The charter members share responsiwhere to play pool in bilities of promoting league play, forming Kamloops. It was the last pool hall in a city partnerships with high schools and acquirthat once had up to five places dedicated ing a liquor licence, which they are in the to racking up. process of doing. Passionate about the game, but with no But at the heart of those conversations location — Marshall lives in an apartment is whether to keepThis theWeek club private for Kamloops File Name: LOG008-July-AD-BNR-LesConsenheim — he bought a table and rented space on IS PUBLIC POOL BACK IN TOWN? Publication: Marshall and2016 his buddies who just want Deadline: July 12, Trim:Tower 10.33” x 2.5” Walking along Victoria Street, the fourth floor in Cornerstone at the Creative Services a place to play pool — or open it to the Safety: 0.125” corner of First Avenue Victoria0" Street. No. 232 is easy to miss. Nestled beside 100 Yonge Street, 10 Floorand Bleed: Toronto, ON M5C 2W1 one table Colours: CMYK What started with turned into Kelly O’Bryan’s Neighbourhood Restaurant, public. “Half of our members want to open this two. Two tables became three and, eventuKamloops Billiard Club, which opened in JESSICA WALLACE STAFF REPORTER jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com
W th
up as a business and the other half just want to keep it quiet,” Marshall said.
WILL THE COMPROMISE CONTINUE?
Kamloops Billiard Club has 17 members who pay $100 monthly for premium access to the pool hall. Right now, it operates with a mixed-model business strategy — part membership, part public drop-in. Ideally, about 20 members would pay full-time fees, theoretically allowing time and space for non-members. Where it gets complicated, however, is if more members join. Marshall said some would prefer to simply have members and shut the doors to the public, effectively rendering the hall closed to the Average Joe player.
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