Are there any pool halls like this left in Detroit/Metro Detroit?

[Bigb23]

Haven't played pool in quite some time, but those pics remind me of Joe's pool hall in the late 60's - early 70's.
Turn of the century pressed tin ceilings, fold down wood and wrought iron seats on risers, plank wood flooring with sawdust,plaster walls, pinball machines, and tables from the early part of the twentieth century.
Don't forget the Stewart sandwich heater, and a dusty candy counter with an old brass cash register on top. More like a museum than a pool hall.

[bahbay]

Anyone remember Phil's on Fenkell just east of Wyoming? It was owned and run by a great old Italian man named Phil Cardella. His son, Barney, went to Cooley and was in a class or 2 with me in 1960, 61, and 62. Phil's started out as a long skinney store front conversion that had 3 snooker tables, then 2 pool tables laid out from the front of the place to the back.
We used to play a game on the snooker table called "GOLF". all kinds of characters would play in the golf games. it was limited to 7 players, so the best seven on hand would get to play. I you couldn't compete with the "1st table" crowd, then you had to play at the "2nd" or "3rd" tables and wait for an opening on the 1st table.
The way you got better was to pay your dues to the guys on the 1st table - they knew the trick and "touch" shots that made for winning.
After a few years, Phil built an addition onto the west side, changed the name of the place to the "Ivory Cue Club", and added 5 more pool tables and a beautiful old billiard table. The new pool tables were the more modern ones with adjustable legs and rolling counters built in to the ends. All the tables, both snooker and pool, on the "old side" were the old brunswick "Elephant Leg" models with the thick, wooden, inlaid legs and rails.
I was in Reno a few years ago and actually ran into one of the old Phil's regulars in casino. He just about crapped when I went up and introduced myself.
It would be amazing if anyone here remembered Phil's.
I also just remembered another place further up Fenkell, close to Livernois, but I can't remember the name, I do recall that they had a "British" snooker table in there that was 16 feet long.
And then, the newest of all, was a place on the Jas. Cousins service drive not far off of Puritan. It was run by a German woman and I used to play a few of the Detroit Lions in there and releive them of a few bucks now and then. I remember I played Dick LeBeau and Daryl Sanders for sure and a couple others whose names I don't recall.
Anyway, thanks for starting this thread and I'll try to jog my memory for any other pertinent things that could be of interest for this thread.

Good luck and best wishes to all of you.

Bob A [[bahbay)

[softailrider]

Anyone remember Phil's on Fenkell just east of Wyoming? It was owned and run by a great old Italian man named Phil Cardella. His son, Barney, went to Cooley and was in a class or 2 with me in 1960, 61, and 62. Phil's started out as a long skinney store front conversion that had 3 snooker tables, then 2 pool tables laid out from the front of the place to the back.
We used to play a game on the snooker table called "GOLF". all kinds of characters would play in the golf games. it was limited to 7 players, so the best seven on hand would get to play. I you couldn't compete with the "1st table" crowd, then you had to play at the "2nd" or "3rd" tables and wait for an opening on the 1st table.
The way you got better was to pay your dues to the guys on the 1st table - they knew the trick and "touch" shots that made for winning.
After a few years, Phil built an addition onto the west side, changed the name of the place to the "Ivory Cue Club", and added 5 more pool tables and a beautiful old billiard table. The new pool tables were the more modern ones with adjustable legs and rolling counters built in to the ends. All the tables, both snooker and pool, on the "old side" were the old brunswick "Elephant Leg" models with the thick, wooden, inlaid legs and rails.
I was in Reno a few years ago and actually ran into one of the old Phil's regulars in casino. He just about crapped when I went up and introduced myself.
It would be amazing if anyone here remembered Phil's.
I also just remembered another place further up Fenkell, close to Livernois, but I can't remember the name, I do recall that they had a "British" snooker table in there that was 16 feet long.
And then, the newest of all, was a place on the Jas. Cousins service drive not far off of Puritan. It was run by a German woman and I used to play a few of the Detroit Lions in there and releive them of a few bucks now and then. I remember I played Dick LeBeau and Daryl Sanders for sure and a couple others whose names I don't recall.
Anyway, thanks for starting this thread and I'll try to jog my memory for any other pertinent things that could be of interest for this thread.

Good luck and best wishes to all of you.

Bob A [[bahbay)

I remember that place on James Couzens. It was on the side of the service drive that goes south. It had a kind of wire mesh on the fron window.

[BRAZZMAN]

Here's one I didn't mention. It's next to Hope's Fish & Chips on Joy Rd. betwn. Middlebelt and Inkster. Some of the tables are a little threadbare but still a good old time pool hall.
http://www.therackmi.com/

I revisited this place last week. The sign "The Rack" is still on the pole and the building on Joy Rd between Middlebelt & Inkster. But it's changed hands and is now called - get ready - "The Velvet Rail". The place is still the same as far as I could tell in the 30 mins I was there. The better news is that all the tables have been resurfaced and new lighting installed. Before 5pm the rates are $5 hour for 2 players. Will get more info on this when I go on Wed.
The web site is terrible http://thevelvetrail.com/ Tries to appeal to "family fun" but I saw the same old - timers shootin' snooker and playing cards.

[Maof]

not really a "serious" pool hall but kind of a fun place.
http://www.orleansbilliards.com/

[BRAZZMAN]

Some very interesting memories of old time pool halls posted here. I mentioned The Rack on Joy Rd. in a previous post. Been going there every Wed to meet a friend. We start off with a couple racks of 8-ball then the rest of out usual 2 hours on 9-ball. The tables are 4x8, measuring the actual playing surface from cushions nose to nose, not the outside dimensions of the whole table, which is the incorrect way to take the measurments. I had been playing on a 3-1/2 x 7 table and it takes some getting used to the larger size. The angles are longer and it looks like a "whole-lota-green" when trying a corner cut shot.
There is one snooker table which has been moved up front. The owner wants to interest the younger crowd in that most difficult game.
Discovered that the Shark Club in Canton is now closed. And heard that Snookers in Royal Oak is going to be. The Hilton Family Pool Hall in Ferndale has been closed some time since I started this thread.