New York's Amsterdam Billiards
110 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003
Amsterdam Billiard Club, ranked the best billiards club in the nation by Billiards Digest, is finding success in its new digs, having moved from New York's Upper West Side to the former site of Corner Billiards (11th Street between Third and Fourth Avenues in Greenwich Village).
About one year ago, The Related Companies gave notice to Amsterdam owners, including comedian David Brenner, that the building featuring their second story upscale billiard hall since the doors opened in 1990 was being torn down to be replaced by luxury condominiums.
Current zoning laws prohibit pool halls in much of Manhattan, though Amsterdam led the way for a New York pool revival years ago. Only two halls remained in the 1980's in Manhattan, but a Yellow Pages search today will reveal two-dozen thriving establishments.
The new location, culled from the owners' review of 60 possible sites, is smaller than uptown, and houses 26 tables. An attractive space, several floor-to-ceiling columns subdivide the hall. A gated arena for exhibitions and VIPs is included that holds two tables and a tournament arena reserves an additional six places. Amenities from an extensive wine list to a fireplace, lush rugs and original oil paintings are adding to the upscale spot.
Costing $2.5M to create, like the original Amsterdam the new hotspot is based on the classic clubs hearkening from the 1940's. The space was designed to look decades old, and as charming and comfortable as a clubman's living room. Corner Billiards’ general manager was retained, and most all of Amsterdam's 500 year-round league players are comfortable with the new location removed miles downtown.
I raved praise about the former Amsterdam, having shot pool there many times and even happily spectating for hours on end without cuestick in hand. An early Amsterdam innovation was a custom table costing $25,000, featuring see through ball returns to guide the pocketed shots to their resting tray. All table components were of lucite contruction except for the felt and slate, and the "magic table" was cordoned in a private party room.
A typical Amsterdam weekend night would find beginning pool players hobnobbing among socialites and businesspeople, while at tables nearby showbiz folk like Brenner, Jerry Seinfeld and "Saturday Night Live" comedian Jon Lovitz joined top pool shooters including the best in women's pool, on hand for lessons or a meet and greet.
Many more women are playing pool these days. Among the most well known are Allison "The Duchess of Doom" Fisher; Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee, once a cocktail waitress at Amsterdam, and Karen "The Irish Invader" Corr. Billie Billing, once ranked fourth in women's pool, and many of the country's best straight pool players, also call Amsterdam home. You can read the full story here.
