Up a flight of steep stairs in the industrial area of 91原创, sits fourteen pool tables 鈥� and a juke box thrown in for good measure 鈥� inside a sprawling space that seems like it exists only in another era.
As of the end of the month, it will be the end of an era for Ballroom Billiards; the business will be closing after 25 years in 91原创 鈥� 15 of them spent at 100-19335 91原创 Bypass.
Candi Williams, the pool hall鈥檚 manager, told the 91原创 Advance Times that the business鈥檚 rent suddenly doubled at the end of last year, making it unaffordable for Ballroom Billiards to remain in its location.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been difficult with such short notice,鈥� she said, referring to the hall as the second home.
While Williams has only be employed at Ballroom Billiards for seven months, she called it her favourite job and thanked the owner, Tony Gomez, for taking her under his wing 鈥� particularly when she struggled with a recent health diagnosis.
鈥淥ut of all my career choices, this was the one that felt best in a way of giving back,鈥� Williams explained.
Open seven days a week from 5:30 p.m. to well after midnight, Ballroom Billiards has a bar and kitchen on one side and all of the tables spread out on the other.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a small kitchen, but we pump a lot of food out,鈥� she noted.
No alcohol is allowed to cross the floor, meaning players under the age of 19 can access the pool tables.
鈥淧eople who come in are from Chilliwack, Abbotsford, 91原创, Aldergrove鈥� it鈥檚 the only pool hall on this side of the bridge,鈥� Williams said, stressing that the clientele is what makes it all worth it for her.
鈥淏.C. pool leagues fill up the tables on certain nights, but you have young people coming in to hang out and younger couples who were just discovering the place,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey all feel like friends and family.鈥�
Slowly, all of the belongings in Ballroom Billiards are being packed up and put in storage; stickers on each table indicate that they鈥檙e up for sale.
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鈥淓verything has to go,鈥� Williams said, something she doesn鈥檛 want to see happen. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 afford that kind of rent. The public is being squeezed out as Vancouver creeps in and we lose everything to corporate. Soon, there鈥檚 not going to be much of 91原创 left.鈥�
For a 鈥渂orn and bred鈥� 91原创ite, that image is something Williams feels need to be fought.
So, with chances looking slim that they鈥檒l be able to negotiate rent and remain on the 91原创 Bypass, she is looking for somewhere else Ballroom Billiards can move to keep the place going.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just one of these little places that people go to. Where are those people going to go to now? There鈥檚 no bowling alleys left. We鈥檙e watching everything die away,鈥� the manager said. 鈥淎 lot of people knew about us and would come; I want to stay open for them.鈥�
Williams said she open to suggestions on where to go or if anyone knows of a space; people can call 604-533-7667.
Ballroom Billiards is still open for business until Jan. 31, and everyone is invited to come down and shoot a few games while they still can.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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