In fact, the reopening of bowling centers in New York was critical in getting poolroom owners to gather and fight. Mermigis has proven effective fighting for small businesses. “So, going forward, as bowling alleys are extended leeway, we should be, too.”īowling centers in New York State were allowed to reopen in mid-August, following a vigorous statewide campaign by members of the well-heeled New York State Bowling Proprietors Association that focused on educating lawmakers and health officials as to bowling’s ability to operate safely. “The judge ruled that we would be treated like bowling alleys,” counters Hunt. In the aftermath of that announcement, Mermigis was informed that Cuomo plans to appeal the injunction, a curious move in singling out poolrooms while trumpeting the importance of opening the economy in New York. “They’ve been shut down for almost a year, accruing rent, utility and insurance bills every month, unable to open to visitors while casinos and other establishments were open.” An argument for permanent injunction has yet to be scheduled. In mid-January, a judge in Syracuse, where the case was heard, issued a temporary injunction to the state’s ruling, allowing the 15 plaintiffs the right to reopen under the state’s Phase 4 guidelines - a limited workforce and 50 percent capacity for visitors. The suit, filed by the group’s attorney, James Mermigis, a Long Island attorney who had already argued successfully on behalf of gyms in New York, cited numerous businesses similar to poolrooms that the state had allowed to reopen, including bowling centers and casinos. He was one of the ringleaders in a group of 15 billiard rooms that filed a lawsuit against New York State and Governor Andrew Cuomo in December, arguing that the state’s actions against poolrooms were arbitrary and capricious.Īttorney Mermigis (left) took on the State of New York on behalf of room owners like Sansouci (center) and Hunt (right). “We’re never having an anniversary party!” Hunt insists, only half joking.īut while Hunt may jokingly take some responsibility for any part that karma played in the shutdown of rooms in New York, he can also take a fair amount of credit for the recent injunction that has allowed rooms in the city and state to reopen. State shutdowns of poolrooms across the country suffered the same fate. For the next 10 months, the lights remained out and the doors shut at every poolroom in the state. Ten days before the event, New York State closed 100 percent of nonessential businesses statewide. Whenever a bar or restaurant or club had a big anniversary party, it seems like they’d all go out of business within a year or so.”Īmsterdam Billiard Club didn’t even get that far! “My brother (and original partner) Ethan and I always resisted anniversary parties,” Hunt recalls. It was going to be, in Hunt’s words, “a major event.” The main event was to host 300-400 people, including TV and movie stars Paul Sorvino and Tony Danza, and pool stars Mika Immonen, Tony Robles, Thorsten Hohmann and more. Lee was a waitress at the original ABC when it opened in 1990, before launching a playing career that would take her to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. The gala event was actually going to start on Friday, March 27, with an exhibition by pool icon Jeanette Lee, kicking off a weekend of festivities. Hunt was in the midst of preparing for the club’s 30th anniversary bash, scheduled for March 30. The owner of New York’s legendary Amsterdam Billiard Club remembers all too well the events leading up to the shutdown of poolrooms in New York City on St. Please provide a thank you to Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, Pool & Billiards, Professor Q Ball, Bender Cues, Dayton Cues, Liquid Weight Cues Billiards Engineering, and Bloodworth Ball Cleaner for their sponsorship leading to this event.Tired of waiting, New York room owners sued to reopen. The next Tri-State event will be on October 13th at The Spot in Nanuet, NY. Due to the late hours, both Juan and Allison decide to call it a night with Juan taking the well deserved win. Lidio defeated Jason 9 – 8 and the matc with Allison was on for a shot into the Finals. During this time Lidio Ramirez and Jason Goberdham worked their way toward Allison LaFleur. Juan’s tournament trail included wins over Joe Mazzeo 8 – 5 Philip Pearce 8 – 5 Matt Klein 7 – 5 Shivam Gupta 7 – 4 Lidio Ramirez 7 – 2 and Allison LaFleur 10 – 6 for the Hot Seat. Juan Guzman undefeated in Tri-State at Steinway Billiardsards, Astoria (Queens), NY).
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