Chandleys Chalk and Cue

This is going to be long winded but if you enjoy pool you may want to read what is about to change the way we think of pool rooms.

First I want to give people a little insight of my love for the game of pool.
My first fond memories of playing pool started at a pizza house in a small town in Oberlin Ohio. At the age of 13 my parents would allow me to go there and shoot pool with my friends most Friday nights.
Two years later I was introduced to my future brother in law Dave Burgette. Dave was a avid pool player. I bought a 7 foot bar table at the age of 15 and was allowed to put it in my grandmas garage. I practiced for many hours on that table with my new friend and mentor Dave.

At the age of 18 I moved to Dallas Texas with my now brother in law and sister Cathy.
Dallas was a pool players dream in 1980.
I would spend every night of the week playing pool and hustling the locals in Garland Texas. I earned the nick name "Ace" in that small suburban town.
One day I ventured to Dallas to a real pool hall called Rustys Billiards.
All I had ever played on was 7 foot tables and at Rustys all the action was on 9 footers.
Needless to say I was the donkey at the real pool room where I was hustled by the real pool players like "little Al" lol.

In 1988 I moved back to Ohio to find a town with no pool rooms within 30 miles of Oberlin.
All the locals played at small bars and bowling alleys.
I got wind of a pool room in Akron Ohio called Starchers billiards.
One night me and some friends went to Starchers billiards.
When I walked in the door I couldn't believe my eyes at how many pool players was there. Starchers served no alcohol and was open 24-7 365 days a year.

This was the day I knew I would open a pool room close to my home town.

It took me 3 years to realize my dream and in 1991 I opened Chandleys Chalk and Cue in N. Ridgeville Ohio.

It took everything I had and could borrow to get this room open.
I had to fight a city that did not want a pool hall in their town.
I bought 10 Gandy big Gs from Danny Veghs and he supplied the 4 bar tables and video games.

I remember when we opened the doors for the first time all the money I had left was enough to make change...about $135.
I was facing what seemed to be a mountain of bills in 30 days.

The Lord blessed us with many customers, we filled the room the first night open what a relief it was.

My loving wife Chris was with me and together we made many friends and customers at Chandleys.

I started repairing cues upstairs and soon went into making Custom cues. I sold every stick I ever made (about 600) of the Chandley lightning bolt series.

We were blessed with our daughter Alayna in 1994 and we sold the room in 1995 to our first customer Kirk.
The room changed hands many times but as of last year it was still open as Super Mario Brothers and just recently was changed to Belardo’s Billiards.

We moved to Claremont NC in 1995 and that’s when I met Randy Canipe owner of Randolphs billiards in Hickory NC.

As pool room owners who opened rooms about the same time we became very good friends.

After moving here I went to work for Danny Stroud making cues for about a year.

I got away from billiards for many years as I chased many dreams in my life.

In 1999 won the Cabelas Semi-Pro shooter of the year in archery.
In 2001 I opened a granite fabrication business.
In 2003 I set two world records in Outlaw 10.5 drag racing.
My wife Chris and I introduced our now grown daughter Alayna to pool in 2011 and started playing APA leagues at Randolphs.

We lost my loving wife Chris on December 3 2011 to cancer.

In the year of 2011 I started dreaming of opening a giant pool room in Charlotte NC.
I spent 9 months of my life looking for a building and getting a financial backer for this new dream.
After many frustrating city hurdles my backer backed out in 2012.

I let down many people who I told about my plans for this huge room.
Embarrassed and frustrated I let the dream die for 3 years.

Late February 2015 I once again started looking for a building for my dream room.
This time it has all fell into place.
My friend Randy Canipe and I are proud to announce the future opening of Chandleys Chalk and Cue.

This room will be the largest pool room within hundreds of miles.
Approximately 57 tables in a 30,000 square ft building.

My daughter Alayna Chandley and friend Amanda Miller will be helping managing this huge tournament room.

We have a great staff with many combined years of knowledge to make this the ultimate tournament experience.