Next month, a landmark of Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood is closing its doors after 35 years: Dilworth Billiards. Owner Eric Sprouse says when he opened in the late 70s, pool halls had a bad reputation.
“People equated them to a rough place, a hangout of misfits,” says Sprouse.
Sprouse wanted something different. His pool hall stood out in the area just off South Boulevard bordering what is now South End – a part of town that could be rough. Dilworth Billiards was an upscale place to play, a place where you could bring a date. A place to meet your friends for a drink after work. Sprouse says the time is right to close. He just turned 65 and wants to retire.
He recently told us about the history of Dilworth Billiards and showed us some of his antique pool tables over a game of nine ball. The pool hall started as just a showroom for Sprouse’s side pool-table business while he worked full time in insurance.
There’ll be a celebration party at Dilworth Billiards on April 24.
