Business of the Week: Gallery Billiards

On the corner of Nicholas Street and Stones Crossing Road in Palmer Township, in the Redner’s Market plaza, you’ll find , a pool room outfitted with two large flat-screen televisions, a lounge area and 18 felt tables.

But don’t mistake the darkened storefront as an ordinary pool hall; in fact, owner Frank Kikrilis opened his business to escape the typical atmosphere.

He explained that his son, Telly, now in his 20s, started playing pool around age 10. He instantly fell in love with the game, and Kikrilis recognized talent in his young son.

But every pool room that Kikrilis took his son to practice in was dark, smoke-filled, full of foul language and unsavory types.

“[Telly] loved the sport… but I didn’t want my son being in that environment,” said Kikrilis.

He thought there ought to be a place where kids and families can play too. So he set out to open his own hall, and in 1999 opened a location in Bartonsville (Monroe County), with the intention of making a safe, family-friendly environment.

“Everyone told me I’d go out of business,” he said. “But people really embraced it… parents liked their kids being in my pool room.”

Some years later, in 2008, Kikrilis opened a second location in Palmer Township, just off of William Penn Highway, and called it Gallery Billiards, with the continued focus on safety, family and cleanliness.

In his pool hall, Kikrilis greets customers like friends. He jokes with them and often participates in games himself.

The hall, which is next to Century Buffet, features a lounge area where customers can relax on a sofa, loveseat or armchair. There are two touch-screen game machines, and sports are usually playing on the flat-screen TVs on either side of the hall.

Gallery Billiards sells coffee, water and soda, and is a BYOB establishment. Customers are invited to bring liquor as long as they’re responsible and have proper ID, which Kikrilis insists upon. It is a non-smoking facility.

“There’s no foul language, nothing gets out of hand… it’s a very controlled atmosphere,” said Telly Kikrilis, who currently owns and operates Giant Billiards, the Bartonsville location. “We basically changed the look of pool halls.”

Gallery Billiards' address is 3773 Nicholas St. It is open Sunday-Thursday, 3pm to 3am, and Friday and Saturday from noon to 3am, although it will stay open as long as necessary.

“Sometimes we have people playing until 4 in the morning,” said Kikrilis. “As long as we have people, we stay.”

The hourly rates are $4 per person before 6pm, and $5.50 per person from 6pm to closing. Discounted rates are offered for three-hour blocks of play. Students and those with a valid military ID can get a 10 percent discount for play at any time.

Every Wednesday night, women pay half-price after 6 pm for Ladies Night. Gallery Billiards is organizing weekly 9-ball tournaments to be held each Monday night. The tournaments will be announced on its website, in the tournaments section.