Downtown pool hall approved

Jenny Marder

A businessman seeking to open an upscale pool hall Downtown sank the

8-ball last night when the Planning Commission approved the project.

The pool hall would replace Mr. K’s Karaoke at 300 Pacific Coast

Highway, next door to Gallagher’s Pub and Grill.

“It’s going to be very upscale,” Project Designer Alan Knebel

said. “High ceilings, bright lights, lots of color, state-of-the-art

pool tables.”

The pool hall would be owned and operated by Brian Ahn.

The 5,000-square-foot site would take up two office suites in

addition to the space where the karaoke bar was. Plans call for 20

pool tables, five of which will be in a 1,025-square-foot VIP room,

available for group gatherings and private parties.

It’s expected to be a lively joint with TV screens flashing music

videos, concerts, sporting events and, of course, surf videos. The

proposed hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. and

Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

“It won’t be a dark paneled light over the pool table, smoky

room,” Knebel said “That’s absolutely what we want to avoid. It’s

going to be a family environment.”

A beer and wine bar and grill would serve appetizers, sandwiches

and salads.

“They’re trying to keep it upscale and not your typical pool

hall,” Project Planner Paul Da Veiga said. “They’re trying to cater

to residents as well as visitors that want a place to hang out for a

couple hours.”

Some planning commissioners raised questions about the noise

level, but voted unanimously to approve the project.

“It’s hard to see how this will create a problem distinct from

anything else that happens in Huntington Beach Downtown,” Planning

Commission Chairman Ron Davis said.

Installing many small speakers will help contain the sound inside

the establishment “so it doesn’t bother the neighbors,” Knebel said.

“The owner wants us to be a very, very good citizen and wants us

to attract community folks as well as serious billiards players,” he

added.

City officials say that the pool hall will add another dimension

to Downtown business.

“It’s a unique use that doesn’t currently exist Downtown,” Da

Veiga said. “It will be available to visitors coming to stay in

hotels, it ties into that whole visitor-serving commercial goal that

we have Downtown. It’s something different, and it reaches out to a

difference segment of the population.”

The pool hall still needs City Council approval, but it could be

open and running as soon as this summer, Da Veiga said.