An early morning blaze on Feb. 7, 2017, ravaged the North Syracuse pool hall Salt City Billiards, in business on Route 11 for 25 years. The hall racked up another location in Mattydale by a different owner eight months later. Meanwhile, the owner of the original spot had no desire to rebuild — but Brian Holmes, who shot pool there for 25 years, wanted to resurrect the operation under a new name: Brick House Billiards. The hall officially opened Dec. 19, 2017. Holmes was new to running a bar or restaurant, although he did operate a few dry cleaners. Yet he was a man on a mission. “When Salt City Billiards left, it was like…
Author: Samantha Leader
Salt City Billiards Pool halls, once a popular destination in Central New York, nearly lost another location earlier this year. An early morning fire on Feb. 7 ravaged the Route 11 business Salt City Billiards, a local staple since 1992. When the previous owners decided not to continue operating, that’s when Brian Lipes stepped in with plans to reopen the hall at another spot. Lipes, who was a regular at the former North Syracuse business, also bought the Salt City Billiards name because of its large Facebook and online presence, figuring it would still attract many out-of-towners that play in…
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