Scott Emory’s “love of the game” drives his passion for billiards, which has stood the test of time and maintains its popularity after six centuries.
“If players treat each other gentlemanly and play respectfully and with the right people, it can give you a whole different outlook on life,” offered Emory, who opened Pockets Gaming and Billiards Lounge in Waynesboro late last year.
Located in the Boro Plaza on Walnut Street, the lounge features 11 pool tables and 15 slot machines. “Things are going really good. We treat everyone like family. We (he and his wife, Sherry) have four employees and they’re all family. Family means a lot,” he noted.
Emory, a lifelong resident of Waynesboro, said he has always been involved in billiards. “I have played pool since I was a kid. After graduating from high school, I worked for Cy Reese at DJ lanes in Waynesboro and later when he renovated (the space) and put in 15 pool tables.”
The operator of Integrity Billiards Service, the former Frick Co. employee has traveled to sites along the east coast for the past 30 years. “I buy, sell and move up to 300 tables – all makes and models, including Diamond, the best on the market – a year.”
Emory said he opened the lounge “because I wanted something extra to do along with the pool table business. “It was dumb luck finding this location. We had been searching for three or four months to find the right place. I pulled in the parking lot to make a phone call, looked up and saw the ‘Space for Rent’ in the window and one thing led to another.”
The next phase to his enterprise will be opening a kitchen. “We have our final inspection April 8. We will be offering local fanfare of days in the past, casual food from good (former) local eateries we remember from our childhood,” added Emory, who is keeping a lid on the slated menu items for now.
He is also working with other local business owners to host bluegrass music sessions that used to be offered at the site, home of the former Beck and Benedict store. “That will happen sometime this summer probably on Saturday afternoons or evenings,” noted Emory.
He also has plans to start a junior league for local youth, “to get them involved and be competitive other than traditional sports. (I want them to know) there are lots of good things happening in this industry and you can make a good living at it.
“This game has kept me out of a ditch. I was going down the wrong path – I had family issues – and it kept me out of trouble. And if I can keep even one kid out of trouble …
“The outpouring of support has been fantastic. People I haven’t seen in 25 years have stopped by.”
Pockets is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
For more information, visit the Facebook page, Pockets Billiards.
