'A place where folks can meet up and hang out for a while'

Alliance Billiards may be tucked away on a side road on the north end, but the throwback pool hall is starting to rack up the regular crowds.

33 Alliance Boulevard is the home of the popular establishment and with its themed nights and great food; it's becoming a great place to go for a fun night out.

Georgia Makrygiannis-Albert (popularly known to her customers and staff as Peaches) is the owner of Alliance Billiards and is very happy with the early success of her business. Makrygiannis-Albert started working at a pool hall two years ago and fell in love with not only the customers but the atmosphere. With so many establishments focused on either booming loud music or an eat-and-run mentality, Alliance Billiards focuses on being a place where folks can meet up and hang out for a while.

“I took over on Sept. 1 of last year and I’m so happy that it’s already turning into a place where anyone can come,” said Makrygiannis-Albert. “We cater to families who want to enjoy some healthy food, friends who are looking for pub fare and those who want to enjoy a beverage with buddies while watching the game on our 10x10 screen or playing pool. It’s also a great date place and many couples come here to break the ice.”

With 10 pool tables and 12 dart boards, Alliance Billiards is the go-to spot for those looking for some great pub games. While most people come out to enjoy some casual playing, there are competitive leagues for both games. The pool hall has its own league, The Alliance Billiards Pool League, which consists of eight teams with looks to expand to ten in the fall. The club dart league currently has 50 members, with that looking to grow soon as well.

“Not only do we have our own structured leagues, but outside clubs come in and play here too,” said Makrygiannis-Albert. “Those leagues are looking for new members from time to time and the cool thing about them is they are all different in some way. If you’re not big on the rules of one, you can always join the other. I’m very excited, too, to be hosting a league for the deaf, which is so awesome for those who maybe thought they didn’t have a place to come and have fun playing darts. It’s really neat that we’re reaching our community through this.”

The 44-year-old mother of four also loved seeing her kids enjoy playing pool, which was another motivating factor behind owning a hall. Not only will her children be seen helping with some of the business chores from time to time, but they also compete in tournaments themselves and the pool hall matriarch is very proud of them.

“We have annual tournaments in Davenport Iowa that we go to because the kids are so into it, and they’re pretty good,” said Makrygiannis-Albert. “As a mom, it makes me very proud to see them passionate about something and doing it well. It also warms my heart to see them help out around here with our regular staff and make this a real family-type business.”

Whether it’s Tuesday night half-price wings night, Wednesday league nights, Saturday’s party nights or the popular Thursday Karaoke night, Alliance Billiards is keeping busy which is exactly what they want. Makrygiannis-Albert is happy that there is little rest for her and her help and hopes to keep it up.

“We really don’t have a set busy time,” said Makrygiannis-Albert. “We’ve always got people in here and some nights are busier than others for sure, but we thankfully never really have a day where it’s dead. You always see people in here having a good time and I think that is what will be the lasting impression when you walk in the door. In that way, I really do feel that we’re a throwback establishment where everyone knows each other or at eventually will.”

Starting in May there will be a dart and pool tournament once a month that lasts until August. For more information on Alliance Billiards, check them out on Facebook