The Broken Rack pool hall will celebrate its one year Anniversary of reopening in Emeryville on July 17th. It was a long process for owners Marilyn and Wayne Boucher after moving from the Public Market, but they’re settled in and continue to listen to customers, make refinements and adapt to a challenging business community in our city. They’re working to freshen up their menu and add local, craft brews to their offerings … all while staying true to their blue-collar, pool hall roots. They patiently await progress of the adjacent Emeryville Greenway path (Groundbreaking by the city was scheduled to occur back in 2013) with plans to open an outside patio area with inclusion of some public art.

Without a true sports bar in E’ville, “The Rack” has been the go-to spot for Warriors Playoff Games with ample seating and nine HD Screens (including an 80″ in their comfy lounge area). “During these playoffs we feel our identity as a sports bar has really been cemented in the community” added Marilyn who identifies herself as a lifelong Warriors fan. Marilyn can generally be seen donning Gold & Blue and scurrying between the bar & kitchen while sneaking in game highlights. “In the future we plan to upsize and increase the number of TVs in the pool area so that the next time a bay area team is going for a championship even more fans will be able to enjoy a great view of the game in a really electric atmosphere!”

Draft Beers are only $3.50 and they even have a playoff themed specialty beverage called “The Golden State” which consists of Whiskey, Peach Schnapps and OJ for $5 (I’m going to need a couple of those if they don’t win tonight … GO DUBS!). Drop by The Rack for sports camaraderie and fun in E’ville!

The Rack got some love recently on the KQED California Report series “My Spot”. 66-year-old professional carpenter Chuck Goettsche chats about his love for the challenging game of pool while suffering with a genetic tremor disorder.

My Spot: The Broken Rack in Emeryville

Our occasional series “My Spot” celebrates personal experiences with special places in California.

“Pros pocket balls so cleanly that you can almost hear it in the click of the balls,” says Chuck Goettsche, a 66-year-old carpenter and regular pool player at The Broken Rack in Emeryville.

“It’s a pool hall with a bar, as opposed to a bar with a pool table,” Goettsche explains.

For Goettsche, playing pool is an art. He’s able to apply his carpenter skills — using different angles to pocket balls, either through hitting a bank shot or using the physics of the interaction of the balls to move into an ideal position.

Read More on KQED News or listen on SoundCloud:

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