We wanted to take a minute and say thanks to The Holland Sentinel for stopping by and telling our story.

Earlier this fall, the paper sat down with me and my wife Jamie to talk about Black River Billiards — where it came from, where it’s headed, and what we’re trying to build here in Holland. If you’ve been around since the Rail House days, you already know this place has meant a lot to a lot of people over the years. Our goal was never to change that — just to bring it back strong and do it right.

Since taking over in November 2024, we’ve put a lot of work into the space. New look, fresh artwork, a made-from-scratch kitchen, and bringing back staff that longtime customers already know and trust. The Sentinel article really captured that part — especially the work Jamie has put into The Side Pocket and the food program. If you’ve eaten here, you know that’s not an afterthought. We care about it.

What mattered most to us was getting back to the basics:
Good tables.
Good food.
Good people.

We want Black River Billiards to feel welcoming — whether you’re a league player, someone walking in for the first time, families looking for something different to do, or folks just grabbing lunch downtown. Hearing the community response so far has meant a lot.

We’re proud of what we’ve built in a short amount of time, and we’re grateful to everyone who’s supported us along the way — customers, staff, friends, and neighbors. None of this works without you.

If you’d like to read the full article from The Holland Sentinel, you can find it here:
[Read the article →]

Thanks again to the Sentinel for the feature — and thanks to Holland for continuing to show up.

— Chris & Jamie