Boston Billiards of Worcester NOT Bankrupt

Alert: Boston Billiards is not going under.

Boston Billiards of Worcester NOT Bankrupt

On April 11, 2009, in a Boston newspaper published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp., an article appeared stating that the Boston Billiard Club chain was filing bankruptcy.

This is not the case, and the article should be passed over as sloppy reporting and un-researched guess work.

Boston Billiards in Worcester, NOT Bankrupt

Here is the original article (with links added by Billiards Forum):

The owners of the Boston Billiard Club chain have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Boston.

Kurt J. Mathias of 3 Metcalf St., Worcester, filed as an individual for Chapter 7 liquidation. Listed as a co-debtor is his wife, Susan S. Mathias, of the same address. They are listed as owning 72 percent of GLM Entertainment Inc., doing business as Boston Billiard, with a headquarters at 405 Grove St.

The case was assigned to bankruptcy court Judge Henry J. Boroff. John A. Burdick of Paxton was appointed interim trustee. Neither Mr. Mathias, nor his lawyer, Gary W. Cruickshank of Boston, could be reached for comment by telephone yesterday. The telephone at Boston Billiard in Worcester has been disconnected.

Documents filed in the case show that the Mathiases have assets of $487,540 and liabilities of $2,828,434. Their debts are primarily business debts, according to court documents. A meeting of creditors is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Boston. A group headed by GLM Entertainment Inc. purchased Boston Billiard Club Inc.’s six New England locations in February 2006. In addition to Worcester, they are located in Boston, West Springfield, Nashua, NH, Warwick, RI, and Danbury, CT.

Quite an article, but lots of assumptions and creative reporting. They had to publish a correction on April 14, 2009:

Kurt J. Mathias of Worcester filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Listed as a co-debtor is his wife, Susan S. Mathias. Because of an editing error, the entity filing for bankruptcy was incorrect in a headline about Boston Billiard in Saturday's Telegram & Gazette. Also, a creditors meeting in the bankruptcy will be at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Worcester. Because of a reporter's error, the location of the meeting was incorrect.

It just goes to show that you can't just believe everything you read, even though bankruptcies are the norm in the billiard industry.

Billiards Forum users mentioned in this article:

Kurt J. Mathias

Businesses mentioned in this article:

Title: Boston Billiards of Worcester NOT Bankrupt
Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
Published: 4/15/2009 9:18:00 PM
Last Updated: 9/21/2016 7:31:02 AM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum

Boston Billiards of Worcester NOT Bankrupt Comments

user1239816873 from Boston, MA on 4/15/2009 5:34:33 PM
The Boston Billiards Club is a great place! The owners, the Mathias family, are great people and run a first class operation.

Like many small businesses, but especially with a pool hall, it is very difficult to be profitable during these trying economic times.

I will continue to support this fine establishment, and encourage others to do the same. I wish them all the best.

Phil from Boston, MA on 4/15/2009 7:31:10 PM
It is pretty disappointing to read an article by the Telegram that seems to be inaccurate. From the other comments I have read, I believe that my favorite place to play pool will still be operating as usual.

I can tell you this as a frequent patron:
- The service is outstanding and pleasant.
- It is a great place to go with your friends to relax and have fun.
- There are leagues which seem to thrive.
- They even have occasional tournaments. This month there is a tournament in which a professional player, Ewa Mataya, will make an appearance and give an exhibition to benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Best wishes to Boston Billiards and it's continued success.

user1239839510 from Boston, MA on 4/15/2009 11:51:50 PM
Is there no good place to play pool in Worcester, MA anymore?

When my friends and I went to Boston Billiards last month and they ran out of the beer and the type of wine we drank, and they even ran out of the food we normally order. When we complained, it took staff 30 minutes just to find a manager.

Was that just poor supply management or was it Boston Billiards not paying their bills?

Brian H. from Boston, MA on 4/16/2009 7:42:40 AM
This story completely misrepresents the facts regarding Boston Billiard Club.

Clearly the reporter took the easy route and did not question the participants or anyone else involved. A simple drive down Grove St. would have shown that the business is open and thriving.

Since there has been an ownership change at the Boston Billiard Club, the phone numbers have changed. This is common in many business ownership transitions.

Telegram, please be careful in reporting on local businesses. The economy is challenging enough. We don't need our local newspaper creating additional obstacles to doing business in Worcester, MA.

Herbert Gallagher from Boston, MA on 4/18/2009 10:33:33 AM
On February 26th, 2009, Eeskay MA, Inc. and Eeskay NH, Inc. purchased the assets of the Worcester and Nashua locations of the Boston Billiard Club.

These two locations will continue to operate under their new ownership and are not filing for bankruptcy.

I am confident that the Worcester Boston Billiard Club and Nashua Boston Billiard Club will continue to be popular entertainment venues for their respective communities.

Herbert Gallagher,
President, Boston Billiard Club
(Eeskay MA, Inc. and Eeskay NH, Inc.)

Jeff Englund from Boston, MA on 4/18/2009 11:24:32 AM
The Telegram needs a fact checker apparently.

Kurt J. Mathias from Boston, MA on 4/19/2009 5:14:10 AM
The article in the Telegram is incorrect.

Boston Billiard Club is NOT filing for bankruptcy.

Boston Billiard Clubs in Worcester and Nashua were sold in February of 2009 and will continue to operate. Also, the meeting of debtors against my wife and I is not in Boston, it is in Worcester, MA.

To all 126 Boston Billiard Club employees: your jobs are safe and secure.

My apologies about this inaccurate article.

thezul from Worcester, MA on 9/1/2011 7:35:09 AM
So is the Worcester, MA Boston Billiard Club still open?

billiardsforum from Halifax, NS on 9/21/2016 8:16:52 AM
No it is not. The Worcester MA Boston Billiards Club closed on October, 9, 2010.

The Nashua, NH Boston Billiard Club is still open for business though.

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