Champion’s Bars & More

This is the closest pool hall to where I live. We’ve tried on multiple occasions to make this our neighborhood bar, but the pool is just ridiculously expensive — $ 5 per person, per hour! Way too expensive for me to make this my after work stop off a few nights a week. Forget about inviting some friends to join you in a game or two. I would understand paying that in a nice pool hall with well maintained tables, but this place is a dive. So, instead we choose to go the extra few miles to Jack Piner’s. Coin tables, $ 1.00 a game, and we can afford to invite all the friends we want.

It’s hard for me to recommend this place, as it is a) totally disgusting, and b) in a terrible location, in this ridiculous Valley of the Ashes between Cary and Raleigh.
Also, something about the parking lot makes you feel like you just *might* get shot or at least stabbed.
HOWEVER, The karaōke on Saturday nights is great. Now, I like karaōke a particular way — with a large group of friends, but also in front of a large group of strangers … And let’s just say, the patrons here put the *strange* in strangers…
Then, when it’s over, the walk to your car is a little gross … There’s a Sonic in the parking lot, one of your drunk ass people is likely to hit that on the way out.

Formerly called Rack ‘Em Up West, this pool hall changed its name about a year ago to match its sister location, Champions. They reupholstered their pool tables, added an amazing internet jukebox, and most importantly got a liquor license.
Unfortunately, due to NC law, any place that serves liquor must be a club for members and guests, so you do have to pay a membership fee if you wish to drink here regularly. On the plus side, it’s cheap and definitely worth it.
This location has more of a red-​neck type vibe to it then the Champion’s in Mission Valley, which attracts primarily college types. It might be a little larger than its NCSU area counterpart as well, but it’s difficult for me to say. I tend to go to the Mission Valley location more often as I’m a little too likely to hear Kenny Chesney on the jukebox at this location, but if that’s your thing you might have a great time here.
This Champion’s also features a karaōke night like the Mission Valley location, and I tend to avoid that night as I like to keep my love of music intact. If you like to knock back drinks and sing songs in front of a crowd, though, you can hit two karaōke nights in one week thanks to the magic of two locations of Champions. On the other side of this coin, however Wednesday is half price pool, so come early.