![]() ![]() Using old world techniques with modern technology Don’s dream has become a reality. Pool tables were very commercial looking and Don’s vision was to reproduce pool tables built at the turn of the century. Styling was very important to Don and his plans for building a more attractive pool table that would complement a customers home décor. The only difference in the tables is in the furniture aspect. The slate, cushions, cloth, and pockets are exactly the same. All Golden West pool tables have the exact same playing surface. This philosophy is still adhered to today. The price difference would be in the furniture style of the table and not in the playability of the table. The tops of the pool tables would all be the same. Using all American products was very important in his plans. ĭon’s idea was to build the best playing slate pool table in the marketplace. Of building a business while adhering to your principals. His training from the US military was invaluable in his dedication to succeed in the American dream Starting and owning his own American business.ĭon and his wife Susan opened a small billiard supply company in North Hollywood, California. The value and meaning of responsibility and completing tasks in a thorough and prompt manner.Īfter serving in the United States Air Force for over 4 years Don left to pursue his dream of Plenty of good players taught Don how to play pool and he became very proficient at playing the game.ĭon joined the Air Force, at the age of 18, during the Vietnam era. When finished he would pick up a pool cue and hit balls around the table. ![]() In the afternoon, after grammar school, Don’s job in the pool room was to brush and clean all of the pool A local artist, Keith Guenther, custom painted the new van (and the two after that) and created the DK logo as it is today.Golden West Billiards, an American company, was founded in 1964 by CEO Donald Brostoski.ĭon’s father owned a pool room in Santa Ana California and Don grew up loving pool. I purchased a brand new Chevy to take its place. In 1998, my Chevy Van, now twenty years old, began to show its years. I borrowed $1500 from my dad and purchased a 1978 Chevy Van for moving services. Customers began inquiring about pool table moving and I began to realize the 504 would not lend itself to this task. I registered for a business license, placed a small in-column ad in the yellow pages, and officially became DK Billiard Service in 1993. After building up a small base of commercial clients, I decided to expand into the residential market by posting and handing out flyers in the neighborhood. I solicited every bar and cocktail lounge in the area until they let me service their pool tables. I had a set of not yet paid-for tools in the back of my Peugeot 504 and one roll of green billiard cloth. In 1992, using the knowledge I gained from John Campbell and Mark Johnson, I started out on my own. I started to see an excellent opportunity for my own business. I soon started helping co-worker John Campbell on deliveries and repair jobs, soaking up his 25-year experience. I kept my pool table and started with tasks like cleaning the shop, polishing balls, and repairing cues. I went to Mark’s dad, Dick Johnson, owner of Golden West Billiards in Orange, CA, and talked him into letting me work at the shop. My dad gave me an ultimatum – be gainfully employed by the following week or move out and end up with no pool table. I was 20, unemployed, and still living at home. I set it up in my backyard and played pool all the time, even joining tournaments at bars and pool halls to practice my game. My friend Mark helped me get the materials to repair the table. ![]() The Delta one-piece slate table needed many repairs. I only found that it played worse! Frustrated, I sold my Meucci cue for a 4X8 slate pool table. I even tried taking the table apart and replacing the half-inch particle board with a one-inch thick one. The table had a non-slate particle wood playing field, and no matter what, the table would not play “true”. In 1989, I saved enough money to buy a used pool table from a church in Anaheim, California. ![]()
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