The building that houses Parkway Billiards, in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, was built in 1888 by an investment firm out of Cincinatti, Ohio. Over the years many businesses have occupied the space. In 1899 somewhere in the group of buildings was the world's first franchised Coca-Cola bottling plant.
The interior as we see it today was remodeled in the mid 1970s and was opened as "Timothy's Staircase". Since then it has been many different night clubs. The original "Alan Gold's" was in this same location, as was "Paty Place". Most recently before Parkway Billiards was opened, it was a pool room called "Shooter's", then a night club called "Two Jacks", and after that it was a gay bar called "Miss Kitty's".
The building had been sitting empty for about eight months when Robbie and Gaye Wade, both avid pool players, had the idea to reopen the facilities as a pool room. They started preparing the facilities for opening in February of 1992. After several months of hard work, planning, and picking the "Pickle Barrel Restaurant" owner Nick Bowers' brain, Parkway Billiards opened its doors on May 1st of 1992.
Except for the new carpet, new Diamond pool tables, and new flooring, all installed in November of 2002, Parkway Billiards hasn't changed much over the years. In 1995, a side room was acquired that now houses the kitchen behind the bar and three pool tables in the front. Prior to that, the kitchen was located on the second floor beside where the dart boards are now located. In the current dart board space was a fully operational bar that was seldom used by Parkway Billiards, and was dismantled in 1996.
According to many customers, Parkway has a "neighborhood bar" atmosphere and has many times been compared to the TV bar "Cheers", as a place "where everybody knows your name." Parkway is more than just a pool room or bar. For many customers, it's their home away from home; a place where they come to watch the stock ticker on TV, read the newspaper, catch up on the latest gossip around town, get some dinner, throw back a few cold beers or a mixed drink, and maybe, just maybe, knock a few pool balls around.
Robert W. Wade, President
Gaye Paty Wade, Secretary-Treasurer
Parkway Billiards Bar&Grill Inc.
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