Queensbury Billiards & Café Is Building Community One Game at a Time

When people walk into Queensbury Billiards & Café in Queensbury, New York, they often expect to find pool tables. What surprises many of them, according to co-owner Neelo Jaikeran, is the food.

“A lot of people don’t even come for a pool. They just come for the food,” said Jaikeran, who co-owns the business with her husband, Kevin. Located in Meadowbrook Plaza on Quaker Road in Queensbury, Queensbury Billiards & Café combines a 21-table billiards hall, full-service restaurant, event venue, and family-friendly gathering space under one roof.

For Jaikeran, the business has become much more than a pool hall. It has become a place where local families, business owners, league players, and community members come together.

From a Love of Pool to a Local Business

The idea for Queensbury Billiards & Café began with her husband’s longtime passion for pool. Jaikeran said her husband has loved the game since they were teenagers.

“Kevin loves pool,” she said. “If he could be playing pool every day, all day long, that’s the only thing he would do.”

Before opening the business, he often drove 45 minutes to an hour just to find a place to play. Wanting something closer to home, the couple began exploring the idea of opening their own billiards hall. The concept was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they revived the plan afterward and opened Queensbury Billiards & Café three years ago.

Jaikeran initially thought she would be offering support from the sidelines.

“I thought I was along for moral support only,” she said with a laugh. “But that ship has sailed.”

Today, she oversees much of the day-to-day operation while he continues working full-time with Verizon.

Bringing Caribbean and Guyanese Food to Queensbury

While billiards brought the business to life, food has become one of its biggest attractions.

Neelo and Kevin Jaikeran are Guyanese and have introduced Caribbean and Guyanese dishes to customers throughout Queensbury, Glens Falls, and Warren County. The menu includes Caribbean chicken chow mein, Caribbean chicken fried rice, chicken and lamb over rice, chicken curry, and beef curry.

Having both spent part of their lives in New York City before moving to the area, they also drew inspiration from the city’s food culture.

“The New York City food culture is just popular everywhere,” Jaikeran said.

Neither owner came from a restaurant background, making the learning curve significant. Beyond cooking, they had to navigate health department regulations, food preparation systems, and maintain consistency across every meal.

“When we cook at home, it’s a little bit of that, a little bit of this,” Jaikeran said. “Figuring out how to make that consistently, that was fun when we first started.”

Creating a Space for Families, Events, and Community

Queensbury Billiards & Café welcomes customers of all ages and hosts a wide range of activities beyond traditional pool leagues. The facility serves as a venue for birthday parties, graduation celebrations, company team-building events, trivia nights, karaoke, bingo, and themed entertainment events.

Jaikeran says one of her favorite parts of the business is watching families spend time together.

“My favorite thing is seeing family walk through the door with the kids, and they’re all playing pool together and enjoying their time together,” she said.

The business also participates in APA and NAPA pool leagues and hosts local tournaments throughout the year.

As the business enters its fourth year, Jaikeran says one of the biggest challenges remains making sure people know the business exists.

“There is still a large part of this community that doesn’t know we’re here,” she said.

Despite that challenge, she remains optimistic about the future. Now working at Queensbury Billiards & Café full-time, Jaikeran is focused on expanding events, strengthening community partnerships, and introducing more residents to what the business offers. “I’m excited,” she said. “Excited for the new possibilities.”