Fayetteville’s newest bar seeks to provide a gathering space for adults to unwind, connect and shoot some pool. 8 Ball Pool & Jazz Lounge is located at 401 Suzanne St. at the back of Miyabi’s off Skibo Rd. The venue boasts four pool tables, a chess table, multiple TVs, 16 tables and 10 barstools.
The new jazz lounge is owned by Willie Redmond and Alida Cash, a married couple who moved from California to Fayetteville in September of 2021. The building they’re in used to be Dunn's Nursery & Garden Shop, but Redmond could see the potential in the space even amidst the greenery.

“The day that I walked in this building, Mr. Dunn wasn’t here, his manager was here, it was just like dirt, flower pots and begonias hanging, Christmas trees all out in the backyard. But I saw the building, the structure, and I said, this building will be here 50 years from now, the core, the structure itself. I knew it was going to be work...the vision began to come together along the way. It changed here and there, but this was it,” shared Redmond.

Over the past several years the couple has worked together to renovate the space and cultivate a comfortable and welcoming environment.

“It was always the idea to create a place for adults, for mature people, to come in [and] have a good time. To create more a vibe than just a jazz club or a pool hall, just kind of more a vibe, a community vibe, that reflected the diversity of Fayetteville. We try to hire diverse staff to bring in that population,” stated Redmond.

The lounge is only for those ages 25+ and guests must bring their ID.
“This establishment is geared towards sophisticated, adult, mature people where they can come in, feel safe, [see] friendly smiles, and sit down. [There are] multiple TVs, and we say jazz lounge, but he plays all kinds of music,” shared Cash. 

There’s a $5 cover charge and pool tables are rented by the hour at $5 an hour (or $4 entry and $4 an hour rental for military). The bar serves up classic cocktails, beers and even the lounge’s signature drink, the 8 Ball. Guests can enjoy snacks during all regular hours, and on Fridays and Saturdays the lounge has partnered with Taste of The Midwest catering to sell plates of food. The menu changes but guests can expect favorites such as chicken wings, catfish or ribs, but the owners share updates on their Facebook page to keep guests informed on what to expect. Cash also shared that at some point they’d like to partner with food trucks as well to bring them out to the venue.

The lounge has had a series of soft openings, but their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for March 5 at 2 p.m. They recently updated their operating hours to Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Community is very important to Willie and Alida.

“We don’t believe just in profit, believe that. We believe in community. If a business doesn’t serve a community, it won’t last long, period. And history has shown it,” added Redmond.

They’ve joined the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and have also entered into a partnership with the Crown Complex so that concerts that come whose genre fits with the lounge will be having after parties there.
Just as they intend to be there for the community and reflect the community, Alida and Willie expressed their gratitude to local organizations who have supported them as they’ve gotten established. The chamber of commerce, the team at local radio station 106.9, Avalon Realty, John Dunn, the Crown Complex, Lisa Rivera, CEO and broker-in-charge of Avalon Realty Group, Wiregrass Community Voices and additional local officials and professionals have all helped them kickstart their business. 

“It was a labor of love... I walk in the door [and] I just kind of remember walking in that door for two years, contractors, electricians, plumbers, everybody over here one by one by one. We’re ready now to try to get people through that door,” remarked Redmond.

To learn more about the lounge, follow their Facebook page: 8 Ball Pool & Jazz Lounge.