Player’s Billiards, Sports Bar and Grill has opened as a new nightspot at the State Line Crossing shopping center as a place to eat, drink and play pool and darts.

The building at 4501 N. State Line Ave. once housed a popular, lively nightclub by the name of Players. The club is back with a similar Players name but under new ownership, Ruth and Larry Alley, who intend to run a similar type of establishment. Their son, Lon, manages the place.

The Alleys were born and raised in Missouri and then moved to California, where they got involved in running Jack in the Box restaurants, said Ruth. After success there, they moved back to Missouri and then eventually came on down to Texas.

“We’re planning on having live music on the weekends. And for a limited time all the games are free,” said Ruth.

At the old Players, there were 16 pool tables. This club has fewer pool tables, opting for more dining space. Ruth said business is likely to run 50-50 between dining and the bar.

Darts and foosball are other popular sports bar pastimes available at the new Player’s, along with big-screen TV entertainment.

“We’d like to cater to 30 up (crowd),” said Ruth, who said she wants people to know Player’s is “back better than ever.”

She’d like the new Player’s to be a neighborhood bar and grill.

“We want it to be a fun place,” said Ruth.

The menu includes daily specials and classic grill fare like chicken tenders, steak fingers, chicken fried steak, fried shrimp and top sirloin. Salads, sandwiches and appetizers are also available.

The Alleys also intend to open another restaurant in the shopping center called Aunt Ruth’s Cafe.



(Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight except on Saturday night when the club stays open until 1 a.m. Phone: 903-794-0000.)