Leisure Time closes after 10 years

Leisure Time Billiards Bar in Sterling closed its doors Sunday, after doing business for 10 years. "With the economy being the way it is, we just weren't making it," said Jim LaFavre, who co-owns the business with Howie Duncan. "This area here is one of the hardest-hit areas." Leisure Time opened in November 1997 and became an establishment where amateur and seasoned billiards players could show off their skills. LaFavre said things started to go downhill for the bar a couple years ago, but the situation didn't turn critical until last winter, when attendance plummeted, especially during the weekends. "This winter was devastating," he said. "During the week, we'd maybe have 50 to 75 people a day in the bar, but what killed us were the weekends." LaFavre said the statewide smoking ban that went into affect Jan. 1 was a big factor. "It wasn't dramatic, but we did lose about 20 percent of our customers that maybe caused (attendance) to go down on the weekend," he said. "Smokers just don't stay around in the bars as long anymore. ... That was one of the worst decisions that the state could make. Putting restrictions on small businesses is unbelievable." LaFavre said the bar was put up for sale a couple months ago, though a "for sale" sign was only posted three weeks ago. A couple of potential buyers have shown interest, but nothing has been finalized, LaFavre said. The bar's liquor license expired Wednesday and LaFavre and Duncan decided to close the bar quietly, without a farewell event. "We put the word out to customers," LaFavre said. "I'm kind of down on the whole thing and didn't feel like doing anything. It's kind of like losing your house after putting all that work in it for all those years."