Bankshot Cafe & Billiards is on cue

By Jill Bock

Special to Business Today

SIKESTON -- Here's a business that has found itself behind the eight ball and is happy to be there. Yet those involved with Bankshot Cafe & Billiards will be the first to tell you there is much more to the business than playing pool.

Owners Glenda Payne, Scott Carpenter and Jed Payne are working to create a family-oriented business that can provide an enjoyable evening from dinner to entertainment to even learning a new skill or two.

Opened in February at 203 State Highway AA in Miner, Bankshot is a family-thing, explained Wendy Jones, Glenda Payne's daughter and Jed Payne's sister. While managed by Glenda Payne, they all add their expertise in an effort to make the business successful.

The cafe, with seating for about 25, offers a varied menu. Hungry customers can choose hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken accompanied by onion rings, french fries, mozzarella sticks or pizza sticks. Jones said a customer favorite is their homemade potato skins.

Drink selections range from coffee to tea to soft drinks. No alcohol is served, Jones said, emphasizing the family atmosphere Bankshot seeks to maintain.

Those who place an order can also eat at one of the tables located in Bankshot's game room, where there are video games, a dart board and touch-screen games.

But the central focus of the game room is the 10 new Valley pool tables purchased prior to the business' opening from Meyer Supply. For 50 cents, customers can select a cue from the rack along the wall and shoot a game.

There are lots of opportunity to play pool on one of Bankshot's tables. The Corporate Games recently conducted play at the business, and tournaments are part of the owners' future plans.

Two leagues hone their skills at Bankshot each Wednesday night, and Jones said they are interested in adding teams.

The recent addition of a dart board has prompted some interest in forming a dart league, too.

For those who take their competition seriously and want to choose their own pool or dart supplies, Bankshot has an assortment of supplies on hand. They will special-order items for their customers as well.

Jones said the owners are pleased with business.

"Actually we have stayed pretty busy. We don't ever get out before midnight during the week and we are open later on weekends." Describing Bankshot as a safe, clean place for families, Jones continued: "It is a place parents can come be with their kids and take part in their lives."

Jill Bock is editor of the Standard-Democrat in Sikeston