After 30 years of being in business, the well known Riverbend Billiards and Grill eventually closed its doors on
Saturday, August 31, 2019. This family business was started by Terry and Gima Strader because of their love of playing pool.
Terry was a worker from Olin Brass looking for something more when he and his wife started their business. It began in 1989 as a small place called Side Pocket in Wood River with only three pool tables and a couple of dart
boards.
As it became popular, they needed more space and moved their business to Piasa Street in 1991. They had more room for pool tables and dart boards, as well as opening a kitchen and serving food. The players leagues began to have their tournaments there for both pool and darts.
It’s popularity was increased as it included all ages and families came with their kids to play pool and eat good food. They offered a dollar, half pound cheeseburger that rivaled that of Fast Eddies for tastiness and popularity.
The Strader’s opened a second Riverbend location in Jerseyville in 2007 due to the success of their business. This location offered all of the popular pool tables, darts and food as well as live bands on the weekends for those that wanted to come out and dance. Then the worst thing happened, the Piasa Street Riverbend Billiards burned down
in 2009.
It was total destruction for this location and nothing was salvaged. They rebounded from this and opened again in Alton on Broadway. The day has come for the elder Strader’s to retire and their daughter, Amanda, is ready to hang up her hat as well. As they say good-bye to their business here, there are many who will remember growing up playing pool as teens in their pool hall and eating great cheeseburgers as they have fun.
2019 Archived Article by Grace Reese
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