Entry No. 55 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: arcade-play
CooperSmith's Poolside
A beloved Old Town pool hall that ran as CooperSmith's Poolside from 1993 until 2022, then sat dark for years before reopening in spring 2026 as CooperSmith's Billiards. The revived space keeps shuffleboard and darts in the main room, a quirky game called Skeech on the south side, and board games on the north side, with CooperSmith's own scratch-made pizza still coming out of the kitchen. It's a rare brewpub-adjacent room built around long-table bar games rather than screens.
The story
When CooperSmith's Poolside went dark in 2022 after nearly three decades of felt-top showdowns, it left a noticeable void in Old Town Square. For four years, you walked past a quiet space while local rumors swirled about what might replace it—at one point the local tourism board eyed the square footage, and various dining groups floated replacement concepts. But in April 2026, the pub's companion room pulled back the curtains and made its return as CooperSmith's Billiards.
The revived layout ignores modern sports-bar tendencies to slap flat-screen monitors across every available inch of drywall. Instead, it resets the room to 1993 sensibilities: long-table analog pub games, heavy wooden surfaces, and physical play. Pool tables, shuffleboard, and dartboards command the central floor, maintaining the original room's tactile draw.
What makes the comeback worth seeking out are the specific corners carved out for specialized play. The south flank features Skeech—a quirky tabletop puck game that blends shuffleboard physics with arcade-style scoring targets—while the north end houses a dedicated board-game setup for quieter rounds. Throw in scratch-made pizza straight out of their kitchen and craft beer from the main brewpub next door, and you have an Old Town refuge designed around looking your opponent in the eye.
What it's like
Expect a hall echoing with the clack of pool balls, sliding shuffleboard pucks, and timer ticks rather than ambient television noise. You drop in off Old Town Square to claim a table, order a house-made pizza, and drift between pool lanes, Skeech, and board games on the north side. Because the space only revived in spring 2026 after its multi-year pause, double-check their operational schedule before gathering a group, as hours can still adjust while the team settles into routine.
The move: Split a CooperSmith's pizza, claim the shuffleboard table for a best-of-five, then drift to the board-game corner for a quieter round.
📍 Before you go Reopened April 2026 after a long closure; confirm current hours before going as they were still settling in.
- 📍 Old Town Square, Fort Collins
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5 Old Town Square, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Pinball Jones — Trade pool cues and tabletop pucks for 38 pinball machines in a nearby Old Town basement.
- Social Underground Cocktail Bar — Follow up an afternoon of shuffleboard and pub pizza by slipping into an underground speakeasy marked only by a grandfather clock.
- Old Town Putt — Swap felt-table games for nine holes of indoor mini-golf and craft cocktails a short walk away in The Exchange.
Good to know
When did CooperSmith's Poolside close and reopen?
The original Poolside concept operated from 1993 until 2022, sat vacant for four years, and officially reopened in April 2026.
What games are available inside?
The main hall features pool tables, shuffleboard, and dartboards, while the south side hosts Skeech and the north side features a dedicated board-game area.
Do they serve food and craft beer?
Yes, they bake scratch-made pizzas in their kitchen and pour craft beers brewed by CooperSmith's.
What is Skeech?
Skeech is an unusual tabletop puck-sliding game set up on the south side of the space that combines shuffleboard action with target-style scoring.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · retro1025.com · nocostyle.com · whatnow.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23