BY KYLE TROUTMAN

Earlier this year, Jarrod Henbest and JD Hunter found themselves with nothing to do.

After traveling to a casino and believing they wasted their money, the duo decided to take action.

In early July, the H and H Pool Hall opened in Cassville, occupying the former American Legion Building and Stumpff Event Center.

“Jarrod had come back from working overseas for 15 months, and he wanted to do something,” Hunter said. “We drove to the casino, lost about $100 each, then realized we just drove 45 minutes to lose money. We also saw a need for the kids we’d see hanging around the park.”

Hunter said the idea of the pool hall was floated, and it was put into action.

“I talked to Donnie [Stumpff], and he let us rent it for a year, which we paid all of in advance,” he said. “We plan to buy the building after the year is up. We are keeping it the same. We have to take down the ‘Post 118’ lettering, buy we’ll put up a sign that says pool hall.

“My grandparents played Bingo in this building, and the old Bingo sign is still there, so we’ll be keeping that.”

Hunter said the Hall has six 7-foot pool tables and two 12-foot snooker tables, as well as slot gaming machines. Pool is $6 per hour, and snack items are for sale. Hunter said this week, the Hall plans to expand to serving alcohol, but not at all times.

“We should have our beer and wine license this week,” he said. “We plan to sell on Fridays and Saturdays after 7, and on our tournament nights at the same time.”

Tournaments are held every Monday and Thursday, and Hunter said last week, 38 people signed up to play on Thursday.

“Business has been great,” Hunter said. “In those first weeks, we may have profited only $100, but we weren’t in the red like we thought we’d be for the first few months.”

Supporting the business are individuals of all ages, Hunter said. “On certain nights of the week, we have just tables full of kids ages 12-20,” he said. “On tournament nights, people bring their whole families. We keep hearing it’s a great environment, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

Hoping to bring more awareness about the Hall, a concert is set for Friday night. Whey Jennings, grandson of country music legend Waylon Jennings, will headline a show that also features Trenton Tanner and Shane Hilburn.

“I saw a TikTok of Whey Jennings, and he sounded just like his grandfather on Dukes of Hazzard,” Hunter said. “I thought if he came to play at the pool hall, it would bring some exposure, and hopefully people can see how much of a clean, calm, fun environment it is.”

The concert is set for Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $30, and VIP tickets are $75. A meet-and- greet with Jennings will begin at 6 p.m., ongoing while Tanner and Hilburn play. Tickets are available at the pool hall.

Hunter said the concert is a test run, though he recognizes it is the same time as the Cassville football team’s home opener. He said the date and time was set before the football schedule was released, and scheduling during the home game was unintentional.