About
Diamond Eight Billiards was founded in 1991 by the Skawinski Family.
Timeline
October 1991
Diamond Eight Billiards was founded by Ed and Irene Skawinski. The first Diamond Eight was located on Route 7 (Route 2) and opened with ten pool tables, two foosball tables and a few video games.
September 1992
Mr. and Mrs. James Roemer became partners with the Skawinskis and together, they opened a second location in Guilderland, which featured 21 tables, foosball and various video and pinball games.
March 1993
The “On the Break Cafe” opened and offered quality food, free lunch delivery and soft ice cream.
September 1996
The Latham location was moved to a larger facility on Johnson Road.
February 2000
A new Latham location was opened adjacent to the previous location. This latest Diamond Eight is the first to feature a full-service bar.
July 2000
In July of 2000, the Skawinskis bought out the Roemers’ half of the business and became sole owners once again.
August 2000
Edward M. Skawinski passed away. Irene, together with the help of a great staff, her son Edward J.,his wife Angela, and daughter Christine, continues her husband’s dedication to their vision of Diamond Eight Billiards.
June 16, 2001
On Father’s Day of 2001, the 1st annual Edward M. Skawinski Memorial Golf Tournament was held at Frear Park in Troy, NY. The annual event serves 2 purposes: to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region and to remember “Diamond Ed” in a very special way.
October 2001
Diamond Eight participated in the Billiards for America event, where hundreds of billiards parlors across the country, coordinated via the BCA, held tournaments to raise money for various people affected by the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Diamond Eight raised $660. which was donated to the World Trade Center Victims’ Relief Fund.
May 2002
The Guilderland location was closed. A farewell party was well-attended and helped bring some closure to a very important part of our history. The Billiard Table was moved to Latham, adding something extra to an already special place.
June 2003
The APA (American Poolplayers Association) comes to Diamond Eight. Our Sunday night in-house league begins with four eight-ball teams.
January 2005
Our Sunday-night APA division is now a double jeopardy division, playing both 8- and 9-ball at the same time. Eleven teams now play 8-Ball, with nine teams playing 9-ball.
August 2007
Diamond Eight league teams make great showings at higher level tournaments! “Blue’s Cues,” led by captain John Robinson, place 5th (in a field of 333 teams) in the APA 9-Ball National Team Championship in Las Vegas, held in August of 2007. In addition, a Diamond Eight team led by Tom Acciavatti took 1st place in the 2007 APA Northeast Challenge, held in August at the Twin Rivers Casino in Rhode Island!
September 2007
Diamond Eight adds eight 7-foot bar tables to the mix, and re-arranges the furniture a bit to usher in a new era of fun! Eleven full-size tables, a billiard table and eight 7-footers now provide you with even more choices!
