By Gus Ugalde
Orange – For the last 18 years, DK Billiard Service and Showroom has provided quality moving, repair and service to pool enthusiasts throughout Southern California.
Based in City of Orange, DK Billiard specializes in all facets of the billiards industry, but is known for its outstanding service.
“I have an excellent customer satisfaction rate,” said David Kay, owner. “I think I have probably had, maybe, five call backs from customers after the job has been done, in the last five years.”
“Service is our primary business. We take care of our customers,” said Kay.
Kay has more than 20-years in the industry beginning his career at Golden West Billiards, with his best friend Mark Johnson, in the City of Orange
“I was getting pressure from my dad about getting a job and that’s when my friend Mark got me a job working with his father, Dick, who was the owner of Golden West,’ said Kay.
“I was working there cleaning, polishing billiard balls and doing just about anything that needed to be done when I started working as an apprentice about a year later,” said Kay.
After Golden West, Kay worked for Best Billiards in Santa Ana and that is where he perfected his service skill and where he learned how to do woodwork.
“We had a guy from Cuba named Rafael Diaz who worked at the furniture woodwork part of Best Billiards,” said Kay. “He was a master and I learned a lot from him.”
“He could fix any piece of furniture and make it look like new. You could never guess that it was damaged in the first place,” said Kay.
Today, Kay runs DK Billiard with his wife Rory, who handles all the inside work, while David does the service calls.
Kay started DK after his time at Best by going door-to-door at local bars.
“I would walk into a bar and if it had a pool table, which many bars do, he would approach the owners about his services.”
“Little-by-little, I began gaining a customer base and before I knew it, I had 50 – 60 bars on service and maintenance contracts.”
“I took everything I made and put it into advertising, first in the Yellow Pages where I started with a small ad, then I purchased larger and larger ads and eventually began advertising on the internet,” said Kay.
Kay still counts many bars as his customers, but his primary customer base has now become residential homes.
“We’re experts on moving, set-up, re-cushioning and re-felting. We carry both import and domestic tables and will set-up or move any table into any residence,” said Kay.
“We’re sort-of like piano movers in a sense,” joked Kay.
“There are reasons why we have been in business for so many years and that is because we do the right thing,” said Rory Kay. “We’re honest, pay our taxes and provide excellent service.”
“We also give customers the most for their money.”
“There are places out there that are cheaper and there are places that are more expensive, but we give the best service and sales for the very best price,” said Rory Kay.
Approximately 80 percent of DK’s revenue stream comes from service, but sales are still a big part of his business.
“We have about 11 – 12 pool tables set up in our showroom,” said David Kay.
“Buying a table on the internet just isn’t the same. People can come in here and see and feel the tables to get a better feel for which table is best for them,” added Kay.
DK Billiard has tables ranging in price from $1,199 to $9,999 and can customize any table to customer’s specifications.
DK Billiard Service and Showroom is located on Main St. in the City of Orange between Katella and Collin, across the street from Danny K’s Billiards and Sports Bar near the 57 Freeway.
The address is 1023 North Main Street, Orange, CA 92867 and can be reached at (714) 633-3378 or at www.pooltableexperts.com.
Showroom hours are Mon through Wed 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thurs and Fri from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
