Black Diamond offers more than just pool

A familiar Spokane Valley billiards hall is under new ownership – scoring a new name and a major facelift along the way over the past three months.

“We want people to think of it as a restaurant, club, billiards place – a fun, classy eating and gathering place,” said co-owner Steve Lagault, a longtime San Francisco-area businessman who has opened Black Diamond Billiards and Eatery in the former McQ’s Billiards and Sports Bar near the corner of Farr Road and Sprague Avenue. It opened under the new name in July.

Legault and his wife and business partner, Kenna, moved to the Inland Northwest three years ago. Legault still continues to operate his street sweeping business he has owned for 30 years in California.

Having his own billiards hall is a bit of a childhood dream, Legault admits.

“I used to hang out at the pool hall every day for three years when I was a kid,” he says. “I never lost my love for them.”

Now the Legaults have put their own spin on the longtime meeting place for pool leagues and others for tournaments and recreational play.

The couple and their crew brightened the interior by removing walls, adding others, restaining and painting woodwork. They relaminated and reupholstered furniture, renovated restrooms and installed new flooring. They also added 16 flat-screen TVs.

The result is three main sections visible throughout the 11,300-square-foot playground and eating areas. The largest is the billiards hall with its 7- and 9-foot pool tables, 15 tables in all, as well as several dart boards. The mid-section is a cozy dining area that extends into a new arena room, intended to appeal to sports fans, but also equipped with a stage for live weekend entertainment.

With help of longtime area restaurateurs, they created a menu that features nachos, burgers, steak, chicken and seafood dishes with many selections priced between $8 to $14.

Black Diamond is open to all ages (with the exception of a bar area along one side of the billiards room) until 9 p.m., when minors are not allowed inside.