The history of the IBC is as long as it is unique. What began in Chicago IL within the home of Jim and Bonnie Parker during the early 1970’s has today evolved into an elegant, internationally known private billiard club, museum, and public banquet facility.

Shortly after moving his billiard table and favorite game of three-cushions billiards out of his basement in 1975, the club’s founder, Jim Parker, along with his understanding and loving wife Bonnie, together, established their first store-front billiard facility. After two years of successfully promoting national three-cushion billiards the club outgrew its second location and the Parker’s purchased and relocated their little dream to its third and much larger building, again, located on Chicago’s south-side.

In 1980, the IBC set out to reestablish pocket billiards popularity and Chicago’s 19th century’s role in the birth of American billiards. To coordinate a series of multi thousand-dollar national nine-ball tournaments in relationship to the release of one of Hollywood’s motion pictures regarding billiards, the IBC made arrangements to launch what would eventually become one of the most significant actions leading to America’s interest in championship pocket billiards. After earlier years of billiards popularity gridlock, this series of national tournaments was an immediate success when attracting the attention of an entire nation, along with its nationally ranked players who traveled from over 27 states for an opportunity to compete in the clubs national events. Seeking the professional side of billiards, only with style, Hollywood came knocking on the club’s door for the second time in 1986. After learning about the club’s role in billiards recent popularity, recipient of Hollywood’s film directors lifetime achievement award, Martin Scorsese, came to the Illinois Billiard Club seeking the club’s assistance when mapping out his production of a Paul Newman / Tom Cruise motion picture; “The Color of Money.”

Based on its years of positive influence on the game of billiards and its prominent position among some of Chicago’s most affluent facilities, the IBC had been sought out by moviemakers, advertising companies and everyone else seeking both style and the real thing. Three Midwest publishers featured the IBC as “The place to visit” in their; Guide to Chicago’s Best of Everything. Another publisher requested permission to list The Illinois Billiard Club among some of the city’s most prominent and prestigious facilities to host private parties and banquets, which included among others: The Art Institute of Chicago, The Civic Opera House and, The Chicago Historical Society. In their magazines commemorative issue celebrating Chicago’s 150th birthday, of their top 150 business choices, another Chicago publication, Chicago Magazine, voted the IBC as the city’s most promising business.

In 1990 and driven by its success the private billiard club moved to the country, added its sister business, Bonnie’s Dining & Banquets, and together uniquely redefined the games ability to now service a broader range of society by hosting both private and semi private dinner and billiard parties and, within facilities of historical grandeur.