XLN POOL HALL & CLUB

 In 2005, Donald and Robin Griffith began searching for a location in Tyler to establish XLN. The goal was to create a family-oriented place to preserve the game of pool. They were intent on creating an easygoing atmosphere where all are welcome to gather, unwind, and connect.

“The only thing I liked when Donald showed me this place was the lumberyard wall,” Robin said. “The roof leaked and everything was falling apart.”

It took three months of renovations—most of which Donald and his nephew Jeff completed—to prepare for XLN on Fifth’s grand opening that New Year’s Eve.

“When I saw the crowd that was there that night, I had the feeling like, ‘We did it,’” Robin said.

The pool tables have seen it all, from professionals like Mike Massey and Tom “Mr. Cue” Rossman to beginners and regulars. Teams and players who call XLN home have gone as far as Las Vegas to compete in the APA World Championships.

XLN has also been instrumental in the East Texas music scene, providing a place for local talent to showcase their music.

The bartenders typically stay for years, becoming part of what defines the place. Their consistency, familiarity, and great drinks help create the atmosphere that keeps people coming back.

XLN has become a mainstay of the community. Within its walls have been countless celebrations—birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and receptions—as well as benefits, memorials, and mourning. It hosts the good, the bad, and the ordinary days. Life happens here. 

And the cast of characters, of all sorts that come here become a family of friends.

It’s what sets it apart: people don’t just come to XLN; they become a part of it.