Jammed between Sportsman’s Lounge, The Zone and Great Plains Pizza, there is a place that offers Ames residents the best selection of pool and beer in Ames — the Corner Pocket.

According to manager Larry Genola, the 15 pool tables are the main attraction, although he said the one-time furniture store has the widest beer selections around, offering 13 different brands of domestics and imports on tap and over 100 different imports, domestics and microbrews of bottled and canned beers.

“We provide a place for people to play pool and have fun,” Genalo said. “It’s a place where students can go to forget about college. It’s a little more relaxed than the campustown bars.”

The Corner Pocket’s interest in pool allows the bar to host a variety of pool tournaments.

One popular tournament is every Sunday at 9 p.m., when the area’s best pool shooters are allowed to showcase their skills in a nine-ball pool tournament.

Aside from this weekly event, The Corner Pocket sponsors many other events.

“We have 10 to 12 different tournaments a year at different levels,” Genalo said.

He added that once a year a pro tour will pass through town, bringing some of the world’s most talented pool sharks. The most noted is Paul Gerni, an 18-time World Trick Shot Champion.

Genalo also organizes other events, including fraternity and sorority tournaments and father-son tournaments.

Matt Rochford, a regular costumer of the Corner Pocket, said he likes the pool and good beer selection.

“It’s also pretty laid back,” Rochford said.

Not only does the bar offer a laid back atmosphere, pool and a variety of beer, but a diverse crowd can also be found at the Corner Pocket.

Genalo said people from all different types of backgrounds come to the six-year-old bar, and the busiest times are after work and during happy hour.

Happy hour is Monday through Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and all day Sunday.

Happy hour specials include 50 cents off bottles and cans and $1 off pitchers of imports and microbrews and pool for $2 an hour.

Other daily specials include: $1.25 bottles on Monday, $1.50 wells on Tuesday and $3 pitchers on Wednesday. The import of the month is also a favorite special at the bar.

Other forms of entertainment are darts, pinball, music and TV.

Most of the day classic rock invades the airwaves, although blues may occasionally be played during the afternoon. More alternative music is played on the weekends.

For customers’ viewing pleasure, the Corner Pocket mainly tunes into sports programming, which ranges from Iowa State University teams to pool tournaments and professional sports.

In case of an attack of the beer munchies, a menu of nearly 15 different appetizers is available upon request. Corner Pocket eats include: egg rolls, mini pizzas, cheese sticks, nachos and chicken wings.

The Corner Pocket is located at 125 Main St.