Reinvention is not for the faint of heart but for Josh Thorne, leaving a 13-year career as a helicopter pilot to own a billiards and game room business was less a crisis and more a calculated leap of faith. His story is about adapting to new challenges and finding joy in helping others create spaces for connection and fun.

A Life in the Skies

Josh spent over a decade as a professional helicopter pilot, working in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. Flying in 37 states, he describes his career as offering “the best office view in the world.”

He didn’t just fly scenic tours, though. His career took him into search-and-rescue operations, high-altitude missions, and even corporate aviation, including working as a personal pilot for a billionaire in Aspen, Colorado. “My first summer in Aspen, I flew 37 billionaires,” Josh shared. “It was a really amazing time. It was very rewarding flying, very challenging.”

Despite the glamour, corporate aviation had its challenges. “Corporate flight departments are one of those that always seem to leave first because they’re very expensive,” he explained. When the flight department he worked for began selling off assets, including the helicopters he flew, Josh realized it was time to transition to something new.

Finding the Right Fit

Josh’s entrepreneurial spirit had been with him since childhood. “I was the kid that was getting sent to the principal’s office for selling candy to my fellow students,” he recalled with a laugh. That same drive led him to explore various businesses before deciding on Quality Billiards and Game Rooms, a 48-year-old business in Salt Lake City.

“It had a very good track history, but it was just being run kind of mom and pop—very sleepy in a lot of ways,” Josh said. He saw an opportunity to modernize the business and bring it to a broader audience.

Josh purchased Quality Billiards in September 2019 and, just two months later, bought a new building to house the showroom. “My biggest first step and vision of growing the business was moving into a new facility,” he said.

Navigating the Pandemic

Moving into a new building in March 2020 might seem like terrible timing, but Josh and his team made the most of it. The COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges, but it also sparked a surge in home improvement projects, including game rooms.

“All I knew to do was keep moving forward,” Josh said. Fortunately, the business thrived as people sought to make their homes more enjoyable during lockdowns. “We did very well through that transition,” he added, attributing much of the success to new marketing efforts, the improved showroom, and a focus on customer service.

The New Game Room

Under Josh’s leadership, Quality Billiards has transformed into Utah’s game room headquarters, offering everything from high-end billiard tables made from reclaimed railroad ties to shuffleboards, pinball machines, air hockey tables, and more.

The traditional “man cave” has also evolved into something more inclusive. “Man caves still have their place, but the word has changed,” Josh explained. “It’s more family-oriented. We are in a state where we are a family-oriented culture, which is amazing.”

Josh has worked on projects ranging from residential game rooms to airplane hangars outfitted with arcade machines and pinball games. “We’ve even had customers blow out walls so we could get products into their basements,” he said.

Competing with Online Giants

Competing against online retailers like Amazon and Wayfair is an ongoing challenge, but Josh sets Quality Billiards apart by focusing on customer service and product quality.

“We don’t sell any foosball tables that are less than 250 pounds, and this is why,” Josh explained. “We’ve been doing this for 53 years. We want to have a customer that’s happy with the product, and we’re not getting a callback for a warranty or a complaint.”

His team also handles delivery and installation for nearly every product they sell, ensuring customers don’t have to deal with the headaches of assembling heavy, complex pieces on their own.

Building for the Future

Josh is proud of what he’s accomplished with Quality Billiards but knows there’s always room for improvement. His focus remains on providing top-notch service and maintaining the high standards that have kept the business thriving for over five decades.

“Customer service is, I think, one of the biggest things lacking in most businesses in America today,” he said. “It’s really the foundation of what sets yourself apart from your competition.”

Looking back, Josh is grateful for the experiences that led him here. “I put my energy into every business I’ve worked for like I was the owner,” he reflected. “Now I get to do that for myself.”

A Space to Connect

For Josh, game rooms are about more than just having fun—they’re about connection. “We like to say, ‘Disconnect to reconnect,’” he said. “The best feedback we get from parents is that it’s so nice to have family game night, to bring the family together and play pool or ping pong instead of being on their phones.”

Whether he’s working with architects to design custom spaces or helping a family pick out their first pool table, Josh’s passion for creating joyful experiences shines through. His journey from the cockpit to the showroom is a reminder that it’s never too late to try something new—and that sometimes, the most rewarding adventures happen on the ground.

*Photo credit: Matt Lovejoy