GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The sign above reads “The Corner Pocket.” The image of a seedy, smokey pool room with questionable characters comes to mind. But on one window, a different sign calls the building “Around the Corner Diner,” which conveys an image of fried food and hospitality.

So, which is it? A pool room that serves food, or is it a diner with pool tables?

According to Cheri Starnes, it’s both.

In a business where perception is reality, Starnes has spent the last five years trying to rebrand her business at 14 Magnolia Ave. She knew pool rooms were thought to be dark, dirty and smokey joints.

“Actually, it was,” Starnes said. “The first year, we left it just the way we got it. They could smoke here. We only had beer and wine. We realized we needed to change that.”

A year after buying it in 2018, she banned smoking. Less than a year later, the business hit the COVID-19 pandemic roadblock. Starnes soon realized the city needed more than a place to shoot pool. She added a dining room, got a liquor license and created a menu to focus equally on food.

“We are still The Corner Pocket, but we’re also Around the Corner Diner,” Starnes said.

The interior is bright and clean. Starnes replaced old pool tables with 10 new seven-foot Diamond tables, for avid players, it was like moving the member-guest tournament to the Augusta National Golf Club.

The Corner Pocket now hosts nightly billiard leagues Monday through Thursday, attracting as many as 60 players a night. For example, the Billiard Congress of America will present a blind draw scotch doubles tournament on Saturday. The American Poolplayers Association, North American Poolshooters Association and the USA Pool League all host tournaments at The Corner Pocket.

Starnes also has daily specials during the weekday, including chicken fried steak on Monday, fried chicken on Tuesday, baked ziti on Wednesday, pork chops on Thursday and fried Mayport shrimp on Fridays.

“Our dining room is really busy on Tuesday and Friday for the fried chicken and fried shrimp,” Starnes said. “Everything is homemade.”

Starting Monday, Nov. 6, the diner will serve breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Thursday through Sunday.

“We have a small-town atmosphere,” Starnes said. “We now have liquor and comfortable furniture. It’s not noisy in here. I genuinely like everyone that comes in here. They’re our friends. It’s like Cheers – you’ve met two or three new friends by the time you leave.

“I think the biggest reason we’ve grown is word of mouth.”

The turnaround has increased business by nearly 10-fold compared to the first year, leading to The Corner Pocket being selected as the Small Business of the Year Award for Green Cove Springs by the Clay County Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s been quite a challenge to change everyone’s perception,” Starnes said. “We’ve come a long way. It’s just going to get better.”