Reed Merschat and Colby Frontiero first became friends when they went on a bike ride together. Colby was 12 and Reed was 16, and despite the age difference, they hit it off. Reed admits he didn’t usually hang out with younger kids, but Colby’s stepbrother convinced him to take Colby along for a ride.
Reed quickly admired Colby’s boldness and disregard for authority, traits that would help both of them later in life.
They stayed in touch but went in different directions. Reed dropped out of college, moved to Portland to pursue filmmaking, and then returned to Casper to open Metro Coffee. He later got involved in a variety of ventures, including oil and gas, software, house flipping, and running the Survivor Antique Mall. Meanwhile, Colby became a language arts teacher at local middle and high schools and also spent time rock climbing, playing music, riding bikes competitively, and playing pool.
Their paths would cross again in 2018, when Colby went for a bike ride and used the Strava app to track his performance. Later that night, he played pool at Reed’s house, and they had the idea to create a similar app for pool players.
After thinking about it for a year, they decided to go for it, fueled by their boldness and disregard for limits. They competed for a $50,000 grant and got help from several supporters to create their pool app, Salotto. Four years later, the app has almost 30,000 downloads and is a popular tool for players to keep score and connect with others.
One of their supporters, Randy Moser from Casper, also loved pool and asked Reed and Colby to help him open a pool hall. Randy admired their business mindset and wanted them to be part of the project.
They joined forces, and in less than a year and a half, Mint Billiards was born, with a fourth member, Gabe Phillips, joining the team. Gabe, known for his work in Casper’s restaurant scene, designed the kitchen and menu, creating a place called Scratch Pizzeria, known for its gourmet pizza.
In August 2024, Mint Billiards opened its doors, offering 20 new pool tables, darts, a full bar, and delicious pizza. Colby and Reed wanted to create a space that was clean, welcoming, and family-friendly, unlike the old-fashioned pool halls. They wanted the place to be great for both serious players and newcomers.
Mint Billiards quickly gained recognition, with Brunswick, a top pool equipment maker, choosing it to be their second-ever Brunswick Arena. This partnership ensures Mint Billiards will have cutting-edge equipment and be involved in product development.
Through their journey with Salotto and Mint Billiards, Reed and Colby have gained a deep respect for pool. Colby compares it to a challenging rock climb and a chess game with endless possibilities. Reed adds that pool is like a battlefield where players can dance, fight, fail, and win big.
Looking back, the bike ride they took 30 years ago turned out to be a great idea after all.