Cafes
The Pinball Cafe
The Pinball Café is every retro-loving, arcade fanatic's wet dream. There she lies humbly in the heart of Parkdale, offering her shiny silver balls for a mere $0.25 a game. What's that, lovlies? You want me to play you? But how do I decide between the fiery Comet with its seductive corkscrew ramp, and the classic Bow and Arrow boasting two powerful kick-out holes? Oh, and you've caught my eye too, Supersonic; I see you flashing over there. Yes this, friends, is Toronto's pinball oasis, and it comes with Sugar Babies, chrome jawbreakers, and espresso.
The idea that pinball machines and coffee create an equation for greatness is so simple it's silly; but simplicity aside, it wasn't until Jason and Rachel Hazzard came along that the concept was brought to fruition. Wanting to bring pinball out of the basements of the city (quite literally), Jason decided the odd spattering of machines here and there wasn't enough for Toronto. We needed a pinball hub, and he would be the one to create it.
Now, the wizard dream is alive — blinking lights and all — and ready to take in new pinball purveyors from season veterans to first timers. And it is for that latter category of players that the Hazzards have decided to leave alcohol out of their game plan.
"I know some people are genuinely upset," Jason says as we chat the morning after the café's inaugural night. "I'm not against alcohol; I'm not a prohibitionist," he adds. "But this is a family-friendly space. It's not something I'm going to be pursuing, and I just hope I don't regret it."
The day has kicked off slowly with a couple of teens drowning quarters in the eight machines at the back. The odd passerby has dropped in for an espresso ($2.50) or cappuccino ($3.50), though Jason says they are still working on getting word out that they are indeed a full-fledged café, free WiFi and all.
"We have great coffee," he says of the drinks made with Italian-roasted Segafredo beans. "I want this to also be a place where people can stop in for a coffee on their way to work or pick up something to eat, as well as play pinball." No beer, alas, but the café does have an assortment of baked goods from Yummy Stuff, retro candies (housed in a hollowed-out pinball machine frame), and milkshakes ($5.00), floats ($4.00) and other pinball-prime-era favourites.
The machines themselves are all in working order, though Jason admits that some of them have a bit of "personality."
"Some of them are from the '60s and '70s, and they've been through the wringer," he says. "They're delicate; there's a reason public spaces are hard on machines." To make the play gentler on the machines, Jason has placed them on a mat with a little give, making the occasional nudge less taxing on the legs. And while it's totally and terribly cliché, The Who's "Pinball Wizard" is listed at A1 on The Pinball Café's awesome, fully-restored 1973 Wurlitzer Americana jukebox.
There are also a few 45s of classic '80s hits, which [huge hint] would perfectly accompany a small collection of retro arcade games. Keep your fingers crossed, and check the basement in the coming months.
The Pinball Café is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (or later).
Photos by Morris Lum
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You need the guys coming in and buying pitchers of beer to make this kind of business work.
How much is a large cappucino at Timmy's? I think it's the same price, and it's significantly worse quality.
What coffee shops are you talking about that have lower prices?
I'm sure the opening hours will adjust. Have to remember this is the first week! Well done for getting up & running early!
The no alcohol license isn't a big deal either. It really would only attract a strange crowd from the area. Ever been to Mezzrows on a Friday? Enjoy a coffee, or a San Pellegrino and hit the bar after. The prices aren't over priced either. It's the same price you pay anywhere for a coffee, which is great by the way.
The variety of pins is great as well. Who cares if it doesn't have a Monster Bash, or Twilight Zone, or Medieval Madness. While those pins are great, why not have fun with some older titles you might not have tried before. Try and get your name up on the chalk scoreboard. It's not easy with some of these drainy older games. Also if we show the place some support I'm sure we'll start to see our favourite titles being circulated with time. Be patient! Plus they have an extremely rare cocktale table pinball. Where else will you get to try that?
The sound from the machines isn't overpowering at all. With the jukebox going, and the bells dinging it gives it a nice ambiance. Plus the jukebox is on free play. Nothing wrong with that.
The pinball cafe hasn't even had a grand opening so I'd try not to be too critical on things. Once they get settled I'm sure we'll see some permanent opening and closing times, and fully functioning games. Also, it doesn't hurt to just go in and talk to the owners if you have any feedback. Let's enjoy what we have and support one of the only decent places to play pinball!
Would have preferred the alcohol license but it's their place so it's their rules.
dragon
I know its brand new, but from the photos it looks like it lacks a bit of character.
I'll probably go, because I love pinball, but Toronto - what's with the coffee obsession? you cannot get enough of the stuff. No more coffee. just stop. we have enough friggin coffee shops.
please just open a decent pub for god sake. it's not hard -
1. beer. - please stop serving me flat beer - *CLEAN THE PIPES*.
2. lighting - make it nice inside. somewhere where you want to hang out for a while.
3. No gimmicks (ha like pinball)
4. table service kills the vibe in a pub. you immediately feel that you're in a restaurant instead of a pub. just go to the bar to get a drink. and no, I'm not tipping for you to stand there and simply pull me a pint. Plus the whole table service thing really sucks when a huge bill comes at the end of the night..maths is probably the last thing I want to be doing at the end of a drunky night.
5. chips to buy behind the bar.
You wouldn't like it here anyway for reasons you previously cited, by number.
1. you're supposed to tip $1 per pint pulled. period.
2. you should try yoga
I too feel the same way. A pinball cafe should not serve coffee, should serve beer, only at the bar, and look nice, not bright, dark and cosy (sp) and most of all should not have pinball (what a stupid gimmick!).
frickin moron. what does it matter where you drown yourself in alcohol
yeah I've done yoga. I don't tip for that either.
Let's see you open on the place you've described above-I'll bet that it would go out of business in a month, tops. Mostly because it's the same kind of bar as all of the other bars in Parkdale.
Maybe everyone here is too pumped up on espresso.
Good luck pinball cafe. I like pinball a lot! just giving an honest first impression. and ranting about pubs and coffee. probably not relevant. but I seemed to have hit a nerve.
can I have a free game of pinball too?
You have to stay in business and make money, so think about what you're doing. Have lots of high margin munchies for people to soak up the caffeine, sweets, chocolates, sandwiches too?
I can't wait to come! See you soon. Thanks so much.
I already have to bite my tongue as I pass throw a crowd of drunks (Grace Place) after getting off the streetcar every night...
For the record, I've been to the Pinball Cafe, and I loved it (and I...respect pinball?? I'm impressed that you managed to make pinball elitist.) I would still prefer to enjoy a pint of tasty local beer.
Does anyone ever tip service staff at your grocery store? They are lucky if they make $12/hr, put up with the same crap from the general public yet no one thinks they deserve extra cash.
Wouldn't this debate go away if you paid your staff a half decent wage to begin with? But this is another thread. I wonder how many serves would want to renegotiate the current situation, to go to hourly wage vs hourly + tips.
Glad to see the place open and i'm trying to get some coworkers to join me on a coming Friday night for pinball. =D
(if I had to make one complaint, if only you where more downtown, then I could go every night =P).
Wouldnt normally make suggestions coz its your business but Id really like to see it succeed so...Hot dogs and/or pogos go well with pinballs. Maybe one of those compact rotisserie things. I love dogs kids love dogs. You seem to have space for more candy - never too much retro candy get it as sugar mountainish as you can we stock up for stuff to take home when we go to candy stores and I'm guessing profit margin is pretty good. If you get licensed its no big deal. There used to be a neighbourhood bar with pinballs and video games I'd take my kids to. Just charge a lil extra to keep the roughnecks away they already have their places.
Oh, and my faves - El Dorado (best ever) Close Encounters, Evel Kneivel. Volley, Bucameer. The Gottlieb machines with J Morrison artwork were my favourites.
Good Luck and we'll seeya!
PC, well done. Serve local pints, and don't sell out to any of those large breweries, as it's crap beer, and they will own you. Get micros.
All the games had something broken on them (drop target not functioning, broken ramp on Diner, loose flipper). Told the guy who is always in there (owner?) about the broken ramp, he wasn't particularly nice or polite about it, and seemed like he was on drugs or drunk. Weird vibe.
Really sad, as I really wanted this place to succeed, wish that there was other places to play pinball in the area, especially ones where I could grab a pint in the evening.
They price their machines very reasonably having a few .50 retro machines in the mix if you are blowing through your loonies too quickly.
As a pinball collector/restorer I get a real bang at listening to the reactions/commentary of some of the people that drop in and it's amazing how well received pinball is even today!
Keep up the good work and maybe get in more stuff to sell for revenue (ie: t-shirts, resale old machines, knick knacks, novelty treats, etc).