Before the hands of every kid were glued to their iPod touches and Nintendo DSes and before two Italian plumbers fought to save princesses, there was a time when gaming was a somewhat more social activity. Husband-and-wife team Rachel and Jason Hazzard (yes, that is their real last name) are trying to bring arcades back. The plan: The Pinball Café, a family destination on West Queen West where kids and kids-at-heart can play old favourites like Supersonic (1979) and new favourites like an AC/DC -themed game (2012). Currently, they offer drip coffee ($2), espresso-based drinks (cappuccinos and lattes, $3), home-style sweets (baked by Rachel and her friends), root beer floats ($4.50) and chocolate, strawberry and vanilla milkshakes ($5.00). Rachel, who trained as a chef at George Brown, also plans to start making gourmet versions of classic sandwiches such as roasted chicken with pesto and curried egg salad.
The long, narrow room is neatly divided between café and arcade. The front of the room is painted a vibrant yellow, and sports neon green chairs, whereas the back of the room is, appropriately, a little darker. Indeed, it’s easy enough to go through a fistful of quarters before noticing that the sun’s no longer streaming in through the front window. There are currently nine pinball machines, the oldest of which is the 38-year-old Skylab. Most of the older machines have what the Hazzards have dubbed “personality,” but it’s hard to complain when the majority of them only cost a quarter to play. The AC/DC game costs a little more to play ($1), but high score earners have the opportunity to win AC/DC swag (although Jason’s 71, 327, 940 score might intimidate some).
When the Hazzards opened, they were dead-set against the idea of serving alcohol, but it turns out pinball nostalgists are a boozy bunch. The current plan is to try for a liquor license, and to only serve beer and wine after a yet-to-be decided hour (probably 6:00 p.m.), in order to maintain a family-friendly vibe during the day. Other changes on the horizon include a basement reno that will channel the gritty Yonge Street arcade vibe of the ’80s. Downstairs would be home to 8-bit games such as Asteroids, which is currently residing upstairs; we hope to see Space Invaders, Tron and Street Fighter and other vintage favourites soon.
117807 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball_intro.jpg 656 440 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball_intro/ feb12pinball_intro 0 0
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117823 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Monday is Scrabble night Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball15/ feb12pinball15 0 0
Monday is Scrabble night
117810 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Yes, there Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball3/ feb12pinball3 0 0
Yes, there
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117819 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Pinball Café owners Rachel and Jason Hazzard Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball12/ feb12pinball12 0 0
Pinball Café owners Rachel and Jason Hazzard
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117817 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball10/ feb12pinball10 0 0
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117815 (Image: Caroline Aksich) And the acolytes Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball8/ feb12pinball8 0 0
And the acolytes
117812 (Image: Caroline Aksich) The glorious machines themselves Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball5/ feb12pinball5 0 0
The glorious machines themselves
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117827 (Image: Caroline Aksich) The fully restored 1973 Wurlitzer Americana jukebox is on free play. The first song on the play card: “Pinball Wizard” by The Who, of course Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball20.jpg 400 600 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball20/ feb12pinball20 0 0
The fully restored 1973 Wurlitzer Americana jukebox is on free play. The first song on the play card: “Pinball Wizard” by The Who, of course
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117824 (Image: Caroline Aksich) This little number, from Hideaway Antiques, is nicknamed Elvira Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball16/ feb12pinball16 0 0
This little number, from Hideaway Antiques, is nicknamed Elvira
117813 (Image: Caroline Aksich) The posters on the wall are actually backsplashes from old pinball machines. “Pinball’s all about T and A, except for the space ones,” Rachel told us Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball6/ feb12pinball6 0 0
The posters on the wall are actually backsplashes from old pinball machines. “Pinball’s all about T and A, except for the space ones,” Rachel told us
117826 (Image: Caroline Aksich) The Hazzards have a tendency to assign nicknames to inanimate objects. This espresso machine is Gina Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball19/ feb12pinball19 0 0
The Hazzards have a tendency to assign nicknames to inanimate objects. This espresso machine is Gina
117811 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Owner (and George Brown–trained chef) Rachel Hazzard Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball4/ feb12pinball4 0 0
Owner (and George Brown–trained chef) Rachel Hazzard
117809 (Image: Caroline Aksich) The front room is bright, with yellow walls and neon green chairs Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball2/ feb12pinball2 0 0
The front room is bright, with yellow walls and neon green chairs
117808 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Looking into the neon space from Queen West Introducing: The Pinball Café https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/feb12Pinball1.jpg 400 600 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-the-pinball-cafe/slide/feb12pinball1/ feb12pinball1 0 0
Looking into the neon space from Queen West
The Pinball Café, 1662 Queen St. W., 416-402-7932, thepinballcafe.com
Looking forward to checking out the Pinball Cafe with my kids. I’m young enough to remember when video games arrived but old enough to remember when pinball machines were all there was.
I find it odd though that the proprietors feel that serving alcohol will take away the family vibe. Why can’t a beer for dad and wine for mom be combined with milkshakes for the kids?
I don’t have to drink alcohol when I’m out with my kids but if it’s on the menu, I might imbibe and never think that it somehow detracts from it being a “family” outing.
Two things are required to make this place perfect:
1. Adams Family pinball machine
2. Galaga
Otherwise it looks AWESOME!
Sorry that should be Addams Family.
I’m too excited to type properly.
went to a joint like this 40 years ago.. only then it was called a sub shop..
So excited for this! We’re presently living in Daegu, South Korea and coming back home in April to a land of no arcades has been a depressing thought. This is going to awesome! They’re going to have to eventually serve booze though.
isn’t this just a jazzed up version of those italian & portuguese coffee/shop dive bars?