Pinnie Parlors?

[Richyrich]

With the growing interest in Australia of Pinball
Can the  Pinnie Parlor ever make a serious comeback
Or is it really just the home market that will thrive?

[Strangeways]

I had a plan years ago to have one of the storage buildings (actually a shopfront) converted into an old style Diner (fake) with a wall full of EMs and SS machines. I planned on having 20 machines set to 20 cents a game and only have the place opened on Weekends. As I started preparing the machines, people showed interest - but the "interest" was in BUYING the games, not playing them on weekends. Out of the 7-8 games I actually finished, only one was not sold. It was clear to me that this generation want the pinballs in their gamesroom, not in a "Parlour" like the old days. I "hope" it would make a comeback, but I don't think anyone will ever try it on a grand scale.

The home market is where the future lies. At the moment, there is more supply than demand. Collectors and enthusiasts are a LOT MORE fussy and knowledgable than they were 5 years ago. Gone are the days of overpriced pinballs.

[Damien]

The biggest issue no one is prepared to put there hand in their pocket and build one
And the cost is considerable!

Nino you could have said no.. and sold none of the games and opened the venue anyway.

if the only way to play that game is to put in a coin, some one will..

[Pop Bumper Pete]

No
with a rule-set to learn , who would want to pump in $20 before they learn how to play

Also, most pinball owners are 30yo+, that age group probably does not want to hang around in an arcade

[ajlaird]

The Pinnie Parlour is assigned to history.

Finny was going to open something like one, but unfortunately the building caught fire before the place got a chance to open. Given the restoration standard of the machines, it may have worked as a venture, but I suspect more on the cafe side than through people pumping coin through the machines. We may never know. Would I have attended? Probably a couple of times a year, but I doubt more than that. You can play for free at the dealer showrooms and I have my own machines at home.

What will work, I believe, is Australia's own pinball museum. If you can hang out at a venue all day playing pinball from all eras instead of having to endure rollercoasters and similar rides, I know what I would choose!

[goodolddays]

+1 to the pinball museum .. can't see pinnie parlours making a comeback for reasons others have said

[m-rots]

A Pinnie Parlour .......thats history.

A pinball museum sounds like ......sssssssssst be quiet.

I think something like a ''club'' has a chance.

A big space with about 100 to 200 pinball machines set up.
A membership card/visitors pass.(all pinballs on free play)
A couple of tent/caravan site's and cabin's around it (for people from far away)

Or something like that.

[Caveoftreasures]

I voted yes, but only cause I plan on putting 30 or 40 DMD pinballs in a commercial building on the Gold Coast and having a bar/cafe/steakhouse type of deal.

It may take me another year or two, but i will eventually make it work. The business/place will not be profit dependant so it will iether make money or it will just be a place for pinheads to meet up, drink, eat a steak etc.

The only way anyone will ever get a "pinny parlour" up n running, is if they tie it in to something else that will be fun for people to come to.
If Sizzler had a decent games room for example, dads n kids would play the machines etc whilst waiting for dinner, and after dinner. But a pinny place without food and another draw card or two wouldnt work for lack of dollars in the front door.

Everyone likes a drink from the bar, a nice steak and a game or two on pinball, plus a jukebox and foxtel playing on a few large screens. Thats a modern Pinball Parlour ! 

[tonyt]

The only way anyone will ever get a "pinny parlour" up n running, is if they tie it in to something else that will be fun for people to come to.

100% spot on. Think it would definetely work so long as it was not what you were relying on to cover expenses - so as you say a games room, separate section of a hotel, cinema etc.

[ddstoys]

The wife and I have discussed buying an empty shop string up a cafe with pinballs and a workshop out the back for me but there just dreams for once the house is payed off

[Strangeways]

The biggest issue no one is prepared to put there hand in their pocket and build one
And the cost is considerable!

Nino you could have said no.. and sold none of the games and opened the venue anyway.

if the only way to play that game is to put in a coin, some one will..

It is something I will definitiely revisit. I have a small building and a MUCH larger one at my disposal (in a year - I hope). These will be my own games that I've brought in already. My own personal collection will hopefully be able to be played by anyone and everyone.

[Richyrich]

I like the sound of that

Surely pins and a cafe would work?
Count me in

[MartyJ]

I like the sound of that

Surely pins and a cafe would work?
Count me in

Just no stairs Rich...

[Strangeways]

I like the sound of that

Surely pins and a cafe would work?
Count me in

In some countries (South America), a group of collectors rent a loft or basement and bring all their games so everyone can play each other's games. This is the idea I would work from. The place would have weekly meets for the collectors, and open up to the public on weekends. Imagine having four walls and 100 games ? That's my "dream".

[Richyrich]

spot on,Marty

Can not wait to move to a single story house