Beyond the Typical Game Room: Toronto’s Arcade and Pinball Revival

Toronto is experiencing a full-blown arcade and pinball machine renaissance, fueled by communities of players who share a love for the coin-op experience. Though a trickle of new machines continue to emerge on the scene, retro arcade and pinball machines make up the bulk of today’s “barcades” — the slang term for establishments that serve alcohol alongside retro-gaming goodness.

A decade ago, it seemed as though Toronto was ready to bid farewell to traditional video game and pinball arcades. Funland, one of the city’s longest-enduring arcades, had decided to cash out. It had stood at the intersection of Yonge and Gould, close to the iconic Sam the Record Man, for nearly 50 years (and in fact, endured for a year longer).

Arcade machines have certainly been around before and after Funland — a World Cup Soccer pinball machine here, a Galaga cabinet there — but municipal bylaws have made it particularly hard for arcades to exist in certain pockets of the city. Zoning bylaw No. 438-86 prohibits certain establishments from operating more than two pay-for-play machines at a single location.

That didn’t stop people from trying. In 2011, The Pinball Cafe opened in Parkdale, much to the delight of pinball fans. However, it was forced to close its doors just shy of two years later. It had failed to secure the appropriate exemptions as well as a proper business license. In order to sidestep the zoning issue, newer arcades have experimented with alternative models, such as charging a small entrance fee or simply operating the games on free play.

Building the ultimate game room

Despite its short existence, The Pinball Cafe had an impact on Joe Ciaravino. Then in his late 20s, Ciaravino says he had only played a “smattering” of pinball games before discovering the short-lived institution.

“I was like ‘Oh my God, pinball is really back?’ I forgot about pinball, you know?” He said.

Ciaravino was hooked. After the cafe closed, he purchased his first pinball machine, Sorcerer, for $800. He joined a competitive league, City Pinball, and won his first tournament at the Junction City Music Hall.

“I won $80 worth of free meat from Soloway’s and I was hooked,” Ciaravino said.

He continues to play in the league, which is now hosted at Cabin Fever, a west-end bar favoured by diehard pinball players because of its well-maintained machines.

Cabin Fever’s owner, Robyn Harrison, never intended to open a pinball bar. When she initially opened, five and a half years ago, it was a vinyl record shop.

“It was a record store, then I added a coffee shop to it, and then I added a liquor license,” says 35-year-old Harrison.

Shortly after posting her liquor license application, she was approached by Playdium (which has since re-branded as Player One Amusements) to host a pinball machine. It was the first machine she had ever played.

“It was a Stern Rolling Stones … it was an awful game, just awful. But it got me into it,” Harrison says.

Cabin Fever now features a rotating lineup of nine pinball machines, as well as several arcade games. The machines and games now form a key part of Harrison’s business.

“You become a destination by having the games here, so a lot of my regulars are from the east end, or the Beaches or they live at Yonge and Eglinton, but they make the trip here because it’s something to do for an evening. It’s a destination and it takes away that kind of ‘what do we do tonight’ guesswork.” Harrison adds that this larger appeal is why she continues to remain popular and sustainable.

“If you’re just a regular neighbourhood pub, you’re basing it on people that live in a pretty small radius around you and hoping they support you,” she said. “This allows me to reach out to a larger demographic. I don’t have to worry so much about a quiet Sunday, because I’ve got a league that’s coming in, and then I’ve got an all-you-can-play Tuesday, and then I have a match-play tournament that’s happening, and my weekends are always busy.”

416cade: Where to Find Arcade and Pinball Machines in Toronto

To celebrate the arcade revival, Zolo News has created 416cade, a map of all public-facing arcade and pinball machines across Greater Toronto.

How to use 416cade

416cade shows every logged machine within a 15-mile radius. By default, the map is centred on downtown Toronto. Enter your address into the map search bar or click a point on the map to change the search area.

Keep in mind, 416cade is an ongoing, open-source project. Machines have a tendency to rotate in and out of locations. We suggest contacting an establishment first before seeking out a specific machine.

View Machines on Map

METHODOLOGY

The list has been created through a combination of in-person verification, primary sources (for example, establishment websites and social media accounts) and secondary sources ( such as Pinballin’ in The Big City: Toronto Pinball Map and the Canadian Public Pinball Tracker. Both are excellent resources with in-depth information, and we encourage you to check them out.)

Every effort is made to maintain the accuracy and currency of this list. If you spot an error, out-of-date listing or would like to add a new machine to the list, please to let us know.

David Weisz

Toronto-based David Weisz specializes in data-driven journalism. Prior to joining Zolo, he worked at the Toronto Star, Queen's Park Briefing and Global News. He teaches data journalism at Humber College and the University of Toronto Munk School of Global Affairs' Fellowship in Global Journalism.