Visit to The Pinball Cafe in Toronto

[CheffoJeffo]

Had the opportunity yesterday to finally pay a visit to the newly-opened Pinball Cafe here in Toronto. Was out for a GeekGuy day with my sons, so we headed out in the nice weather to wander around hipster central, dropped in to the comic shop and then to TPC.

First, the good -- it is a nice, inviting spot with a decent roster of games to play. The games are all clean and working well.

Current rotation of games:

• AC/DC
• Transformers LE
• Iron Man
• NBA
• Comet
• Supersonic
• Mata Hari
• Asteroids mini
• 60-in-1 cocktail

The current Sterns all cost a looney ($1) to play, or 3 credits for a toonie (2$). Everything else was a quarter.

The game floor was moderately busy with 3-5 machines being occupied at any point in time (but a nice turn over in players so you weren't left lining up for any particular machine).

The menu is good with various coffees, baked goods, hotdogs (which received very favourable reviews from my kids), retro snacks and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages (include the classic PopShoppe staples).

Classic board games are available for use.

Now, the bad -- there isn't any. The closest we got was when my youngest got a ball stuck on an aftermarket mod to the NBA, but Jason came over within seconds, popped the lockbar and dropped the ball back to the shooter.

Nice place, nice games and really nice people.

If you are in the area, I recommend a visit.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1134203--pinball-cafe-in-parkdale-isn-t-shutting-down


EDIT: One caveat ... sometimes rather good players do come in and can run a machine for quite a while like, say, on Tournament Night. Actually, looking at the IM scores, I am feeling pretty good about my performance on that machine yesterday (I love pins and vids, but totally suck at playing them).

[vanrose72]

Thanks so much for sharing this, CheffoJeffo! I wish I had a place like this close to home. Glad you and your sons had a great time!

[Seith]

Toronto, eh?

My next trip down there will have to include a visit to this spot, for sure!

[CheffoJeffo]

I wish I had a place like this close to home.

What is funny (or stupid of me) is that I didn't realize that it is less than 15 minutes from my house.

I'm a telecommuter and just got a new ultrabook and LTE hotspot ... methinks I might have found a new place to work.

 

[menace]

mmmmmmmmm......blaaack cherrryyyy pop shoppe.....mmmmmmmmmmmm

[CheffoJeffo]

He lives!

As for the Black Cherry .... uh-frakkin-huh!

[CheffoJeffo]

It is with sadness, a heavy heart and furious anger that I pass along the following update from Jason at TPC.

The Pinball Cafe is CLOSED by order of The City of Toronto based on 1) Zoning By-law No. 438-86 and 2) Interim control By-law #2012

1) "pinball or electronic game machine establishment is not permitted. only 2 pinball or other mechanical or electronic game machines is permitted in a restaurant or place of amusement"

2) No person shall use any land, building or structure within the area delineated by heavy dark lines on Schedule “A”(Queen St. West between Dufferin and Roncesvalles), attached to and forming part of this by-law, for a restaurant, take-out restaurant, rear yard or rooftop patio, bake-shop, place of amusement, place of assembly or club.

Note: After agreeing to remove all but two pinball or gaming devices and operate only as a restaurant/bar our subsequent application for a business permit fell under the jurisdiction of the interim control bylaw and was denied.

Questions or concerns regarding this notice may be directed to Zoning Building Code Examiner Harris Ramrup at hramrup@toronto.ca (416)392-7631 or Councillor Gord Perks, Ward 14. councillor_perks@toronto.ca (416) 392-7919

Additionally, all monies collected in support of The Pinball Cafe's AGCO liquor sales permit application through the Indiegogo crowd funding platform will be refunded in full within one calendar year from today.

Rachel and Jason would like to thank everyone for their support and patronage over the course of the last year.

Long Live The Silver Ball.

 

[Nephasth]

1) "pinball or electronic game machine establishment is not permitted. only 2 pinball or other mechanical or electronic game machines is permitted in a restaurant or place of amusement"

WTF, not permitted in a place of amusement...

Customers can enjoy a sugar rush by buying Twinkies, The Pop Shoppe sodas, Baby Ruth bars or Milk Duds.

The Pinball Cafe has gone the way of the Twinkie...

[DeLuSioNal29]

So hopefully he can move his business elsewhere in a zone where it's permitted?

[CheffoJeffo]

He would still have the limit of two pinball machines and I don't think he is up for (emotionally or financially) any more battles with the city.

 

[spoot]

I'm trying to grasp the "logic" of two devices for a place of amusement.   

[brad808]

Seems like a pretty ridiculous "who really gives a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---" laws. Something that they feel the need to enforce even though the general public couldn't care less if he has 2 pinballs or 30 pinballs. I'm sure there is way more important things for our government to be doing then worrying about how many machines are in the pinball cafe 

Really sucks because I didn't get a chance to get down there yet and check it out yet because I live out of T.O. now.

[spoot]

They limit brothels to two hookers too?   

[Mental]

RIP Pinball Cafe. It's a sad day for pinball in Toronto.

[CheffoJeffo]

Well, as they say, it seems that there is more to the story. Had my messages for the city councilor returned and ...

Some of you have called me about the closure of the Pinball Cafe. Evidently, the owners have claimed that they were closed by order of the City of Toronto. I have confirmed today that The Pinball Cafe was not ordered closed by the City of Toronto. No City staff issued any order against the Cafe. In fact, according to Jason Hazzard, co-owner of the Cafe, this establishment has never had a business licence.

The owners had a zoning issue to overcome in order to get a licence. I met with the owners of the Pinball Cafe in February of this year and urged them to get a business licence and offered them suggestions for two possible ways to do this. They could apply to the Committee of Adjustment to allow for a “variance” from the zoning rules, or they could ask City Council to change the zoning of this property. It appears the owners did neither.

Evidently the owners also claim that the Interim Control Bylaw (ICB) controlling new business applications on Queen St. is to blame. To be clear the ICB cannot close a legally operating establishment.

I am sad to see Pinball go, but it was a decision of the owners to operate without a licence, and their decision to close.

Also a story in the Toronto Star saying the same thing.

And their Facebook page is gone, including the posting of the announcement (thus killing my link to it).

[mmmPeanutButter]

For those of you wondering what is happening with the games:

All of the shop’s pinball tables have already been sold, except for one: Pinbot, released in 1986 by Williams, the legendary pinball manufacturer. Hazzard is moving it into his living room. “It’s the greatest machine ever made,” he said. “According to me.”

It's funny see I just went there on Sunday for the first time and had a great time. Hopefully they can get past the 2 pinball rule and open up until the East end. Although I fear that there aren't enough hipsters in the East end.

Also, I'm back.

[CheffoJeffo]

And this thread brings yet another local back -- welcome (and, yes, that Atari Football project is still a project!).

[ChadTower]

Apparently the place was never licensed and the City of Toronto just shut them down.

Weird!

[TopJimmyCooks]

“We didn’t do our due diligence,” Mr. Hazzard admits.

First let me say i hate to hear about something like this and I hope they can get a new location, variance, whatever and keep going.  It sounds like they ran a nice shop that was probably a credit to the neighborhood.  Location pinball sucks around my area and I still support it whenever I find it. 

However, every commercial area has zoning laws, building codes, licensing requirements.  It sucks but it's a fact of life.  Here in Americana the rules are very similar to those described for Toronto Canadia.  Getting a zoning variance is a long, difficult process with public notices, and usually it only takes 1 or 2 neighbors bitching (other restaurant owners) to torpedo your effort.  Variances are not given lightly.  The Hazzards didn't know the things they needed to know to be in that business in that location. 

At least they came around and admitted they didn't follow the rules.  That will help the government officials expedite their case when they hopefully reopen elsewhere.  As a contractor I see both sides.  Planning boards want to keep their city safe and nice and see themselves as gatekeepers.  Business owners want to ply their trade with minimal interference, licensing, taxation - so there is a conflict of interest.  Most Planners want to help and serve the businesses while doing their job correctly.  (except the environmentalista types - they just don't want you to build anything period and can be pedantic about it.)

[ChadTower]

Where I live they hand out variances like door prizes.  Ask for one, hold an open meeting, nobody shows up, here's your variance. 

[brad808]

http://www.maaca.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11520

[BC_Jeffro]

saw a spot about this place on the Space Channel one time
to bad im on the other side of the contury