Classic arcade aims to appeal to all ages

Row upon row of pinball machines and arcade games line the walls and aisles at Pinballz Arcade, emitting a symphony of chimes, whistles, bells and jingles.

The arcade, which owners Darren and Mikki Spohn opened in November 2010, appeals to children and adults alike, the latter of which are usually delighted to find pinball games they played as children, Darren said.

"It's a unique hobby. We wanted to create a place where people could stay and play," he said.

The Spohns have kept Pinballz old-school, opting to have customers use tokens instead of plastic cards to swipe to play. Customers can still win tickets that they can trade in for prizes, ranging from Fortune Teller Fish and other knickknacks to stuffed animals and even an Xbox 360.

"A lot of entertainment centers and arcades are going out of business, but we're doing a different approach," Darren said.

The couple grew up in Pennsylvania and knew each other as children. Mikki's family had a pinball game, "Space Invaders," at home, and Darren had always played arcade games during summer vacations to the beach. In opening the arcade in Austin, the couple said they wanted to offer residents something different that was also family-friendly.

"It's a very niche market," Darren said.

A couple years of hard work and logging 80-hour work weeks has paid off. The Spohns said Pinballz Arcade is now self-sufficient with a staff of 25 employees. The Spohns are looking to open their second and third locations by the end of 2014.

"It's amazing how [the business] has evolved," Mikki said.

Darren said interest in Pinballz Arcade has picked up recently.

"It's really neat to see it proliferate through Austin," he said.

Classic games

Pinballz Arcade has more than 100 pinball machines and 200 other games tucked into 13,000 square feet. Most are vintage games—such as a 1965 pinball game called "Hula Hula" that has Plexiglas on the side to allow users to see the internal mechanisms—but new games are mixed in with old favorites like Skee-Ball and "Wheel of Fortune." Owner Darren Spohn said they find machines on eBay and even purchase many overseas, mainly in Italy and Australia. Once they get a new machine, Darren said staff restores the game, cleaning every part until it is like new. All machines in Pinballz Arcade are for sale, and the business does repairs and offers support services.

Parties and memberships

Whether it's a party of two or 500, Pinballz Arcade is able to host nearly any event. Co-owner Mikki Spohn said the business once hosted a wedding on Halloween where the couple's first dance was on the "Dance Dance Revolution" mat.

Pinballz also has several memberships available for customers, starting at $10 per month. Members get discount tokens, free merchandise and access to member-only parties. Darren said having a membership makes it more cost-effective for the business' regulars. "It's kind of like a community, a 'Cheers' bar. We know our regulars," he said. Pinballz also hosts tournaments and has themed nights, such as Time Warp Wednesdays.

Mikki's Replay Cafe

In January, the arcade expanded Mikki's Replay Cafe to offer more than just snacks. Customers can order hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, fish and chips, macaroni and cheese, and salads as well as vegetarian dishes. Opening the cafe's full kitchen was a two-year effort, but Mikki said the new menu has been well received because customers now do not have to leave for food. The couple is working to get licensed to serve beer and wine, but for now, the arcade is BYOB.

8940 Research Blvd., Ste. 100, 512-420-8458, www.pinballzarcade.com, Twitter: @pinballzarcade