A recent arcade dedicated to pinball and classic games opened its doors in Vancouver on Saturday, offering over 60 pinball machines spanning from 1975 to 2022. VanCity Pinball & Arcade, located near the intersection of Venables Street and Commercial Drive, is the realization of owner Angelo Muro’s long-held ambition.
Muro, who spent over a month preparing the 3,000-square-foot space, described the weeks leading up to the opening as involving 80-hour work weeks and the relocation of numerous heavy machines. The arcade also features classic arcade games, a foosball table, and four-person sit-down games, alongside a collection of vintage posters and promotional materials.
The selection of pinball machines includes popular titles such as The Addams Family, Medieval Madness, Attack from Mars, Twilight Zone, Monster Bash, Indiana Jones, and Lord of the Rings. According to Muro, friends who previewed the completed arcade were deeply moved by the scope of the collection, reacting with stunned silence upon entering the space.
Pinball Vancouver, a local organization dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of pinball, notes that collections of this depth are rare, even among private enthusiasts. The group focuses on maintaining quality machines in accessible locations and actively works to “keep pinball for the people.” They also offer services such as machine vending, rentals for events and home use, and repair services for 1990s and newer machines in the Lower Mainland.
The opening of VanCity Pinball & Arcade adds to the growing number of locations in British Columbia where pinball enthusiasts can find public machines, as tracked by the British Columbia Pinball Map. The map is a user-updated resource for locating pinball machines throughout the province.
