The Antisocial Pinball Lounge at 570 Bloor St. W. has recently opened its doors to raving reviews. Boasting the largest collection of publicly accessible pinballs and pairs of flippers in Canada, with 72 playable machines and more on the way, the new arcade is unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else in the city.
“The amount of machines and the quality of the machines are second to none in the city. There are good pinball places in the city, but none of them carry this high level of machine. Certainly the largest (pinball arcade) I’ve ever been to,” said Howard Pressburger, a patron, manager at the Wiener’s Home Hardware, and professional pinball player and aficionado. “Unlike other places in the city that have more of a party atmosphere, Antisocial is more of a place where you can go to play some excellent pinball,” he added.
Pinball is long past its heyday, but that doesn’t mean it’s a dead game by any means. Within the city, the Annex, and specifically in the basement of Antisocial, pinball is experiencing a cult resurgence with demand for the vibrant-neon, lively plinks of steel against glowing bumpers. Despite the activity having its peak player base in the 80s, there has been a cultural shift in recent years, what Steve, owner and curator of Antisocial, calls a “retro movement.”
“People are looking for something different. This is kind of a whole new form of entertainment. Pinball machines have been perfected now with new technology. The ones that are made now are far more advanced than the ones from 40 years ago. They’ve never been better than they are now. [We are] bringing back that fun experience and reintroducing it to a new generation.”
Antisocial prides itself on quality and quantity. Unlike other arcades, where it may be daunting to spend money on a game you could very well lose, and your cash too, Antisocial has a one-time entrance fee of $20 for a night’s worth of pinball. Play, learn, and win to your heart’s content down at the Antisocial Pinball Lounge on Bloor.
—Ben Hohener/Gleaner News
