PJ's Pinball Museum in Culver City CA - CLOSING
James
City is closing. Slow sales in recent years have forced him to close
shop, but he will still be doing in home service calls and have a
limitted operation from his home base. I've known Pat for a lot of
years and he's seen this coming for a while, but to actually see the
place getting cleared out is sad and a sign of the times.
Pat congrats on having had your dream store and making a heck of a run
at it, and best of luck in the future. Hopefully someday you will
open a storefront again, and your machines will come back out of
storage.
Craig
I agree! I bought my very first game from Pat when I moved to Los
Angeles in 2000. I told him I would buy the game on one condition, if
he would let me come in after work and help around the shop so I could
learn how to repair pins myself. He agreed and we became good
friends. I was able to see the Pinball Museum in all of its glory and
just last week when all but 4 games remained. It was definitely sad,
but Pat has so much passion for pinball that I know eventually he will
be back. In the meantime if you are in So. Cal and need some work
done on your game, give Pat a call!
Zep77
the place and met PJ a couple months ago for one of the midnight
pinball nights he advertised on craigslist.
While i liked that the place existed,i have to say part of his problem
was that 90% or more of the games were older EM and not great
ones.Some were OK but most were duds and if you are looking to make
money and have an active arcade there is a very small crowd only
looking for mediocre EM's.
I kept meaning to go back but never got motivated because of the game
lineup,and i'm not even looking for games from the last 20 years
(which is where the money is).i like games from 77-85 which are cheap
enough to have in a place like that,all he had that i can remember was
Xenon.
I wish him well and hope he opens up somewhere else,i would suggest
updating his lineup at least to SS machines if he does.
Mike
Del
Mike,
Someone here posted a while back about how they put a restored EM next
to a DMD Pinball on location & the EM was out-earning the SS game,
Everyone has their own flavor of what they like & If PJs was EMs there
is nothing wrong with that, I'm sure there are other factors that
caused him to close other than him being EM heavy .
Pin-Del,
cargpb28
frenchy
> was that 90% or more of the games were older EM and not great
> ones.Some were OK but most were duds >>
Which ones would you personally label as duds?
Shoot I didn't even know about this place and could have easily driven
there in an hour during the last 15 years.
Lloyd Olson
the word out.
I've been here close to 38 years, and still get people stopping in that
didn't know I was here.
And I do try and find out where they learn about my business and other
places of entertainment to try and find new ways of reaching new customers.
LTG :)
"frenchy" <mf10...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:975a85a1-1542-44c2...@p22g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
Lloyd Olson
quarter game will see more action than a seventy five cent one. Won't pay
the bills though.
Before the move, even the PHOF started migrating to newer games to cover
expenses. LTG :)
"Del" <delma...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ba02d5c1-5a1a-4f3a...@j8g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
Herb
> There wasn't much follow up on that place either. For the general public a
> quarter game will see more action than a seventy five cent one. Won't pay
> the bills though.
>
> Before the move, even the PHOF started migrating to newer games to cover
> expenses. LTG :)
>
>
> news:ba02d5c1-5a1a-4f3a...@j8g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
>
> Mike,
> Someone here posted a while back about how they put a restored EM next
> to a DMD Pinball on location & the EM was out-earning the SS game,
> Everyone has their own flavor of what they like & If PJs was EMs there
> is nothing wrong with that, I'm sure there are other factors that
> caused him to close other than him being EM heavy .
>
> Pin-Del,
> cargpb28
I could not deside if I wanted to say anything here or not but after
talking to my tech and friends I thought I would. I have know Pat for
many years and really did not care for him all that much. He was
always been nasty to me and my techs and my wife. I can tell you from
personal experience his work was not that great. My techs were always
going to redo work he had done. I am not surprised he closed down as
you cannot treat people the way he does or do work the way he does and
stay open. We have some great hall of fames out there that need to be
supported. But I donot wish hell on anyone so I do hope he finds
somethings that works for him.
If anyone needs work done in the LA area my tech Ken is available and
can repair anything. He goes pretty much everywhere north and south.
Call me and I will put you in touch with him.
Thanks
Herb
Fabulous Fantasies
818-761-2255
so
I didn't know about it either and I'm in SoCal.
scott
phishrace
Unless you've got a themed restaurant or bar connected to an EM heavy
arcade, it's not going to be profitable. Virtually every 'museum'
around (for profit or not) has modern games. I had to laugh last year
when the biggest complaint after the PPE was not enough modern games.
Good thing they don't give a pinball history pop quiz after the show.
There'd be a lot of F's on that quiz.
Also, property is very expensive out here. A stand alone arcade full
of modern games isn't even enough to pay the rent. You need to be a
non-profit or a touristy place.
Sucks that he's shutting it down, but at least it's not due to health.
Wish him the best of luck.
-phish
phishrace
Do you and your techs have any games on location Herb?
-phish
Herb
>
> - Show quoted text -
Well we are all friends with one of the main operators who has games
in all the Bowling Alleys in the San Fernando Valley. Ken services
them and my other 2 guys do a few also. I have sold games to be put on
locations also. I also have put vintage games in many of the Hall Of
Fames in the US and Europe. Tim has some of my prototypes at his place
in Vegas. I have a few games in New Jersy also. Some of the people are
great and will do anything to help you. Tim is one of my favorites. I
did 4 shows in Vegas with money going to him. When KOD comes out in a
few weeks we will have a show at his place to help him again. I plan
to put a few in the Hall of Fames in a few countries.
Herb
Todd S.
A show in Vegas again? Awesome News!
Todd S.
The reason I went to PPE was for the VAST selection of EM's since you
can play the modern games almost anywhere.
Q
there (and it was never open on regular hours), the person running it
was more interested in showing me his not-for-sale collection (which
you couldn't play) than actually talking pinball shop.
dcerny
Any word James (or Pat if you're reading this) on if there will be a
going away party or are the games already packed up and moved out?
I attended and enjoyed several of his open house Friday play nights he
started doing back late last year. I tried to do my part advertising
them via email to friends, on Facebook as well as here on RGP. Sadly
attendance was never much more than me and a couple buddies. The last
time we made the trip, we showed up and found the lights were already
off. Guess we got there too late.
Really sorry to hear this news. Pat had a great collection that he
graciously, in some part, rotated from week to week. Even if I could
count the players on one hand, we were all happy to be there playing
pins you'd never see on location anywhere else.
Thanks for the hospitality Pat- sorry to hear the unfortunate news.
dan c
Jonny O
My anecdotal experience over the last two years is there are a few EMs
that attract, but mostly the crowd goes for the flash of the more
modern games. Generally by a big margin. The Modern room at PPM is
typically the most full.
As a gen-x'er, and knowing other gen x'ers who are into "alternative"
types of entertainment like pinball, we tend to gravitate towards the
DMD games.
Personally, I've grown to really enjoy the EMs and the history of
pinball, but I don't consider myself typical of the average visitor.
I think I played solidly for a year on DMDs before I even started
looking seriously at the EMs. Likewise, when I volunteer at playland
not at the beach, if I see players just randomly playing the EMs, I
take a few moments to point out some of the interesting scoring
features, for example, how the gobble hole scores on San Francisco.
The most popular EM I've seen by far is Travel Time. The unlimited
balls and simple gameplay is very popular. I often have to explain
how the game works (that your goal is to keep time on the clock while
scoring), but when I do, they come back for even more. Another
popular one is Hokus Pokus, one of my favorites. Very simple layout
and straightforward shots but there's something really addictive about
the game that keeps people coming back.
pat sheehy
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thanks to all who came by Pjs Pinball and Friday Night Pinball
I hoped i helped alot of you by either repairs or sales over the last
15 years but decided to take a break from the full time job of having
a store. I will contiue doing repairs.
I am suprised to see the comment put in by Herb Silvers, So Herb you
little pusssy ,i never bad mouth you in public or to prior custmorers
that you had,,,,, but if thats the way you want to go,
lets start with how you ripped off Larry Zeidman from LA SLOTS for
$18000 in the bogus deal for those obselete aristrocrat slot machines
and how you never paid him back.
You also complain about how i do repairs, first you dont even know how
to fix a game, thats why have that retart working for you, your to
busy working how to scam your next victim on overpriced pimped out
unorginal pinballs .
The people at CA Robinson give me the referals because
they know i am honest and fair and not a crook like you.
And when you couldnt make it on your own, you tried to do a
partnership with Orange county games, and that didnt last because one
of the partners (Rick) kicked your sorry ass out because He found out
what a scheming doshbag you really are.
Needless to say any body that has encontered you,or anyone that is in
business with you of any kind, Knows by now what a scumbag you really
are. and you are nothing but a detrment to pinball world.
Go Brush your ugly GREEN teeth scumbag.
Pat Sheehy
Rare Hero
Greg
Herb
> ***munching popcorn*** ...this is about to get awesome.
>
> Greg
Not really guys. I have nothing to say to Pat he knows what he has
done to me and I frankly will not put up with his fits and calls all
hours of the day. He mean nothing to me. I just feel bad for my
friends and techs who has been putting up with his fits for months.
This will end very shortly. He pissed off someone he should not
have.Have fun Pat.
Herb
TomVila
Rare Hero
> Did ya see the CL ad??? Wow...
>
> http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/clt/1865336771.html
Tip of the day, for Pat - It's "douchebag", "weenie", and
"valley" ...carry on. :)
Greg
pat sheehy
Yeah like i am scared of you herb , you dont have the Balls to face
me, because you are as yellow as your teeth, you always have been, you
know where i am at, but once again your the coward , always need to
involve others to back you. pussy
pat sheehy
Eat me
pat sheehy
Herb has screwed everyone but his wife, no wounder she his always so
moody.
Dylan
fuckers have huge egos and bickering that prevents you from running
sucessful businesses.
Im 25 and I am still looking for a venue to host my collection of
games, I know there are people like myself who want desperately to
bring pinball back into the mainstream.
Forget gary stern and wayne gillard and all you other old farts who
have taken pinball and ground it into the dirt.
pat sheehy
Say what friendo
Frank J
positive with your experience.
Herb - you are part of a new company trying to revive pinball, but
send out a personal attack in a public forum?? How unprofessional!
I'll bet your investors want to smack you good for all the positive
publicity.
I'm just glad you both are 1000 miles away. I don't want to do
business or play pinball with either of you.
Frank - SE Wisconsin
Lloyd Olson
You are 25 and looking for a venue for your collection ? You need to find
that venue, run it for 25 years, then come back here and post about the
crotchety old fuckers. LTG :)
"Dylan" <dyland...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:43e1dcc1-4a7d-49c2...@v6g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
tarzan
The spelling nazi is back!
Jeff Rivera (jar155)
This sort of back and forth bickering sucks. I get that Pat is upset
about losing his location and I'm sure he was very passionate about it
and it's making him far more emotional than normal, but he didn't fire
the first shot. However, even if you take the first blow, you kind of
need to respond with appropriate levels or else it undermines anything
and everything you say in your own defense. Nothing is being gained
here by the parade of swearing, bad spelling, and name calling. Just
call it a day and move on.
With that said, it's always disappointing to see another pinball
location go dark. Pat, good luck with future endeavors and hopefully
you can make it work out in a future time and place.
Ron Strom
with a big ego who thinks he knows everything there is to know and is
jealous of all the "crotchety old fuckers" on the group that are already
running very successful businesses.
--
Ron -- CARGPB7 - ron...@hothouse.net (Change the hot to ice to email)
In article <OLGdnYCmt7h9R9PR...@skypoint.com>,
l...@ssbilliards.com says...
Dylan
> You'll have to excuse him Lloyd. He's just a crotchety young asshole
> with a big ego who thinks he knows everything there is to know and is
> jealous of all the "crotchety old fuckers" on the group that are already
> running very successful businesses.
> --
You would probably fall under that title of crotchety old fuck-rag.
yeah im jealous of the succesful businesses that are closing down, did
you even read the thread idiot?
No you missed my point entirely, my point was about frustration over
operators, arcade owners, and the last few pinball companies, who have
no new ideas and let petty bickering stop them from running their
business properly.
Anyone who is running their arcade like it was still 1993 is going to
eventually fold up.
A good business model for having a classic pinball / video game arcade
would be something like our own Ground kontrol in portland
( www.groundkontrol.com)
Lloyd Olson
>
> You would probably fall under that title of crotchety old fuck-rag.
>
You talking to Ron Strom or me ? If me, I'm not a "crotchety old fuck-rag",
I'm an asshole. Went pro a few years ago. Big difference.
> yeah im jealous of the succesful businesses that are closing down, did
> you even read the thread idiot?
Again, me or Ron ? If me, why yes I did in fact read the thread. One place
closing and two guys arguing, that 99.9% of the pinball world will never
know about, and another 5 billion people on the planet will never know about
either. Hardly anything to be upset about.
>
> No you missed my point entirely, my point was about frustration over
> operators, arcade owners, and the last few pinball companies, who have
> no new ideas and let petty bickering stop them from running their
. business properly.
No need for frustration, one place closing, that tried EM's ( something
different if not entirely new ) and is closing because of other reasons,
not the bickering. Unless you are blaming Pat and Herb for every mistake
made in coin op in the last 20 years ?
>
> Anyone who is running their arcade like it was still 1993 is going to
> eventually fold up.
> A good business model for having a classic pinball / video game arcade
> would be something like our own Ground kontrol in portland
> ( www.groundkontrol.com)
Yes Ground Kontrol is nice. Now you posted you are looking for a venue for
your equipment ( see I read the post ) what will you name it, will you model
it after Ground Kontrol ? And what year will you be running it like ?
Obviously not 1993, but perhaps you have another favorite year ? When will
you open ? LTG :)
Dylan
I wont be opening any place of my own, I dont see myself being able to
sustain. I would rather piggyback onto another restaurant bar / event
center that is already sucessful.
Not for profitablity either, I doubt the money made off of my pinballs
would be much more than the cost of maintaining them.
I would do it solely for the hobby. Hopefully the business owner would
be someone who appreciates pinball enough to help keep them in good
shape.
If I ever had enough start up money I would love to open something
similar to ground kontrol, but maybe with an added feature or two.
Dylan
crotchety ol fucker, except maybe wayne gillard... but thats another
story.
phishrace
[never thought I'd say this to someone who lives in Portland]
You need to move. Portland is loaded with location pins with plenty of
good ops running them.
You should consider moving to Culver City. I hear a location recently
closed there. I'm sure your pins would be appreciated. d;^)
-phish
phishrace
George Carlin actually preferred to be called an old fuck, rather than
old man.
-phish... NOW GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
Amigoid
> "Dylan" <dylandupl...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
So, if you want to set up one in the Denver Metro, I can line up some
minimum wage staffers, some reputable repairmen for on call, and send
you some ideas for locations, depending on what you are looking for
(proximity to large draws, foot traffic, low cost but off the beaten
path, what?),
Dylan
>
> [never thought I'd say this to someone who lives in Portland]
>
> You need to move. Portland is loaded with location pins with plenty of
> good ops running them.
>
> You should consider moving to Culver City. I hear a location recently
> closed there. I'm sure your pins would be appreciated. d;^)
>
> -phish
thankfully im not in portland, im in eugene, and we have nowhere to
play except mcshanes bar which holds only 3 pins. (afm FT T3)
Im thinking eugene is a sleeper city needing to be re-introduced to
pinball again to get it going, we carry the same types of retro loving
geeks here who just need a good place to play.
We used to have 3 arcades in eugene, two wunderlands and a place
called "tilt"
Wunderlands have long ago vanished, and the "tilt" which was once a
bustling arcade in the mall, is now moved from its original location
to what must have been a broom closet, with a couple redemption games
and driving games. Funny its still called "tilt" and theres not one
single pinball in there.
Mcshanes holds tournaments once a month, but with only 3 pins, and
mcshanes is way off the beaten path almost out of town. So no one
really wants to go.
