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Pinball Long Island: More Than a Retro Arcade

Exploring Pinball Long Island

Pinball Long Island’s popularity was on display during a recent Saturday afternoon visit. More than 70 of the venue’s 100 or so machines were on the floor for use by a crowd that ranged in age from 7 to 70-plus. Some, including my tweenage daughters, were new to pinball. Others, like myself, who remember arcade fun, delighted in a trip back to a time before video games.

Those familiar with Patchogue, in south-central Suffolk County, might remember the space occupied for years by Paradise Bridals along Main Street (Montauk Highway). Pinball Long Island began work in 2022 to repurpose the facility. Its proprietor, Josh Guskin, 40, is a longtime arcade game aficionado who decided it was “to have his own space.”

The site now includes all the bells, whistles, and noise patrons might expect from such a gathering place. The storefront is narrow but deep enough to accommodate 100-plus players.

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Get the whole family in on the pinball action.

Pinball games have long mimicked elements of popular culture, and there are games drawn from rock music, iconic television shows, comic books, and, of course, movies. There are new, state-of-the-art LCD machines with multicolored animation and video content as well as vintage electromechanical games with chiming bells and rotating score wheels. So even if you’re too young to recall the classic Who anthem "Pinball Wizard," you will still find plenty to entertain you.

“It’s a social activity, it’s nice to get that back again,” Guskin said, “and in pinball, no two games are exactly alike. What makes it amazing is there are elements of physics and interactivity involved. The word I use is immersive.”

Guskin curated the entire collection of games from pinball sources across the country. Included is a 1970s-era game “Surf Champ,” acquired from the estate of art legend Andy Warhol. There are also games inspired by television shows such as The Sopranos, CSI, and 24; bands such as Led Zeppelin and KISS; movie franchises such as Indiana Jones and Star Wars; and more. The space is designed to easily locate any theme machine. Guitars mounted on the walls point the way to the music-based games; movie posters identify film-based games; and framed comic books sit above–you guessed it–comic book games. A separate area in the rear of the facility houses vintage games, from as far back as the 1960s.

“A lot of parents are saying thank you to us for getting their kids to stop staring at their iPads and for pulling them away from their devices for a little while,” Guskin said. “We have absolutely heard that.”

It is worth noting that sensory-sensitive children might be put off by the noise and the bright and pulsating lights emanating from some of the games–not to mention the occasional cheer from an enthusiastic patron. Guskin says plans are in place for special-needs and sensory-sensitive sessions. Pinball Long Island can accommodate parties and business events. “I’m looking to appeal to as many people as I can while supporting my community,” Guskin, a Patchogue resident, says. “It’s a welcome-all place.”

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Pinball Long Island is decorated with comic books. 

Admission and Inside Tips

Pinball Long Island is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 2pm-10pm; Saturdays from noon-10pm; and Sundays from noon-7pm. Admission is a flat fee of $20 for adults and $10 for children 10 and younger for unlimited play. There is no need to bring pockets full of quarters. The busiest times of the week by far are Fridays and Saturdays after 5pm. The most up-to-date information on schedule changes, updates, and more can be found on Pinball Long Island’s Facebook and Instagram pages. There is no public phone number as of now.

Getting Here and Parking

Pinball Long Island is located at 48 West Main Street in Patchogue, not far from Nicolls Road in Blue Point to the west and Route 112 to the east. Anyone who spends time in the village would agree: Parking spaces are in short supply. Metered parking exists along Main Street and in several municipal lots nearby, but competition for spaces is keen. An alternative might be the Long Island Rail Road’s Patchogue station, which is just a short walk from the venue.

Food at Pinball Long Island

Here is where Guskin’s business model is interesting. Patchogue’s vibrant downtown is full of family-friendly restaurants, including Bobbique, That Meatball Place, the Irish restaurant James Joyce, Tex-Mex from Del Fuego, and plenty more. There’s takeout or eat-in pizza at Donatina and Delfiore, and ice cream at Kilwin’s. Blue Point Brewing, the granddaddy of family-friendly Long Island breweries, is a few blocks to the west. Guskin believes Pinball Long Island can be a nice time-passer for families waiting for a table nearby. “It’s a great thing to do while you’re waiting,” he says.

Photos by the author