Vancouver Pinball Enthusiast Opens Pop-Up Arcade in Historic Wedding Hall
On a typically cold and rainy Vancouver day, the atmosphere inside 1739 Venables Street is anything but dreary. The former wedding hall, located next to Commercial Drive, now pulsates with energy as pinball machines flash and video games emit their distinctive electronic sounds. This is VanCity Pinball and Arcade, the realization of a long-held dream for collector Angelo Muro.
A Collector's Dream Realized
Angelo Muro, a 42-year-old former electrical engineer at B.C. Hydro, has transformed the space into a temporary arcade paradise. With the building slated for demolition as part of a new development, Muro secured a two-year lease to test his vision. "It's a great way for me to do a test pilot to see if this really works," Muro explained. "Not a huge commitment."
The interior of the old hall is deliberately dark, allowing the brilliant colors of dozens of machines to dominate the space. Players flip away on 1970s pinball classics like Gottlieb's Incredible Hulk and Bally's Flash Gordon, while the sounds of pinball mechanisms blend with the pew-pew-pew and zzt-zzt-zzt of video game battles against alien invaders.
A Labor of Love
Muro has been working seven days a week to get the arcade operational, but his enthusiasm remains undiminished. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't love it," he said. "It's been very exciting." On a recent Friday afternoon, dozens of visitors paid $15 or more to experience the collection, suggesting his passion project is finding an audience.
In the midst of the electronic mayhem, Muro can often be found quietly maintaining his machines. Recently, he was seen wearing a headlamp as he buffed wax on a vintage Evel Knievel game, carefully checking flippers, sling shots, and saucer kickouts before reopening it to players.
The Collection
The current setup features an impressive 65 pinball machines and approximately a dozen video or arcade games. Nearly all come from Muro's personal collection of around 150 pinball machines. The oldest dates back to 1975, with the majority representing the 1990s through 2010s.
"The newest, latest and greatest are mostly at the American Bar And Pub on Main Street," Muro noted, explaining that he already operates a pinball machine business supplying local establishments. "And I've got a couple at Library Square downtown. They've got 10 machines."
Personal Connections
Muro grew up in Coquitlam and now lives in Burnaby, but he has a personal history with the Commercial and Venables location. "I've been here for many weddings," he recalled. "I talked to my Uncle Fernando, and he's like, 'Oh, I got married here.' It's really cool."
Interestingly, Muro didn't discover his passion for pinball until his twenties. "My friend got a machine, and that's how I got addicted," he explained. "We played for a bit, and it was fun, but nothing special. Then when something broke, we had to figure it out." That troubleshooting experience apparently sparked a deeper fascination that has now culminated in this ambitious pop-up arcade venture.
Two weeks into operation, VanCity Pinball and Arcade appears to be hitting the right notes with Vancouver's gaming community. As the electronic symphony of pinball bells and video game effects fills the historic space, Muro's test pilot project offers both nostalgia and novelty to visitors seeking entertainment on rainy Vancouver days.
