A brand new family-friendly vacation spot is now part of downtown Aiken, representing an enormous milestone within the lives of Eric and Erin Edwards, co-owners of Radioactive Pinball Arcade.
Doorways and flippers went into motion Saturday, Aug. 26 because the trade, at 113 Laurens St. S.W., had its grand opening, enjoying host to roughly 160 shoppers — “4 teams of 40,” in Erin’s phrases.
The Edwards’ established order provides shoppers the risk to check their wits and reflexes towards machines from way back to 1949, with the eldest of the bunch being a “3 Musketeers” system, from 1949, donated via native citizens Pal and Melody Brinkley. At the different finish of the spectrum is a “Foo Warring parties” recreation, a fabricated from 2023. The entire these days is 43 pinball machines and 30 arcade/video video games.
“I view this as somewhat bit of a museum, as a result of it is not in point of fact a bar, and it is not in point of fact a cafe,” mentioned Summerville resident Thaddeus Kasubinski, a self-described pinball and arcade collector.
“There may be a large number of puts available in the market nowadays which might be bar/eating places and can have pinball. This can be a really nice, curated choice of pinball machines, from brand-new stuff … all of the method going again to electro-mechanical pinballs,” he mentioned.
“You’ll get a soda. You can loosen up. It is great and funky. You are in a ancient construction. This can be a actual enjoy for anyone at any age. Does not topic who you’re or the place you come back from. That is what pinball’s all about. You move up, you press the button and also you play.”
Choices for attention come with machines devoted to Celebrity Trek (of the Kirk/Spock years), James Bond (“Dr. No”), Jurassic Park, Deadpool, Elvira, Celebrity Wars (in addition to “Stellar Wars,” a conceivable cousin) and “Stranger Issues.” Golfing fanatics with a humorousness would possibly admire “Teed Off,” an obvious salute to “Caddyshack,” entire with a gopher protecting a commanding view of the motion. Some video games are solely button-based, whilst others contain a guidance wheel or simulated handguns.
Caution indicators on the door word that parental discretion is suggested, because of some video games containing grownup language and subject matters, and in addition that the atmosphere could also be beside the point for folks with epilepsy or mild sensitivity, because of flashing lighting. Minors should have grownup supervision, and meals, beverages and pets (because of puppy allergic reactions) don’t seem to be allowed.
The trade, Erin famous, is “closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for upkeep, as a result of those machines require a large number of maintenance and must be wiped clean and polished and waxed.”
Dusty Holsonback, a nephew of the Edwards, was once a part of Saturday’s cleansing team, which is able to contain the rest from getting a pinball “unstuck” to acting elementary sanitation on a system that has been getting quite a few use.
Kara Harsey, a buyer from Beech Island, was once amongst Saturday’s prize-winners, as she bagged a certificates free of charge admission for a month. Talking on behalf of her family members workforce, she mentioned, “We in point of fact loved it. It was once nice … We had been stunned at what number of machines had been in right here.”
Eric mentioned the Godzilla system was once massively fashionable throughout the process the hole day. “I’ve now not long past via that system as soon as and now not noticed someone enjoying it,” he mentioned.
Amongst different names up in lighting had been Pac-Guy, Ms. Pac-Guy, House Invaders, Again to the Long run, The Munsters, Halloween, Centipede, Deadly Weapon 3, Tron, Metallica and Indiana Jones.
“There in point of fact is not the rest particularly like this,” Kasubinski mentioned, “as a result of a large number of puts, the alcohol comes first. Then the pinball’s subsequent. On this position, the pinball and the arcade comes first, after which if you wish to drink, you’ll be able to, so I in point of fact like that.”
Hours are 3:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3-10 p.m. Fridays, midday to ten p.m. on Saturdays, and midday to six p.m. on Sundays, and the power is to be had, when closed, for reserving personal events. Main points are at 803-373-1717.
