Ottawa Montreal Pinball Museum

[SoapyMule]

What's the story on this? Any updates for the summer? Looked quiet when I drove by last week.

[Turd Ferguson]

What's the story on this? Any updates for the summer? Looked quiet when I drove by last week.

I can chime in as I have been there many times. Looks can be deceiving.

MANY renovations are being done inside. As of right now, the back area (which had the kitchen and was in very bad shape) is freshly rebuilt with new roof, insulation, sheetrock, paint and electrical.

Yes, some things have slowed down due to other projects and general work, but it is happening.

[SoapyMule]

Right on! Thanks for the update. I can only imagine it's no small task to work on a building that old. Looking forward to making it a regular stopover on my way to Ottawa.

[Mike@PinballMedics]

We have been extremely busy working on all the required remediation, restoration, and renovation required throughout the Pandemic, and though the restrictions have limited our ability to accept outside assistance for much of the last year and a half, we had a couple of good friends help us when possible, and the job got done. The final touches will be completed by mid July on the interior.

Due to Covid restrictions in Ontario, we have yet to determine an exact opening date, but we are aiming for early September based on current trends, at the same time we re-open the Ottawa Pinball Arcade and adjoining Neighbourhood Pub, both freshly renovated as well.

After a three week hiatus to open up the Montreal Pinball Medics storefront, which is now open and almost fully equipped (because we weren't busy enough ), we will be focusing on ramping up towards some sort of soft opening of the Museum in August, featuring as much of an outdoor experience as possible, while still allowing tours of the indoor facility based on current Public Health guidelines and protocols.

We have amassed ridiculous amounts of old arcade gear from a couple of old operators in the last year, including Pinball Machines, Video Games, Pitch and Bats, Countertop games, and more old spare parts than we could ever use, and are planning an August swap meet, where we will open the boneyard for parts scavenging, project machines, and miscellaneous barn finds with varying degrees of Arcade Patina, from some wear, to barely recognizable as arcade gear...

With Acres of land, Everyone will be welcome to bring items to sell or trade, and help us usher in the new era of Canadian Pinball Culture that is on the cusp of becoming Our new realty.

We are planning a BBQ, and outdoor arcade, and a tournament if restrictions allow at that time, which we anticipate they will.

Here are some pics of the current state of repairs;

[Mike@PinballMedics]

*WARNING* The following images graphically depict Biblical Extinction Level damage to original arcade gear, and may be disturbing to sensitive Pinball and Arcade lovers. Viewer discretion is advised.

This is a small sample of some of the contents of the boneyard;

[semicolin]

Might want to toss some air freshener trees in some of those last few games!

[Fifty]

Might want to toss some air freshener trees in some of those last few games!

And some mothballs.

[steamfitter]

I went for a visit yesterday at the museum to lend a hand setting up games . With more DMD titles at the arcade ,the overflow is coming here .

[tom_454]

So when does it open?

[Fifty]

Those hanging lamps are one of the most hideous things I've ever seen.

[Mrhide]

...that carpet ain't too shabby either!

[cait001]

When I see giant rooms filled with pinball machines I too focus on the lamps and carpeting

Bell Ringer! Spectrum!! Devil's Dare!

[Mike@PinballMedics]

I went for a visit yesterday at the museum to lend a hand setting up games . With more DMD titles at the arcade ,the overflow is coming here .

Thanks again Denis, you guys have been a huge help from day one, we wouldn't be this close without you!

So when does it open?

We should be ready for a soft open in roughly a month, and will likely start opening every Saturday soon thereafter. Renovations were put on hold almost a year ago as there was no way to open with the ongoing pandemic and related restrictions, and we had been pouring time and money into the building for two years with no hope of any return, along with the Arcade being closed, necessitating a focus on our online sales and service to adapt to our altered reality and keep the lights on until we could open.

Now that things are opening up, we are once again in the process of completing the last few repairs, and will have a large outdoor and 5000 square foot basement boneyard sale of parts, projects, and complete Pinball Machines and Video Games in various states and conditions for sale, and a few dozen classic games to play, including many faves from the Ottawa Pinball Arcade, which is now focused on DMD's and new games, with a Classic Arcade Video Game collection coming to the adjoining unit.

The Museum now has the Torch, representing the Golden Era and my personal childhood Fantasy Arcade, to take it to the next level as a complete Experience.

Those hanging lamps are one of the most hideous things I've ever seen.

...that carpet ain't too shabby either!

The lights will be replaced with period correct chandeliers closer to the ceiling when we complete the permanent wiring and sound system installation on that side, but the carpets and all the original decor will definitely be staying.

That was the point of buying a building that was mothballed in 1980, we don't need to decorate the place to "look" like the 70's; It is the 70's.

Like the smell when opening an old EM pinball machine, it immediately invokes dormant memories of our past. The decor, combined with games exclusively from the same era, makes for some powerful Talismanic Magick.

Personally, this building, the only Restaurant in Alfred, and the halfway point on the main Highway to Montreal before the 417 was built, was the actual restaurant we would stop at for Pizza when visiting my Uncles and Grandparents in La Belle Province in the late 60's, where I had access to their Pinball collection as a 3 year old balancing on a milk crate, which will always be associated with my earliest memories of Family and Pinball.

Fate had it that my future partner Rob at Pinball Medics would see the same vision and buy the place before I knew him.

I Love this place just the way it was and is.

When I see giant rooms filled with pinball machines I too focus on the lamps and carpeting

Bell Ringer! Spectrum!! Devil's Dare!

It all comes together as a cohesive sensory experience, which is very much the intention.

Seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and feeling the whole "Vibe" of what citizens of Western Civilizations experienced in that Time Space.

We are planning events devoid of cell phones, or any electronics newer than the early 1980's, with period Clothing, Music, Food & Drink, Classic Cars, and Live Bands.

Can't wait to get back where I come from.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHoLtrGNCA

[Fifty]

There is retro-cool 70's-80's decor that ages well, and then there is decor that was just nasty even when it first rolled off the production line.

[mrmikeman]

There are people that will help with their time and/or money to get projects such as this going. And there are those who will contribute nothing but will armchair quarterback and gladly complain that things aren't the way they'd like.

Just be happy we have a place that'll open up soon where we can go play lots of pins.

[World_of_Warships]

Amongst many other titles I'm seeing on those pics, can't wait to play a real Zaxxon! That joystick looks like the thing I need to help improve on my scores

[cait001]

Big House, Coney Island, Mars God Of War, James Bond, 2 Frontiers... Nice

[Fifty]

There are people that will help with their time and/or money to get projects such as this going. And there are those who will contribute nothing but will armchair quarterback and gladly complain that things aren't the way they'd like.

Just be happy we have a place that'll open up soon where we can go play lots of pins.

I simply pointed out the lights were hideous and nothing more. You're overreacting to a simple comment, so get a sense of humour already. Saying I'm armchair quarterbacking while you sit behind a keyboard and type out your reply is simply hilarious.

[semicolin]

Those hanging lamps are one of the most hideous things I've ever seen.

Denis knows that if he goes anywhere near those lights I'm calling the Ministry of Labour on his ass. I'll be calling his union, my union, the steward, the foreman, the white hats, the black hats, the minister, the inspectors, the cops, the mall cops, the motorcycle cops, the bicycle cops, the CIA, the FBI, the Commissionaires, I'll be calling the airport tower at YOW, YYZ... GET YOUR HANDS OFF OUR WORK YOU GREASY STEAMFITTER!!!

[steamfitter]

Those hanging lamps are one of the most hideous things I've ever seen.

Denis knows that if he goes anywhere near those lights I'm calling the Ministry of Labour on his ass. I'll be calling his union, my union, the steward, the foreman, the white hats, the black hats, the minister, the inspectors, the cops, the mall cops, the motorcycle cops, the bicycle cops, the CIA, the FBI, the Commissionaires, I'll be calling the airport tower at YOW, YYZ... GET YOUR HANDS OFF OUR WORK YOU GREASY STEAMFITTER!!!

Not for me
I'd start by shutting off the water

[semicolin]

I'm watching you!

[steamfitter]

[cait001]

Take the L Colin, there's no coming back when someone drops a rare Albano Mario on ya!

[Blackghost4]

Get ready folks. The museum will be opening soon. Keep you posted.