Modern Pinball NYC, a recently opened “interactive pinball showroom” on 3rd Avenue near 26th Street, is a cornucopia of paddles, flashing lights, and multiballs. All of the machines are for sale — they run from about $5,000 to $15,000-plus for a nice vintage piece — though you’d never know it at first glance. The atmosphere is arcade-like, and you’re encouraged to play: $7.50 gets you a half hour, $10 for an hour, and $20 for an all-day pass, no tokens required.
Co-owner Steve Zahler is New York’s top-ranked pinball player, and was happy to show off his skills when ANIMAL visited this week. At one point, Zahler hit a jackpot on the Terminator 2 machine within minutes of firing it up, cooly explaining the nuts and bolts of how it’s done. The man is a pro. Watch the video above.
(Video: Aymann Ismail/ANIMALNewYork)
