Olympia Pinball Museum set to open, State of the Arts gallery closes
Attention pinball wizards: A business offering wall-to-wall pinball machines and retro video games is set to open March 1 in downtown Olympia, a co-owner said this week.
Olympia Pinball Museum will open at 509 Capitol Way S. and feature more than 50 pinball machines, including Hercules, the world’s largest pinball machine, said Tonya Bergum.
Where did all these pinball machines come from? From Tonya and her husband’s personal collection, which began more than 25 years ago, she said.
“I would really love to share this with everyone,” she said.
The business expects to charge a $15 entry fee, but every game will be set to free play, she said. They also expect to offer snacks, bottled beer and soda. Days of operation are still to be determined, but the hours likely will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“You can play as long as you like,” Bergum said.
Meanwhile, State of the Arts gallery at 500 Washington St. SE has closed, said owner Jeff Barrett, who took over from former owner, Deb Martz, in 2017.
The gallery closed at the end of December while Barrett tried to work out a sale to a potential buyer, but that buyer backed out, he said. Without a buyer, the business wasn’t earning enough to stay open.
“I am dismayed it has come to this,” he said this week.
The number of customers coming to the store was steady, but the type of customer willing to pay $400 to $1,000 for art is not coming downtown, he said.
Barrett said he would like to see more downtown businesses support each other with cross-promotions. That was something he tried to do by creating a display of items made and sold by Holy Lamb Organics, which also has a store downtown.
What’s next for Jeff?
“I don’t know,” he said. “That’s for February.”
If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
