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Capitol Hill’s new pinball bar John John’s Gameroom opens on E Olive Way

Stack your quarters. It’s time to let the games begin at John John’s Gameroom. The new Capitol Hill joint — from the people who brought you Fremont’s Add-a-Ball — has fired up its poppers, plungers and bumpers on E Olive Way.

CHS told you about the plan for the new pinball bar this summer. Travis Echert and Brad Johnsen are expanding their Seattle pinball empire to Capitol Hill — and getting filthy rich one beer-drenched quarter at a time.


“It’s kind of beautiful because we don’t ever have to go to bank,” Echert told us this summer. “The quarters become ones, the ones become fives, buying beer, the fives becomes twenties.”

John John’s replaces the departed Faire Gallery which closed in June after a six-year run on the Hill. The new place is a beer and wine venue with an emphasis on space for the machines.

(Image: John John’s Gameroom)

There is no machine roster — Echert had been taking requests — and no hours posted yet on the John John’s Gameroom site but Facebook says the new space will be open at 6 PM.

The addition of John John’s gives the Hill a sudden wealth of riches in game bars. The Unicorn’s Narwhalexpansion introduced a set of quarter-eating machines to E Pike. Meanwhile the Raygun Lounge is open for new era board gaming pleasure on E Pine.

Also newly opened: Bombay Bistro
New Indian joint Bombay Bistro is also now open for business. We told you here about the venture from the people behind the original Maharaja — not the version known more for its bar than its food that came later. The new restaurant replaces the shuttered Chao Bistro in a space at 12th and Pike that has been a challenge for recent restaurant efforts. Here’s wishing the best of luck to the CHS advertiser.

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spoons
11 years ago

I’ve sadly noticed “Cash Only” on the front window of John John’s when I walked by recently. I’m always disappointed when places do that, I’d rather pay an extra quarter or whatever than have to make a special trip to the ATM just to visit a place. Best of luck to them anyways.

beecee
11 years ago

you make it sound like it is so hard to get cash these days. heck, almost any store will give you cash with a purchase. you can pick up some breathmints for when you are doing some necking after you score big on The Simpsons. it isn’t that hard!

Looking forward to more pinball nirvana from these two fine young men!

Kevin Zelko2
11 years ago

This is awesome news….although I think we now have enough, so lets support these great places.