The Flip, Chicago’s playable pinball museum, is packing up its Pilsen prototype and heading downtown this summer, taking over space inside the Block 37 mall in the Loop. The move will give the project a much bigger public stage and is meant to make both vintage and modern machines easier to find for tourists, office workers and anyone who has ever wondered what all the flipper fuss is about.
According to Block Club Chicago, The Flip is scaling up from a 550-square-foot prototype in Pilsen to roughly 2,900 square feet at Block 37. Organizers say the new location will feature more than 30 playable machines that span from the 1930s to today. Founder William Pietri told the outlet he is “delighted” to see a pinball renaissance in Chicago, and the expanded setup will shift the project from a mostly free, volunteer-run prototype to a ticketed museum model, with prices still to be announced.
On its website, The Flip confirms that the Pilsen prototype is closed and that the organization is “moving” into a larger Loop space. The team is inviting volunteers, encouraging mailing-list signups and promising special pre-opening events for supporters. The site also outlines phased plans that run from building a small collection to launching a ticketed museum, which organizers say helped drive the decision to seek a busier downtown address.
What Visitors Will Find
The Loop location is set to combine hands-on play with exhibits that dig into pinball’s history, art and technology. A small lineup of machines in the front lobby will be available for casual drop-in play, while the rest of the collection will sit behind a ticketed entrance.
As reported by Block Club Chicago, the museum will showcase dozens of games, from pre-flipper-era tables to modern machines with LCD displays. Organizers plan guided programming and repair days aimed at restoration and education, turning the space into something closer to a working lab than a simple arcade.
Chicago’s Pinball Ecosystem
Chicago’s deep ties to the pinball industry give The Flip some serious hometown credibility. Stern Pinball, widely regarded as the industry’s oldest and largest maker, moved its operations to Elk Grove Village in 2015, and Jersey Jack Pinball relocated its manufacturing to the Chicagoland area in 2020. New public venues and arcades across the region, including the recent Pinball Capital facility outside the city, point to growing commercial and competitive interest in the game beyond private collections.
For the manufacturing moves, see Stern’s 2015 announcement and Jersey Jack’s 2020 relocation notice. Stern Pinball and Jersey Jack Pinball published the details, while coverage of new public venues is summarized by outlets reporting on recent openings in the region.
Timing and Tickets
The Flip has not set a firm opening date. Its website lists the Loop move as “coming soon” and notes that special pre-opening events will be offered to mailing-list members. Organizers have said the downtown museum will use ticketed admission instead of the fully free model that defined the Pilsen prototype, although final pricing and a public opening day have not yet been announced.
The leap into the Loop gives The Flip a shot at putting pinball in front of thousands of commuters and visitors each week, and at turning a volunteer-run experiment into an educational, restoration-focused museum. For now, collectors and curious newcomers will have to wait for the official opening notice and ticket details, but the city’s pinball scene appears to be gearing up for a noticeably busier summer.
