Episode 284: Help your pinball location
Many locations are hurting during the pandemic. One example of one that needs help in Toronto is Cabin Fever. You'll hear many people talk about what Cabin Fever means to them, but you would likely...
Highlights
- Cabin Fever was forced to close for 28 days starting October 9, 2020 due to Ontario government restrictions related to the second COVID-19 wave
- Robin Harrison reopened Cabin Fever in early August 2020 after being completely shut down since mid-March, nearly missing the deadline to continue operations
- Cabin Fever had a legal capacity of 30 people pre-COVID but operates at 10 people maximum during the pandemic on a reservation-only basis
- A GoFundMe organized by Jeremy Wilson (longtime Cabin Fever patron) raised over $150 in donations from 150+ supporters to help Cabin Fever survive
- Cabin Fever has hosted major tournaments including IFPA pre-World Championships events and was where Johannes Ostermeyer won a big tournament
- Dan Beeson is responsible for game maintenance at both Cabin Fever and Tilt in Toronto
- Cabin Fever evolved from a coffee shop and record store with one pinball machine to a full pinball bar with nine machines
- City Pinball League hosts cross-border competitions between Greater Toronto Area and Buffalo pinball players
Notable quotes
“It's not just rent. There's a general operating cost of what it costs you to have that brick and mortar home base. And it's everything from paying your water bills to property taxes for some small businesses to garbage pickup to your gas, your hydro, your security system.”
“I didn't realize that if it does close down, it would put me in a position where I wouldn't be able to reopen.”
“Cabin is a safe space for nerds... it's a pinball player's pinball bar in an incredibly welcoming environment.”
“It is the perfect hole in the wall pinball bar... Robin, who runs the place, is like the absolute dream den mother for the misfits of Toronto pinball.”
“He's grown up only knowing her as Auntie Robin.”
“I don't even know if I've been there. I just think they had a cool shirt and I want to support location pinball as much as I can.”
“Places are special because the people behind those places are special and they work tirelessly to make those places great.”
“The pinball community is very generous, and we're all doing what we can to help great locations like Cabin Fever.”
Entities
- 82 (bar/arcade)· organization
- Cabin Fever· organization
- City Pinball League· organization
- Electric Bat Arcade· organization
- Lyman's Tavern· organization
- North Star· organization
- Pinball Profile· organization
- Pyramid Scheme· organization
- Tilt· organization
- Adam Kisler· person
- Carter Castleman· person
- Dan Beeson· person
- Ed Robertson· person
- Jack Tabin· person
- Jeff Teolis· person
- Jeremy Wilson· person
- Johannes Ostermeyer· person
- Lisa Castleman· person
- Mike Castleman· person
- Paige Castleman· person
- Rachel· person
- Robin Harrison· person
- CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit)· product
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