Funny you posted this…I didn’t take pictures but I was there yesterday Saturday 10/15….

Hell I bet 50% of the games were off….no Godzilla no Catus Canyon remake (old one yes)…

Of the games that were on played like shit, totally blown out, stuck balls, weak ass flippers. I am all for understanding the plight of someone who has to maintain hundred of machines but it looks like a junk pile. Block off an area to work on machines…take them off the play area. Put up a wall for a work area. Pay some staff to keep things going…he’ll charge more to keep shit up.

I have been to Next Level in Oregon and there machines and the whole atmosphere is amazing…I will spare myself the next visit to PHOF and just go to Next Level. Food trucks outside collector stuff all over. But to be fair I have heard Next Level is not self supporting from its operations, there is a lot of family wealth that went into it, they are a pinball distributor as well. They charge a very fair price and you don’t have to worry about quarters for each game.

Maybe PHOF should learn that lesson…I had a hard time spending $10 on machines (I don’t really play EM’s). My Uber cost more then I spent there on playing games…

It was disappointing and I contributed to the PHOF when he was using GoFundMe.

It is worse in the new space. I only comment to hope it improves not to trash the place, because if things don’t change no one will go to a place where nothing is working.

I heard the family owns a construction company or something and helped them get set up. I don't recall who told me that someone I bought a machine from in PDX. Big pinball culture in Portland I figure they ought to know.

I have been to Next Level multiple times and never seems packed it is a large place with a ton of VERY well maintained machines. Seems like a bit of a hobby company to me, meaning if it breaks even on utilities and monthly expenses excluding the facility that is likely a win. I recall I only paid $20-25 or something to get in, maybe 50-75 people in the this huge place on a weekend.... you tell me.... does that seem like a money maker? The parking lot is not huge....you make a couple grand a weekend...you pay staff, electricity, rent, taxes, maintenance on all the machines. Maybe a bunch of people loaned machines and they get a lot help comp'ed but if the place was heavy volume it would not look that good.

My original comment on PHOF was I had a hard time spending $10 and played for an hour maybe a little more. AN Uber cost more....how does a place cover expenses and repair machines if you cannot spend much money there. LED's even bough in bulk cost on the low end what $0.30-70 each, rubbers maybe the same and you take in only $10-20 for the average customer, ok you need a new coil for a machine all the money I spent is gone....how many people come through the door? The more that come through the door and play, the more you need to maintain and invest in machines.

This is not routing games at some bar and charging $1 a play this is 400 machines under one roof, many older ones. People I know who route games say they prefer modern games because the uptime is better, they do not want any older BW games, only modern Sterns to just take the cash and then replace the game over time.

Funny - I agree with you, I think Tim could care less if we played the games. Glad he is debit free and does what he does. But if the turth is negative it is negative. Maybe it is constructive criticsim, I think a place like this needs one day a week to be closed to service games and keep things organized. I personally think Tim likely lives there almost around the clock and it is a labor of love, clearly he works hard to keep it all going. But, people can work their asses off and still not get ahead. Sometimes people need help or need a plan. It is not good enough to be debt free running a business, you need steady income, solid cash flow, a desireable product or service, etc. Low expenses are great but strong revenues make up more then low expenses...you cannot save your way into prosperity.

If he wanted to run a warehouse with non-working games in it, he should have just leased a building and let people walk through it for $10 and take pictures. Like the Neon Museum.

I know Tim works hard, I have seen him there at all hours when I have went there inthe past and I supported his GoFundMe because I was unable to visit during the pandemic and would have spent $100 there if we would have visited. But, as a customer over time you can lose us if you do not work on your product. Should we lie and say everything is great instead?

My comments were of my recent experience (last weekend 10/15/22). I think if asked and if I saw the need I would have donated. I do not need a T-Shirt or a cap, when more machines were up I would have spent more. If there was a drop box for donations if I had unspent quarters I would have dropped them in for the greater good. I know Tim works hard and I respect what he does, has given, etc.

But, you can't treat customers and enthusiasts as crap or they go elsewhere. I would think pinball people would be his best customers to pursue not turn away.

If money is needed to keep things up or hire more staff then find a way to get more money. I would have donated $10 for the greater good if asked.

Basically, he is eccentric and its his show... so be it. I guess the business side of me finds that a little hard to believe though...

I wish him luck and hope for the best in the future.

Yeah - like I said gettting the collection of that size then keeping it all going some of the business must be a gift. Like the building and now it probably breaks even or makes a little. Place is amazing....the lunch box collection is probably tens of thousands of dollars alone. I like that it is mostly pinball with a few vids - we always have a good time when we go there.

Hillsboro is far enough away from the shit show downtown Portland has become and does not have the issues much of hte area has. You don't see many homeless out in that area.

So you just confirmed exactly what I said....I said people helped...it is an amazing place and good for them.

I just said they had help...wealthy is not a slam nor is it defined. Good for them doing what they love.