Date: October 2018
Location: Various, Chicago, IL, USA

Each year, just prior to Pinball Expo, Dan Marquardt updates his report on the best pinball sites in the Chicagoland area for those visiting the metropolis.  Here is his look at the pinball scene in the Windy City for 2018.

It only gets better and better to go out and play pinball machines in the Chicago area. Mostly due to the continued popularity of barcades, there are numerous locations all over the Chicago area with fun pinball machines available to play.

Here is a list of the locations I have enjoyed visiting so far.  Some of the sites articles referenced are by M.G. Brown. Pinball Map has many more locations listed on their website. They very kindly gave me permission to use information from their excellent website for some of my updates.

1. Logan Arcade – Chicago
See report
Update: All the latest Stern pins are in their collection.

Logan Arcade
Logan Arcade

 

2. Replay (Lincoln Park) – Chicago
See previous report

Fourteen pinball machines available to play.

Replay in Lincoln Park
Replay in Lincoln Park

 

3. Emporium Arcade Bar (Wicker Park) – Chicago
See previous report
Update: Guardians of the Galaxy and Triple Play: Chicago Cubs have been rotated into their line-up.

Emporium Arcade Bar (Wicker Park)
Emporium Arcade Bar (Wicker Park)

 

4. Lemming’s Tavern – Chicago
See previous report
Update: Iron Maiden Premium and Road Show with a Color DMD are the current pins.

Lemming's Tavern
Lemming’s Tavern

 

5. Brixie’s – Brookfield
See previous report
Update: An awesome wall of five super clean pins. Iron Maiden Premium, Star Wars Premium, Game of Thrones Premium, Ghostbusters Premium and Total Nuclear Annihilation are the current titles.

Brixie's in Brookfield
Brixie’s in Brookfield

 

6. Galloping Ghost Arcade – Brookfield
See previous report
Update: They have four pins now.

Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield
Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield

 

7. Game Works – Schaumburg
See previous report
Update: Three pins from Stern are there now.

The pinballs were busy
Gameworks in Schaumburg

 

8. Level 257 – Schaumburg
See previous report
Update: The new Houdini pin has been added. A dozen pinballs to play there now.

Level 257
Level 257

 

9. Chicago Street Pinball Arcade – Joliet
See previous report
Update: Rob Zombie’s Spookshow International LE has been added.

Chicago Street Pinball Arcade
Chicago Street Pinball Arcade

 

10. Bottom Lounge – Chicago
Pinball list courtesy of Gavin Miller: Bobby Orr Power Play x 2, Seawitch, The Addams Family, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Funhouse, Gilligan’s Island, The Champion Pub, Metallica and Bugs Bunny’s Birthday Ball.

Bottom Lounge in Chicago
Bottom Lounge in Chicago

 

11. Round 1 – Aurora
Aerosmith LE, Guardians of the Galaxy LE, Star Wars LE and a Ghostbusters Pro.
Article coming very soon.

 

12. Headquarters Beercade (River North) – Chicago
Headquarters’ second location features over twenty top pins which are listed on their website.
Update: Houdini, Guardians of the Galaxy Pro, Iron Maiden Pro and a Bally Eight Ball from 1977 have been rotated in.

Headquarters Beercade (River North)
Headquarters Beercade (River North)

 

13. Emporium Arcade Bar (Logan Square) – Chicago
A second Emporium location with a few pins.

Emporium Logan Square
Emporium Logan Square

 

14. Brauer House – Lombard
Update: Six pins, including Iron Maiden Pro, Total Nuclear Annihilation and The Who’s Tommy.

Brauer House games
Brauer House games

 

15. Five & Dime – Evanston
See previous report.

Five & Dime
Five & Dime

 

16. Uptown Arcade – Chicago
Update: They now have nine pins including a Star Wars Pro.

 

17. FTW – Chicago
Update: Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead and Medieval Madness are the current pins.

FTW in Chicago
FTW in Chicago

 

18. Replay (Lakeview) – Chicago
See previous report

Games at Replay Beer & Bourbon
Replay Beer & Bourbon in Lake View

 

19. Replay (Andersonville) – Chicago
Update: Spider-Man Vault Edition, Kiss Premium and X-Men LE are the current pins.

 

20. Rock Island Public House – Blue Island
See previous report
Update: A wall of seven well-maintained pins.

A nice variety of fun pins available to play
Rock Island Public House in Blue Island
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