‘A world under glass’

Pinball enthusiast and Patchogue resident Joshua Guskin can’t wait to invite the public to his Pinball Long Island storefront, at 48 West Main Street, this St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

The almost 5,000-square-foot space now houses close to 100 machines, varying in styles from the 1960s to current day. Guskin, 40, has been collecting, restoring, and selling pinball machines for over 20 years and currently lives in the village.

The games not only display iconic TV shows and movies as well as famous musicians and more, but they also archive the history of pinball, from the older EM pinball machines with no computers to the very first digital talking pinball machine, all the way to the more modern DMD machines with animation and LCD screens.

“It’s a world under glass,” said Guskin, assuring anyone can find interest in one of the several machines, each of which have iconic callouts. “It’s basically a functional museum, all pieces of functional art.”

The machines aren’t the only attraction. Guskin also largely considered the décor with themed-out sections as you play, including entirely local Long Island buys on display. Guskin hopes to provide both a space for waiting restaurant-goers and a place for families and kids of all ages.

“I want to think we will need each other. We will provide support for the restaurants and vice versa,” he said, hoping to develop community relationships with local restaurant owners. “I have been doing this for 20 years as a hobby, which has turned into this business move to Patchogue,” he said, excited to share his passion.

The concept will be a pay-to-play-at-the-door model, with hourly or daily rates. He plans on allowing people to play per the hour or to purchase a full-day or half-day pass. There will also be opportunities to book birthday parties and special events.