- April 24, 2024
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Sanya and Karl Strode pose for a photo at Cafe One's pinball tournament on Saturday. The couple run the restaurant together. Photo by Tim Briggs
Several wall decorations include the wood panels from old pinball games. Photo by Tim Briggs.
Tournament participants play various different pinball games including Aerosmith and The Hobbit.
Cafe One owner Karl Strode used to play arcade games at a local hotel his grandmother managed.
His upbringing was driven by flashing lights, satisfying sounds and the atmosphere of a room dedicated to games.
He decided to make his own.
Strode’s Cafe One holds multiple pinball tournaments per month, and the tournaments are affiliated with the International Flipper Pinball Association. Patrons enjoy pancakes and pinball while earning points toward their international ranking.
Pinball has been around since the 1940s, and according to Strode, things have changed for the better.
“With newer machines it’s about understanding the rule sets of each game,” Strode said. “I had so many pinball machines, so I was outgrowing my house. We had looked into opening up a restaurant because we’re career restaurant workers. I was working a lot of nights and not really seeing my child a lot, so I saw the place open up and I threw some of my machines in here.”
Strode holds nine pinball machines at Cafe One in Ormond Beach with various themes including Spiderman, The Hobbit, and the classic Monster Mash.
He has been told by players that his Monster Mash machine is in some of the best condition they’ve seen. Strode puts a lot of work into maintaining the quality of his machines, and it’s an undertaking that requires significant upkeep and commitment.
The average pinball machine sells for around $1,000, but there are some new-age machines that can be up to $9,000. Jersey Jack is a new-age pinball manufacturer. After Stern was the sole producer of pinball machines for the past few decades, the company moved away from pinball during the 1970s to focus on the production of slot machines instead.
Now, pinball machines have become their own craft, and there’s an entire community that’s chomping at the bit.
“Jersey Jack has come on the scene, and he was disappointed with the quality of Stern, which used to make all of the pinball machines,” Strode said. “It’s translated into a lot of home collectors, and their mindset is producing a machine to operate on location. Over 20 brand new titles are new to buy, and never in the history of pinball has it happened.”
Strode runs the breakfast and lunch joint with his wife Sanya.
She loves to watch her husband organize events and pursue a passion that truly makes him happy.
“I’m not as into it as he is, but of course I love it,” Sanya said. “It really brings a personality to the restaurant and it’s very fun. They also look awesome and it makes everything more appealing.”
Karl Strode has now been a pinballer for 34 years.
After purchasing several machines on Craigslist and holding some of the most prominent pinball events in the area, he knows that he’s living his passion, and he's pleased that other people have been receptive to it.
“I fell in love with games at different arcades and it’s nostalgic for me,” Strode said. “It’s a really cool community. We all have fun and share a love for the same thing.”
