Pinball Pete’s
Address: 500 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Phone: +1 (734) 213-2502
Website: pinballpetes.org
Check the Pinball Map for the latest game line-up.
Pinball Pete’s, the longtime Ann Arbor arcade known for its rows of dazzling pinball machines, classic video games, and late-night energy, has settled into a new downtown Ann Arbor home at 500 East Liberty Street after leaving its South University Avenue location of nearly three decades.
The arcade now occupies the first floor and renovated basement of the building at the corner of Liberty and Thompson streets. They held a soft opening in late March 2026 following months of construction and the careful relocation of its games.
During my years studying at the University of Michigan, Pinball Pete’s was just as popular as the near-campus bars such as The Brown Jug and The Blind Pig. I spent many a quarter at Pete’s in my early 20s.
The ‘new’ Pinball Pete’s features a bold hot-pink and blue color scheme, neon signage (including the old Campus Theatre marquee), natural light from street-level windows, and room for dozens of pinball machines, video games, pool tables, and other attractions.
Their move was driven by the demolition of the Galleria Mall on South University Avenue, where Pinball Pete’s had operated in the lower-level food court area since 1996. The mall site is being redeveloped by Landmark Properties into The Metropolitan, a large student housing high-rise.
Co-owner Ted Arnold said the business had years remaining on its lease but a redevelopment clause forced the relocation. The new Liberty Street spot, he noted, places the arcade more squarely in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor rather than primarily serving the campus crowd.
There is a gallery of photos documenting the new location remodeling project on the Pinball Pete’s Ann Arbor website.
Pinball Pete’s history stretches back to the mid-1970s in East Lansing. Ted Arnold and his two older brothers (including Tim Arnold, founder of the Pinball Hall of Fame) started a business in their parents’ garage after pooling their money to buy and fix up a used pinball machine. Neighborhood kids flocked to it – dozens of bikes would fill the driveway after school. They added a soda machine (selling drinks for a dime) and a candy machine, turning the garage into an informal arcade. The operation grew until city officials ordered them to stop running a commercial business in a residential area.
The brothers then opened a proper arcade, eventually settling into a former doughnut shop that came with a large fiberglass elephant on the roof. They painted the elephant pink (after consuming some adult beverages and climbing onto the roof), planned a paper-mâché cowboy named Pete to ride it (which never happened), and named the place Pinball Pete’s.
The business expanded to Ann Arbor in the late 1980s and early 1990s, operating multiple locations at times (including spaces previously occupied by other arcades such as Mickey Rat’s) before consolidating into the Galleria in 1996. A sister East Lansing location continues to operate. Arnold has remained central to the family-run enterprise over the decades.
The new Ann Arbor site required significant work, including converting a former basement book-storage area into usable space with a new stairwell and elevator.
Arnold has described the project as a major investment and “legacy” effort, secured with a 20-year lease. Regulars have already begun returning, praising the brighter, more inviting atmosphere compared with the older basement setting.
Pinball Pete’s is open daily (with extended weekend hours) at 500 E. Liberty St. and continues to run on a classic quarters-and-tokens model. Change is available from attendants on the first floor and change machines in the lower level.
Although most of the games at Pinball Pete’s are relatively new, there are some classic gems to be found if a visitor takes the time to look. A game worth looking for, in my opinion, is the relatively obscure Mini-Baseball, one of the last games made by Chicago Coin before being taken over by Sam and Gary Stern in 1976. Mini-Baseball was an experiment in producing a compact footprint vertical game with a recognizable sports theme. This wall-mounted game could fit into locations where a full-sized pinball machine might be impractical. It has animated scoring with lights simulating a runner moving around the bases.
It is near the change machine on the lower level.
Pinball Pete’s has long been more than just games for many patrons – it’s a multi-generational hangout that has survived industry changes and a forced relocation thanks to strong local support. The pink elephant remains the symbol of that continuity. I’d suggest that you check out the fun when you are in the area.
Free Play Arcade
Address: 34830 Utica Rd, Suite 100, Fraser, Michigan, USA
Phone: +1 (586) 204-7959
Website: freeplaypinballarcade.com
Check the Pinball Map for the latest game line-up.
On a placid stretch of Utica Road in Fraser, MI, Free Play Pinball Arcade has become a destination for pinball enthusiasts, retro gamers, and families looking for an afternoon or evening of uninterrupted play.
Free Play opened in 2019; the roughly 5,000-square-foot venue stands out for its straightforward model: one admission price gets visitors a wristband and unlimited daily access to more than 80 games with no coins or tokens required.
The arcade is owned by Joe Koliba, who is frequently described by visitors as hands-on, knowledgeable, and welcoming. Joe and his wife Jill, delight in sharing the history of individual games or to help first time visitors get oriented.
Koliba has expanded the Free Play concept, opening a second Arcade location in Livonia in summer 2026.
Inside the Fraser location, guests find a mix of classic and modern pinball machines, vintage video arcade cabinets (including titles like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Street Fighter), multi-player racing and shooting games, Super Chexx bubble hockey, foosball, electronic darts, and ice ball to name a few. As part of the search for games worth restoring and placing in Free Play Arcade, the Kolibas acquired some of their collection from Detroit boxing legend Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns.
alongside trainer Prentiss Byrd and bodyguard Rick Evans in 1981.
Most of the pinball machines feature informational plaques noting the manufacturer, year, designer, and artist, giving the space a light museum-like quality alongside the pure play. The venue is consistently praised by visitors for being clean and well-maintained, with nearly all machines in working order.
In addition to the games, Free Play offers a retro theme bar with beer, cocktails, hard seltzers, cider, and non-alcoholic options, along with light snacks. Outside food is generally permitted.
Free Play also hosts private parties, birthday events, and group gatherings, and it offers family packs and regular specials such as half-price ladies’ night on Thursdays.
Free Play’s public hours are Thursday and Friday from 4pm to midnight, Saturday from noon to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 8pm, with some Wednesday daytime openings in certain seasons. The business is closed Mondays and Tuesdays for regular play but can accommodate private events those days by reservation.
For a relatively young arcade, Free Play has built a strong local following in Macomb County by combining nostalgia with modern convenience.
In an era when many traditional arcades have disappeared, Koliba’s free-play approach keeps the lights, flippers, and joysticks running for a new generation of players. I highly suggest that you plan a visit when you are next in the greater Detroit area.
