I NEED A MIRACLE: Tickets & Pinball Club
By John Grossi | Photos by Izzy Juarez
A Miraculous Meeting
Gerald Kirchner has been playing, collecting, fixing, and selling pinball machines his whole life. A resident of South of Conant (SOCO), he used to drive by the business strip at Bellflower Blvd and Spring Street (home to Jax Bicycles and Tracy’s Bar and Grill) every day on the way to his Paramount warehouse, thinking, “That empty space at the end of the strip would be perfect for a pinball arcade.” The space, however, wasn’t vacant; it was just lightly occupied by I Need A Miracle Tickets. “My wife kept encouraging me to talk to the owner, but I never did,” says Gerald.
As fate would have it, the owner of I Need a Miracle Tickets, Astiaj (Asti) Samadi called Gerald instead. “I was at Beachwood Brewery when I saw a pinball machine that brought back such fond memories. I asked them where they got the machine and they referred me to this guy named Gerald,” laughs Asti.
As Gerald and Asti got to know one another, they came to realize how intertwined their lives were. Both graduated from Wilson High School just a year apart and had many mutual friends. They struck a deal to launch a Pinball Club in Long Beach, using the extra space around Asti’s established ticket business.
Pinballpalooza
The club is now one of the coolest hidden gems in East Long Beach. In total, there are 54 pinball machines, a foosball table, two claw machines, four arcade games, and darts. Everything is set for open play (meaning no need to feed in quarters) and pay is by the hour, by the day, or by monthly membership! Just over a year into its opening, the pinball club is already over 250 members strong, with many daily drop-ins of all ages.
Here are some fun ways you can give I Need a Miracle Pinball Club a try:
• Join a League: Every Monday night and every other Thursday night is league play... enjoy friendly competition against other locals and play for prizes. It’s a ton of fun and a great way to introduce yourself to the club!
• Drop-in anytime and play unlimited games for an hour!
• Throw a pinball party! You can access group rates and throw a party during business hours or rent out the space for a completely private event where you bring in your own food and drinks!
5541 E. Spring Street, Long Beach, CA 90808 | (562) 425-3322
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