Fire at University Pinball (Philadelphia, PA)

Kooper · 2009-08-24 05:22:51 UTC

Updated Aug. 10, 5:44 p.m.

A fire broke out early Sunday morning in the apartments above University Pinball, located at 4008 Spruce St.

A representative from the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s office confirmed that the fire was caused by the the house’s electrical wiring system. The investigation of the fire’s cause was concluded Monday afternoon.

The fire, which was mostly contained to the third floor of the building, was called in at about 12:15 a.m., a Philadelphia Fire Department dispatch supervisor said.

According to Penn Division of Public Safety spokeswoman Stef Cella, the apartments are separate from University Pinball, which was not directly affected by the fire. The owner is the same.

The dispatch supervisor said the fire was under control in half an hour. Firefighters remained on the scene for more than an hour early Sunday.

Everyone living in the building was located and safely escorted out, according to Stef Cella.

One firefighter was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with a minor injury, the dispatch supervisor said. He would not say the nature of the injury, but said the firefighter has been released from the hospital.

The dispatch supervisor said he did not know how much damage the building sustained.

http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper882/stills/71pd0n5n.jpg

Sources: The Daily Pennsylvanian
Myself when I went to go to the arcade from NJ and found it closed

So does anyone from around PA know anything about what happened further? When the place will be open again?

This really sucks, it’s such a great arcade, especially for fighters.

BlackShinobi · 2009-08-24 05:58:05 UTC

FIRE! WHAT? OH NOOOOOOO! :wow:

BTW
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?p=7261015

also check the philly topic in matchmaking
no confirmed time on a reopening just spectulation at this point.

EDIT forgot all about this

darklordriku · 2009-09-04 21:18:51 UTC

I really hope everyone made it out alright

Rick_Son · 2009-09-04 21:34:46 UTC

That Arcade is going to be down for a minute. I heard one of the guys (Sam) said it might take til around xmas time until they are back in business.

OsgX · 2009-09-04 21:41:16 UTC

Wack.

I finally get a schedule that lets me go on the regular next quarter, and that ish happens. :sad:

Glad everyone was/is okay.

rush_down · 2009-09-04 22:02:48 UTC

Isn’t arcade fire the name of a band?

Raziel321 · 2009-09-04 22:13:08 UTC

Yeap. Here is one of their awesome songs, to an even more awesome video.

[media=youtube]vY4v295W4Q4[/media]

CWFPresidentAri · 2009-09-22 00:50:17 UTC

I was driving by that part of town the other day, and didn’t know about about the fire until searching for the arcade’s website (by the way, does Uni. Pinball have a website anymore?). The traffic around South St. is a bitch as it is now (they tore down the 30th St. bridge for a renovation project that’ll take several years to complete), and learning that the arcade was closed made the entire trip feel like a total waste. :lame:

Philth · 2009-09-22 00:54:56 UTC

Should probably get in contact with the brand Arcade Fire to sponsor the new arcade.

BlackShinobi · 2009-09-22 02:25:52 UTC

i went by there today the cleanup is still going on and theres still no roof ober half of the building so theres still a longs ways to go before that place can be reopened. and i never actually saw the damage to the basement, but it has to be crazy.

Henaki · 2009-09-22 02:28:02 UTC

lmfao

Dan_CiTi · 2009-12-14 03:39:56 UTC

Does anyone know the status of this place? I am going to Philly for Christmas and I’d love to check this place out.

Anubis · 2009-12-14 04:36:33 UTC

I tried to contact one of the workers there, but was unsuccessful. I have other friends there that will inform me of what’s going on. As soon as I have some further info, I’ll post it.

Last I heard, it’s still down… :sad:

HBRD · 2009-12-14 05:02:08 UTC

Opening again early next year, from what I’ve heard.

Anubis · 2010-01-01 23:31:20 UTC

I just went down there yesterday. The place is still not open.

alfaphlex · 2010-01-01 23:38:27 UTC

sees post date

Damn dude, how early did you think he meant?

System_1 · 2010-01-02 00:28:45 UTC

Just noticed that.

Anubis · 2010-01-02 00:30:39 UTC

I was in the area & figured I might run into the owner. I’ve known him for years. Figured I could get some firsthand info on when the place would re-open. So such luck…

darklordriku · 2010-01-11 11:59:36 UTC

Earlier today I saw the pinball arcade the construction panels have been removed and it looks nice I am going to check it out later today and give an update on it i’ll post it up in a few hours

BlackShinobi · 2010-01-11 12:09:19 UTC

I think there they are trying to get it open as soon as this week. I just got in there for the first time in a long time a few days ago. Most of the changes didn’t really effect the fighting games because they were in the only section of the building not totally trashed by the fire.
They redid the ticket section and the pool tables are GONE. I totally didn’t expect that one.