Classic Arcade with EM pins found in Winfield, MO (many pics!)

mhanlen1

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Classic Arcade with EM pins found in Winfield, MO (many pics!)

So I recently had to move in with my dad, after a breakup and sudden move from South Carolina to Missouri. He lives in a small town more than an hour north of St. Louis, quite-a-ways out in the country. Since he has no cable and internet, and I'm in currently out of work (but looking), we wind up driving to pass the cold days away.

Today as we were out and about and looking for a place with free wireless internet, I asked about a nearby town I lived in about 25 years ago. Since we had no set destination, he asked if I wanted to head in that direction. It's a small town called Foley, and I had been there in almost as many years, so I said "yes." Well when we got there it turns out the house I had lived in was long gone, seemingly washed away by the great Mississippi some time in the late 90's. After having tried to remember the exact place the house stood, a house also lived in by two late Uncles (even before I my time), we headed South again towards home or a place with internet access.

As we drove we passed through a town called Winfield, a town in which I attended public school for the first time- so long ago. As I gazed out the passenger window, I noticed a glass storefront that housed well over a dozen pinball machines. Of course I had to share this find with my dad, although I had no idea if we could even access them. After telling him, he asked if I wanted to go back. I said "of course" and we circled back around the block.

The room looked dark, but it seemed connected next to a bar/resturaunt called Tavernia (or something close). The restaurant had it's "open" sign lit, and since it was around lunch we decided to eat there. Going inside it appeared that the attached storefront was, in fact, the gameroom for this restaurant. Awesome! I ordered quickly and asked the waitress for $5 in quarters- a task that seemed to take much longer than it should have. After receiving my quarters, I made my away across the room toward the door labeled "Gameroom." I was excited as I entered the room, even though it didn't seem to be heated. The Mississippi River is frozen solid just a mile or so north of Winfield, mind you.

Anyway... the games.

The lineup consisted of 2 vids, 4 upright EM's, and 15 pins that were mostly EM. My goal was to play a game on each, seeing as they only cost $.25 to play. The 1st pin I tried ate 3 of my quarters. Even so, I was undeterred and continued down the line. The machines looked to have been hard workers in the past, but the playfields and glass were all in good shape on the whole line-up. I didn't have a whole lot of time, but I was able to play 1 or two games a machine. Anyway the point is that I had a great time trying all these machines which I had never played, even though about half a dozen ate my quarters without letting me play a game. All of my games are currently stashed behind boxes of my stuff in the corner of cold garage, so I was happy to be able to find this place (and get my fix). Figured I'd share this story in case anyone else ever plans to head North of St. Louis, and wants a place to play quite a few classic pins. Oh... and the food was pretty good to boot. For interested parties: the Restaurant is on the main drag through town, and is open every day but Monday until 9pm.

Game List Left To Right (I'll label all the games I remember to be down.)
1. Coney Island (not working)
2. S.A.M.I. (not working)
3. Night Bomber
4. Scramble
5. Carnival Rifle
6. Amidar
7. Big Casino (not working)
8. Bowling Queen
9. Jungle Princess
10. Snow Derby
11. Solar Ride (not working)
12.Roller Disco
13. Jungle King
14. Masquerade
15. Rack-A-Ball
16. Fashion Show
17.Play Marcos
18.World Fair
19.Ice Revue
20. Show Boat
21. Aquarius

Sorry about the quality of the pics, but the only camera I currently own I also have to make calls with. Anyway enjoy the pics.
 

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Last edited:
More machines. I was able to take a picture of all of them. Pics finish in next post.
 

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that looks like a fun place. especially with all the em goodness! reminds me of the mall in charleston, il. has an arcade? or storage area inside one entrance loaded with em's.
 
Thanks for the photolog. I'll be adding to the arcade finder over at aurcade.com :) If you're looking for a fix on classic games and don't mind driving a few hours, you're between two classic arcades, 1984 in Springfield MO and the Arcade Museum in McLean IL. Springfield is a bit of a hike (I would guess about 4 hours), but the one in McLean is probably about 2 1/2 hours or so, going up US 54, I-72 to Springfield IL, then up I-57. The guy who runs the one in McLean is a member here, Vectorman. I've been to both places and they're all great guys :)
 
If you happen to go there again, could you take a pic of the sign, or get an address? I tried using google street view but couldn't see anything that resembled pinball machines thru a window. Was it on the main drag thru town, MO-79? Thanks :)
 
While adding these games to Aurcade, I couldn't find that "Play Marcos" game anywhere. But doing some searching, the backglass looks just like both Domino and Grande Domino (Italian only release). The playfield doesn't look like the Domino one over at the Internet Pinball Database though, but it does match Grande Domino...I wonder if they redid it and called it "Play Marcos" over here...very interesting :)
 
If you happen to go there again, could you take a pic of the sign, or get an address? I tried using google street view but couldn't see anything that resembled pinball machines thru a window. Was it on the main drag thru town, MO-79? Thanks :)

So it's pretty new I guess. It's called Taverna or Tavernia or Tavernea (can't remember the exact spelling). It's on the main drag through town, and it's in this building. The resturaunt is right on 79 on the main drag. The glass fronted building attached to it houses the games. I found a picture of the building on Google, and here is the link to it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...=A049j4we95Ghw_35EKx3pA&cbp=12,310.81,,0,8.76
 
While adding these games to Aurcade, I couldn't find that "Play Marcos" game anywhere. But doing some searching, the backglass looks just like both Domino and Grande Domino (Italian only release). The playfield doesn't look like the Domino one over at the Internet Pinball Database though, but it does match Grande Domino...I wonder if they redid it and called it "Play Marcos" over here...very interesting :)

You're right, I can't find any info on it. If I go back any time soon and it's still there I'll examine it closer and see if I can find anything else out about it.
 
Very cool seeing the old stuff still up and running! Everyone needs an EM in their collection, you cannot forget how things evolved to today!
 
I will definitely have to go up there! Welcome (back) to Missouri. That Super Pac on CL looked great! I was actually tempted to send an e-mail just to say how great it the restore looked and suggest KLOV to the poster.
 
I will definitely have to go up there! Welcome (back) to Missouri. That Super Pac on CL looked great! I was actually tempted to send an e-mail just to say how great it the restore looked and suggest KLOV to the poster.

Sold it yesterday, too. Wow, I had it for weeks in Charlotte and no hits. I need to go take it down now.
 
I went back by it today and the place is called "Taverna."

Here are two pictures I snapped of the exterior. The pins and games are in the attached store on the right- seen in the 1st photo.
 

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Thanks for the update...still can't find it using a google search, but since it's such a small town, it should be easy to find. I've updated the listing over at Aurcade.com to include the correct name.
 
It's impossible to miss. 79 goes right through the center of town, and there's only a few buildings on the strip- maybe half a dozen on that side of the street. The row of pins is really easy to see when you're driving by.
 
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