Entry No. 43 — the Seattle file — filed under: records
Southgate Arcade
Opened in 2025 by the owners of the adjacent Southgate Roller Rink, this White Center room fills a former bank with vintage machines, including rare pinball like Funhouse, Bride of Pin-Bot, and Swords of Fury, alongside crane games. It's a genuinely off-the-radar, all-ages spot in a neighborhood most Seattle date guides ignore. There's even a private karaoke-and-games room that holds up to 30 people.
The story
White Center usually gets left off the polished Seattle date-night guides, which works out fine if you prefer spots that haven't been sanitized for suburban crowd spillover. In July 2025, Josh and Erin Rhoads—the duo behind the vintage Southgate Roller Rink next door—took over a former bank building on 17th Avenue SW and repurposed the floor space for mechanical flippers instead of tellers and loan officers.
Instead of filling the room with modern ticket-dispensing redemption machines, they installed a tight collection of vintage cabinets and rare pinball tables. You'll find classic Williams and Bally tables like Funhouse, Bride of Pin-Bot, and Swords of Fury rattling inside the old bank layout, alongside retro video games and crane machines. Tucked into the building is also a dedicated private room equipped for karaoke and video games that holds up to 30 people.
What it's like
You walk into a room that undeniably echoes its past as a neighborhood bank branch, now filled with the hum of CRT monitors and the heavy mechanical thump of pinball plungers. Because it’s an all-ages joint run by the local roller rink owners, the floor mixes serious silverball purists with neighborhood kids. The catch is the limited schedule: doors are only unlocked three days a week—Friday evenings and weekend daytimes—so check the clock before making the trek down to White Center.
The move: Play retro cabinets all afternoon, then walk next door to lace up skates at the roller rink for a one-two nostalgia punch.
📍 Before you go Limited hours: Fri 5-11 p.m., Sat-Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; all-ages; pairs naturally with the roller rink next door.
- 📍 White Center, Seattle
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 9646 17th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Georgetown Pizza & Arcade — If you want to turn your day into a full pinball crawl, head three miles east to Georgetown for slice-shop pizza and another room packed with 25 machines.
- Hat 'n' Boots at Oxbow Park — Drive ten minutes east into Georgetown after gaming to stand beneath a towering 1950s cowboy hat and boots preserved in a neighborhood park.
- The Alley — Trade the brightly lit, family-friendly arcade floor for a dark speakeasy tucked behind an alleyway door in West Seattle.
Good to know
What games are featured at Southgate Arcade?
The arcade focuses on vintage cabinets and rare pinball machines, including titles like Funhouse, Bride of Pin-Bot, and Swords of Fury, plus classic video games and crane machines.
Is Southgate Arcade open to all ages?
Yes, unlike many Seattle barcades, Southgate Arcade is open to all ages during its operating hours.
What are the current hours of operation?
Hours are limited to Fridays from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Is there a space available for private events?
Yes, the arcade features a private karaoke-and-games room that can accommodate groups of up to 30 people.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: seattletimes.com · westsideseattle.com · pinballmap.com · whitecenternow.com · westseattleblog.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-24