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Pinball Bar Serving Craft Beers to Open on Roosevelt Avenue

By Jeanmarie Evelly | September 20, 2017 4:52pm
 Solid State will open at 53-22 Roosevelt Ave. near 54th Street.
Solid State will open at 53-22 Roosevelt Ave. near 54th Street.
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DNAinfo/Katie Honan

WOODSIDE — Pinball wizards will soon have a new home in the neighborhood. 

Solid State, a bar that will boast seven pinball machines and a menu of locally brewed craft beers, is set to open in the coming weeks at 53-22 Roosevelt Ave. near 54th Street, its owner said.

Kristopher Medina — who runs Pinball New York City, a league of pinball players who compete at bars across the city — is behind the new Woodside watering hole, which he says will be a place for fans of the game to gather and enjoy 20 beers on tap, many of them brewed in Queens or New York State. 

"I'm a resident of Woodside. I felt like this neighborhood could definitely stand to benefit from not only pinball, as there is no pinball in the area, as well as more focused beer offerings," the 47-year-old web developer said. "We're very excited to sort of showcase and celebrate [that]."

In addition to pinball, the bar will offer board games and handheld electronic games for patrons to play. 

"We want to kind of create a communal setting for people to gather," he said. "To give them something to do beyond the pinball, and just simply drinking. Hopefully turn into a bit of a gathering spot."

Medina said the bar will serve beers made by Queens's many nano-breweries, as well as spirits and ciders made in New York. Andy Heidel, owner of The Way Station bar in Prospect Heights, is also a partner at Solid State and is crafting its cocktail menu. 

The bar — which gets its name from a phrase used to describe the era when pinball machines went digital — also has a kitchen, and while the food offerings are still being finalized, he said they'll be "casual" and tasty. He also hopes to partner with local Woodside restaurants on dishes. 

"We want to bring in some rotating kind of residencies, of chefs to come in and take over the kitchen for us," Medina explained. 

An exact opening date hasn't yet been set, but future customers should expect to see the bar hosting pinball tournaments and other themed events soon. 

"I'm a big fan of strong community," Medina said. "I've built a strong community within Pinball New York City, and I hope that Solid State does much of the same."