RIVER NORTH — Susan Sarandon, the biggest name behind River North's latest swanky high-end ping pong club, was nowhere to be seen at the game room inside Marina City the first time the public got a peek.
But a young, hip, curious crowd turned out to play the paddles at SPiN social club's pre-opening party Thursday night.
The River North club, at 344 N. State St., held a "work-the-kinks-out, kick the tires" soft opening Thursday night, as general manager Arman Razavi put it, while local artists were putting the finishing touches on the club's large, hand-painted murals.
Pingpong exploded in popularity in America after World War Two, then saw its popularity fade with rise of video games. But Razavi says he's eager to promote pingpong now as a "backlash to the digital age."
"We want people to put their phones down and get to know each other. You can play with a drink in your hand."
Razavi ought to know: a woman he met while playing pingpong is now his wife.
SPiN is actually more like a chic, cavernous, underground D.J.-driven lounge that happens to have ping pong tables. And there are plenty: 18, along with three private table areas. And at 18,000 square feet, the club is even larger than the SPiN in New York, which was co-founded by Sarandon six years ago. (SPiN has also expanded to L.A. and Toronto, and San Francisco is up next.)
The club serves contemporary American food, mostly in smaller shareable bite-sizes. As Razavi points out, a heavy meal won't inspire you to grab a paddle and get on your feet.
There are 12 professional ping pong players on staff ready to offer lessons and oversee tournaments. And one of those pros, Dash Neimark, happily anticipates having intoxicated bar-goers challenge him to games.
When that happens, "we will put a spotlight on them and try to destroy them as embarrassingly as possible", he laughs.
Renting a table for an hour runs anywhere from 25 to 39 dollars, depending on the time of day.
There are ball boys milling about, too, coralling runaway balls while wearing T-shirts that read "Balls are my business."
SPiN is open to the public as of Friday, but its grand opening is set for next week, March 10th. And yes... Susan Sarandon WILL be there.
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