Ping pong players who can’t wait until next spring for GeekWire’s annual bash to get their sporty geek on will soon have a new venue in Seattle where they can play and party.
SPiN, the social club and table tennis chain founded in New York in 2009, is opening a location in downtown Seattle this December. The venue will occupy nearly 10,000 square feet in the landmark Decatur Building at 1511 6th Ave., between Pike and Pine streets.
Not to be confused with the orange bike-sharing company, SPiN promises an eclectic culture of tournaments, monthly programming, private lessons, corporate parties and casual play. And its venues are fueled by unique art, music and design touches.
The Seattle location will be the seventh, after New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Philadelphia, Austin and Los Angeles.
“We chose Seattle as the next city because of its rich culture, technological innovation and a growing community devoted to originality that aligns with the SPiN brand,” CEO Pieter Vanermen said in a news release. “We are absolutely thrilled to launch and invite the public to come witness what SPiN is all about.”
The new location, being designed by architectural firm Barker/Nestor, will offer 12 Olympic-style ping pong tables, private lounge spaces and a full-service restaurant and bar that can accommodate anywhere from a few people to 300 guests.
Long a staple of the startup break room, ping pong has a solid foundation as a leisurely activity for Seattle techies. More than 1,700 people crowded the 2017 GeekWire Bash at CenturyLink Field Events Center. The 6th annual event, where ping pong has always been a big draw, attracted hundreds of players in three separate brackets: beginner, intermediate, and expert.
