A new café has launched in Saskatoon.
Pokey’s Pinball Café celebrated its grand opening Friday.
The restaurant, on 33rd Street West, features eight pinball machines — including Metallica, Walking Dead and Ghostbusters machines — and specializes in Cuban food.
Owner Jason Carroll, a.k.a. Pokey, decided to turn his love of pinball into a café after losing his job at an IT firm. He worked at the firm for 14 years before he was laid off.
“I sort of had the idea in the back of my mind for a while, and the opportunity just arose to start,” Carroll said.
He was inspired to feature Cuban food after a three-week trip to the Caribbean country, staying at bed-and-breakfasts and visiting family.
“Fell in love with it. It was just amazing,” he said.
Carroll, who held a soft opening several weeks ago, says feedback has so far been positive.
“We’re getting great feedback on the food. The food is doing wonderful and people are really enjoying it,” he said. “And the atmosphere, everybody — especially from the neighbourhood, surrounding neighbourhoods, the families — they love it. It’s something that this neighbourhood was missing.”
The café is open Wednesday to Sunday until late, and includes all-ages hours until 8 p.m.
--- based on a report by CTV Saskatoon’s Alexandria Pankratz
