# BLUE SUN SODA & SWEET SHOP - A YEAR LATER

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2020-01-10  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2020/01/10/blue-sun-soda-sweet-shop-a-year-later

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## Analysis

Pinball News revisited Blue Sun Soda & Sweet Shop in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, one year after their initial visit. The venue has undergone significant changes, including the addition of a soda fountain, food service (pizza), and on-site soda bottling, with classic pinball machines relocated to a dedicated darkened game room. While the pinball collection remains at affordable pricing (25¢ for classic games, $1.00 for newer machines like Willy Wonka), some machines were found to be non-working.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Blue Sun Soda & Sweet Shop expanded its business model to include a soda fountain and food service (pizza) in place of previous pinball machine placement — _Direct observation by Pinball News during December 2019 visit; comparison to November 2018 visit_
- [HIGH] Pinball machines were moved to a dedicated darkened game room rather than remaining in the main retail space — _Visual evidence and description of separate gameroom discovery during venue tour_
- [HIGH] Willy Wonka machine pricing increased from 25¢ to $1.00 per play between visits — _Direct comparison: 'Blue Sun Fun price on Willy Wonka was upped from last year's 25¢ per game to this year's $1.00 per play'_
- [HIGH] Classic pinball machines at Blue Sun remain priced at 25¢ per game — _Stated observation: 'The classic pinball machines were still only 25¢ per game'_
- [HIGH] Some pinball machines at the venue were non-working during the December 2019 visit — _Explicit mention: 'non-working (dark in previous pictures) pinball machines we found'; venue has a system for reporting issues_
- [HIGH] Blue Sun Soda bottles have a 50¢ deposit that can be used as currency for pinball play — _Direct statement with practical note: 'the deposit on each Whistler Soda bottle is 50¢. That's pinball play'n money!'_

### Notable Quotes

> "…we will be back to Blue Sun to play their eclectic collection of older and newer pinball machines in the near future. And, of course, to enjoy more of the world's most flavorful soda – and try other flavors too"
> — **Pinball News (from November 2018 article)**, Quoted from previous article
> _Establishes the publication's original commitment to return and document the venue; shows initial enthusiasm for the location_

> "One of the Largest Retro Arcades in MN"
> — **Blue Sun Soda & Sweet Shop website**, Current website claim
> _Venue's self-description; creates tension with observation of single visible pinball machine during this visit_

> "The classic pinball machines were still only 25¢ per game and were now placed in their own darkened room."
> — **Pinball News**, December 2019 visit report
> _Key finding: pricing preservation but significant venue restructuring with dedicated game room_

> "We were glad to see that BSSSS had expanded their services. We were not glad about the few non-working (dark in previous pictures) pinball machines we found."
> — **Pinball News**, Article conclusion
> _Balanced assessment: acknowledges expansion positively but notes operational maintenance issues_

> "That's pinball play'n money!"
> — **Pinball News**, Soda bottle deposit section
> _Lighthearted observation of how soda bottle deposits create a circular economy encouraging pinball play_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Blue Sun Soda & Sweet Shop | product | Retro arcade and soda/candy shop venue located in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota; subject of Pinball News follow-up coverage documenting venue evolution |
| Pinball News | organization | Independent pinball media outlet conducting on-site venue coverage and documentation; published article about follow-up visit to Blue Sun |
| Spring Lake Park, MN | event | Location of Blue Sun Soda & Sweet Shop (1625 County Highway 10, Suite D) |
| Willy Wonka | game | Pinball machine at Blue Sun; newer game priced at $1.00 per play as of December 2019 |
| Whistler Soda | product | Soda bottled on-site at Blue Sun; available in multiple flavors; 50¢ deposit per bottle usable as pinball currency |
| KISS | game | Classic pinball machine at Blue Sun in dedicated game room; shown in photo with soda consumption |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Venue evolution and business model expansion, Pinball machine accessibility and pricing, Retro arcade venue operations and maintenance
- **Secondary:** Location-based pinball play experience, Community engagement and customer feedback systems

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Publication expresses satisfaction with venue expansion and customer-friendly pricing preservation, though tempered by concern about non-working machines. Overall tone is enthusiastic about return visits and the unique business concept combining soda, food, and pinball in an integrated experience.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Blue Sun Soda & Sweet Shop restructured venue layout, adding food/beverage service infrastructure (soda fountain, pizza kitchen) while moving pinball to dedicated separate game room (confidence: high) — Visual documentation showing transition from integrated layout to dedicated gameroom; addition of on-site soda bottling and food service equipment
- **[community_signal]** Blue Sun has implemented a formal system for patrons to report non-working machines, demonstrating operational responsiveness to community feedback (confidence: high) — Photo documentation of reporting system with caption 'We wish every establishment has a system such as this'; evidence of patron notes/appreciation posted throughout venue
- **[venue_signal]** Some pinball machines were non-working during visit, indicating maintenance challenges despite otherwise positive venue expansion (confidence: high) — 'non-working (dark in previous pictures) pinball machines we found'; photo evidence of dark/inactive machines in game room
- **[market_signal]** Newer pinball machine pricing increased 4x (25¢ to $1.00) for Willy Wonka while classic machines maintained 25¢ pricing, suggesting differentiated pricing strategy by game age/type (confidence: high) — Direct price comparison between 2018 and 2019 visits; explicit statement of price increase for newer machines

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## Transcript

**Date:**
3rd January, 2020
**Visited:** 14th December, 2019

**Location:** 1625 County Highway 10, Suite D, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432, USA

Back in November of 2018 we visited the [Blue Sun Soda & Sweet Shop](https://bluesunsodashop.com/) (BSSSS), and, as we [wrote then](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2018/12/25/blue-sun-soda-sweet-shop/), “*…we will be back to Blue Sun to play their eclectic collection of older and newer pinball machines in the near future. And, of course, to enjoy more of the world’s most flavorful soda – and try other flavors too*.”

We went back several weeks later and again this past December. The second time we went back we noticed some changes which we thought might interest you, the dear readers of Pinball News.

If you’ve been to BSSSS recently, you’ll know what this new
feature is . . .

[![Know or care to guess? Leave us a comment below...](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/101-bssss.png-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/101-bssss.png.jpg)

Know or care to guess? Leave us a comment below…

Unlike last year’s roundabout and meandering sweet distraction, this time we meant to provide you with a somewhat quick-and-short update. Well, that was our intent…

Even though the BSSSS website boasts “*[One of the Largest Retro Arcades in MN](https://bluesunsodashop.com/retro-arcade/)*“, we panicked when we could only see one solitary pinball machine.

[![Poor lonely little guy](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/102-bssss.png-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/102-bssss.png.jpg)

Poor lonely little guy

Of course we went to visit him.

We discovered that the Blue Sun Fun price on *Willy Wonka* was upped from last year’s 25¢ per game to this year’s $1.00 per play on this new game.

In desperation, we searched everywhere for a sign of more
pinball.

[![The only pinball sign we saw](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/104-bssss.png-1024x783.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/104-bssss.png.jpg)

The only pinball sign we saw

However, BSSSS still did have all the candy and soda one
could desire.

[![Candy and soda](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/105-bssss.png-1024x707.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/105-bssss.png.jpg)

Candy and soda

[![Yet more candy and soda](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/106-bssss.png.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/106-bssss.png.jpg)

Yet more candy and soda

[![A wall of soda](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/107-bssss.png-633x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/107-bssss.png.jpg)

A wall of soda

It appeared that this year a full old-fashioned soda fountain and food had been added in place of the pinball machines.

[![Pizza was available for purchase, but we didn't partake](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/108-bssss.png-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/108-bssss.png.jpg)

Pizza was available for purchase, but we didn’t partake

Instead, we milled around for some of the bottled-on-site ‘Whistler’ soda to drown our sorrows.

[![Soda bottling on the premises](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/109-bssss.png-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/109-bssss.png.jpg)

Soda bottling on the premises

[![Just a sign, but not the sign we were hoping for](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/110-bssss.png-752x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/110-bssss.png.jpg)

Just a sign, but not the sign we were hoping for

But wait, what was this? A sign of something more?

[![Was that a "GAMEROOM" sign?](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/111-bssss.png-753x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/111-bssss.png.jpg)

Was that a “GAMEROOM” sign?

We investigated closer and discovered another clue.

[![There, besides the sign, did John Youssi it in the dark background?](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/112-bssss.png-645x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/112-bssss.png.jpg)

There, besides the sign, did John Youssi it in the dark background?

Pinball!

[![The left side of the pinball room](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/113-bssss.png-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/113-bssss.png.jpg)

The left side of the pinball room

[![More from the left side](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/114-bssss.png-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/114-bssss.png.jpg)

More from the left side

[![The right side](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/115-bssss.png-1024x701.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/115-bssss.png.jpg)

The right side

The classic pinball machines were still only 25¢ per game and were now placed in their own darkened room.

[![Classic Blue Sun Fun for just a quarter](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/116-bssss.png-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/116-bssss.png.jpg)

Classic Blue Sun Fun for just a quarter

Many games were played and many sodas were consumed that day.

[![A kiss of soda, a game of KISS](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/118-bssss.png-754x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/118-bssss.png.jpg)

A kiss of soda, a game of KISS

Of course, we did bring back something to wet our whistles.

[![Whistler soda flavours](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/119-bssss.png-1024x870.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/119-bssss.png.jpg)

Whistler soda flavours

Fun fact – the deposit on each Whistler Soda bottle is 50¢. That’s pinball play’n money!

[![Drink a Whistler soda... return the bottle... play pinball... lather... rinse... repeat!](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/120-bssss.png-1024x676.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/120-bssss.png.jpg)

Drink a Whistler soda… return the bottle… play pinball… lather… rinse… repeat!

We were glad to see that BSSSS had expanded their services.
We were not glad about the few non-working (dark in previous pictures) pinball
machines we found. However, due to the fact that non-working or even
problematic games could quite easily be reported, we are sure the reported
games will be fixed in no time at all.

[![We wish every establishment has a system such as this](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/121-bssss.png.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/121-bssss.png.jpg)

We wish every establishment has a system such as this

We were grateful for such a fun place to visit and play
pinball. We found ourselves not the only ones.

[![Notes of appreciation were posed all around BSSSS](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/122-bssss.png-768x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/122-bssss.png.jpg)

Notes of appreciation were posed all around BSSSS

Now that the Christmas holiday is over, we will return to
BSSSS with empty Whistler soda bottles in hand. And play more pinball. And
drink more Whistled sodas. And . . .

[![We've only tried a handful of these; We'll have to try 'em all](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/123-bssss.png-1024x649.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/123-bssss.png.jpg)

We’ve only tried a handful of these; We’ll have to try ’em all

Or, maybe we’ll try one from the soda fountain and enjoy it
with a slice of pizza?

[![Sooo many flavours; I wonder if they'll make us a Suicide Soda?](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/124-bssss.png-1024x732.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/bssss/124-bssss.png.jpg)

Sooo many flavours; I wonder if they’ll make us a Suicide Soda?

Well, that’s it for now. Be sure to leave a comment if you know what the picture was at the beginning of this article, and stay tuned to Pinball News for all the pinball news of 2020 and beyond!

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 1f92b788-e02d-4b66-92e6-4c820e1fbee7*