# ARCADE REPORT: Bowlmor - Times Square, NYC (December 2019)

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2019-12-01  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/arcade-report-bowlmor-times-square-nyc-december-2019

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## Analysis

A brief visit report to Bowlmor Times Square bowling alley in Manhattan, which features three rock-themed Stern pinball machines (AC/DC Pro, Metallica Pro, Kiss Pro) alongside a Dave & Busters-style arcade. The pinball section is minimal but affordable at 2 credits per play, though playfields were dirty. The author notes Manhattan has surprisingly limited pinball availability outside of Modern Pinball.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] Manhattan has a surprising lack of pinball machines — _Author's observation: 'There's a surprising lack of it there.' Suggests based on personal experience visiting NYC._
- [MEDIUM] Modern Pinball is the best pinball location in Manhattan — _Author states 'By far the best Manhattan location is Modern Pinball' but provides no comparative data or specifics._
- [HIGH] Kiss Pro played well despite dirty playfield conditions — _Direct experience: 'Surprisingly, Kiss played great through several games' despite noting 'Their playfields we're pretty dirty.'_
- [HIGH] Pinball machines at Bowlmor were the least expensive games at 2 credits per play — _Author's direct observation: 'The pinball machines were by far the least expensive games, only 2 credits per play.'_

### Notable Quotes

> "There's a surprising lack of it there."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Establishes scarcity of pinball in Manhattan, supporting broader industry narrative about limited location availability in major metro areas._

> "By far the best Manhattan location is Modern Pinball, but it is a half hour walk from the tree and Times Square."
> — **Author**
> _Identifies Modern Pinball as the premier Manhattan pinball destination but notes accessibility challenges._

> "The arcade section of Bowlmor is very Dave & Busters-esque. That's both good and bad."
> — **Author**
> _Characterizes the venue as a hybrid entertainment space with redemption-heavy arcade games alongside pinball._

> "Surprisingly, Kiss played great through several games."
> — **Author**
> _Notes positive gameplay experience despite maintenance concerns, suggesting Stern rock-themed pins hold up well._

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Bowlmor Times Square | organization | Bowling alley and arcade venue in Manhattan, NYC with three pinball machines (AC/DC Pro, Metallica Pro, Kiss Pro) and Dave & Busters-style arcade games. |
| Modern Pinball | organization | Identified as the best/premier pinball location in Manhattan; located approximately 30 minutes walk from Times Square area. |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of all three pinball machines at Bowlmor: AC/DC Pro, Metallica Pro, and Kiss Pro. |
| AC/DC Pro | game | Rock-themed Stern pinball machine at Bowlmor Times Square; one of three pins at location. |
| Metallica Pro | game | Rock-themed Stern pinball machine at Bowlmor Times Square; one of three pins at location. |
| Kiss Pro | game | Rock-themed Stern pinball machine at Bowlmor Times Square; played by author and son; reported to play great despite dirty playfield. |
| Nintendo Store | organization | Retail location in NYC visited by author prior to seeking pinball venues. |
| Knapp Arcade | organization | Author/content creator publishing arcade and pinball venue reports. |

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Casual family pinball play (author with son) demonstrates pinball appeal to non-competitive players at accessible commercial venues. (confidence: medium) — Author notes 'My son and I only played Kiss' and describes it as 'fun time out with friends' rather than competitive play.
- **[market_signal]** Manhattan pinball venue scarcity signals limited commercial deployment in high-density urban markets; only one standout dedicated location (Modern Pinball) available. (confidence: medium) — Author notes 'surprising lack' of pinball in Manhattan and identifies Modern Pinball as 'by far the best' location, implying limited alternatives.
- **[product_concern]** Dirty playfields observed on Stern rock-themed machines at Bowlmor suggest maintenance issues at commercial locations. (confidence: medium) — Author explicitly states 'Their playfields we're pretty dirty' for AC/DC Pro and Metallica Pro.

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## Transcript

After seeing the sights and visiting the Nintendo Store in NYC the other day I said to myself, let’s try to find some pinball in Manhattan. There’s a surprising lack of it there. By far the best Manhattan location is Modern Pinball, but it is a half hour walk from the tree and Times Square. I managed to find three pins at a super neat bowling alley called Bowlmor Times Square.

The bowling 🎳 part of Bowlmor is really cool. There’s lots of different small sections, each with a few lanes and their own theme. The arcade section of Bowlmor is very Dave & Busters-esque. That’s both good and bad. It means that they have a ton of new fancy games, but that most of them are redemption.

The location had three pinball machines, all rock themed Sterns, AC/DC Pro, Metallica Pro & Kiss Pro. Their playfields we’re pretty dirty. My son and I only played Kiss because we’d played the other two the other day. Surprisingly, Kiss played great through several games. The pinball machines were by far the least expensive games, only 2 credits per play.

This was a quick stop so I don’t have much else to say about it. It was a cool location. Definitely not a pinball destination, but it would make for a fun time out with friends.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-06-06 | Item ID: 24bdecdc-4dba-4ae8-b964-1f75dcc8fa29*