Revealed: What happened to Spacies and what will replace venue

After the sudden closure of a Toowoomba business, a new venture has opened in the same space. Here’s all you need to know.

Jon Quinlivan has opened Flipp'd. A Pinball and Arcade Cafe in Club Lane. Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

When the Spacies Cafe Arcade suddenly closed its doors late last year, reigning pinball champs were left without a place to call home, but now a new business is hoping to change that.

Arcade game enthusiasts have been hitting high scores at Spacies since it opened in 2020 and before its sudden closure in September.

Jon Quinlivan has opened Flipp'd. A Pinball and Arcade Cafe in Club Lane. Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Now after a month of renovations, Jon Quinlivan has started new venture Flipp’d, which sits in the same space as its predecessor.

Pinball machines are called Flippers in the arcade game’s origin country of Germany, which Mr Quinlivan said inspired the choice of name.

Jon Quinlivan has opened Flipp'd. A Pinball and Arcade Cafe in Club Lane. Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“Things didn’t work out for the previous owner, so when the lease became available, I jumped at the opportunity and rehired all of the staff who had lost their jobs,” he said.

“A lot of people missed what this venue was – it offers a sense of community and place to chill out and play some games.”

Flipp'd Toowoomba menu.

While Mr Quinlivan said it was a tough time to be starting a new business, he was confident the experience gained from running his other company Darling Downs Vending for years, would come in handy.

The transformed venue’s space features window screens, a new bar using recycled timber from the its original tables and the addition of new pinball machines including Guns N’ Roses, Jurassic Park, Deadpool and Elvis Presley.

Flipp’d is at 2 Club Lane and open Thursdays to Sundays. Hours vary. See the menu at thechronicle.com.au.