SPiN Ping Pong arrives in Chicago on Friday morning when they open to the public and show off their combination bar/restaurant/club and table tennis venue. It's worthy of a celebrity, as actress Susan Sarandon is credited as a co-founder of the "ping pong social club," which originated in 2009 in New York. It's also a bit of a celebrity hangout in New York, as SPiN's made itself a hip space for those who don't want to just stare at their smartphones.
The aesthetic inside the 16,000-square-foot space at 344 N. State St. matches its Big Apple sibling. Look out for the graffiti wall covered with work from local artists. There's two bars and three private-lounge areas, as well as 20 STIGA ping pong tables, including a center court, surrounded by stadium seating, for big matches. Novices can consult with on-hand table tennis pros to raise their skills.
Check out the "March Madness"-like tournament bracket on the wall, as SPiN hopes competition grows high on the weekend. The plush chairs, hardwood floors and modern lighting make it feel like possibly the coolest rec room ever. But there's also spaces near the bar that will give players who need a timeout an area to decompress from that tough match without the sounds of balls flying around.
Think you've got game? Check out the photos above, as SPiN opens at 11 a.m. on Friday.
