A NEW SPIN ON PING PONG

SPIN is a self-described ping pong social club founded in 2007 by two avid players and long-time friends, Jonathan Bricklin and Franck Raharinosy. Playing recreationally was not enough for them. They wanted to become a part of the USA Olympic Team. However, this is something earned through lots of hard work and practice. With this objective in mind, they decided to do it in a less conventional way.

What started as a passion for the game became a career, and lead them to create SPIN: the ping pong social club and restaurant where anyone can get together and share their love for the sport.

Bricklin and Raharinosy, while simultaneously practicing “night and day,” decided to throw weekly ping pong parties. Everyone was welcome regardless of skill level. These gatherings hosted all walks of life, from artists to bankers, in pursuit of enjoying the game and each other’s company.

In 2009, the parties inspired them to open the doors to their first establishment, located on Park Avenue in New York City. With its popularity and success, they would go on to open several more locations in major cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Canada, and as of recently, Boston.

It only seems fitting that they would attract like-minded employees who also share an interest in ping pong. One person who was hired in their corporate office, Malin Pettersson, has more than just an interest in the sport. Pettersson is a 14-time Swedish national table tennis champion. She first started playing when she was about four years old, which is when she became very dedicated to the game.

“I actually come from a ping pong family, and my older brothers were already playing. They were really good, and my dad was the coach, so it was kind of meant to be for me,” Pettersson said.

Naturally, Petterson was drawn to the opportunity to work at SPIN, which has allowed her to share her love of the sport with anyone who enters one of their locations. Working as the Director of Brand Experience & Culture, Pettersson assists in coordinating the openings of new locations. From the very beginning, SPIN knew they wanted a location in Boston as it is one of the biggest cities in the United States. “We love cities that are vibrant,” said Pettersson.

When they decided to open in Boston, Pettersson discussed the importance of supporting the surrounding community and diverse clientele. They even have events for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a brain disease that impacts basic motor functions. She mentioned that there are several studies that suggest that those affected by Parkinson’s actually benefit from playing a sport that requires a lot of coordination, such as ping pong. Having events such as these allows them to practice their cognition in a safe and non-judgmental space.

As someone passionate about the sport, Pettersson believes there are many lessons to take away from learning the art of ping pong. She then went on to discuss why people, whether sports fans or not, benefit from learning the game.

“It’s a really great way of team building overall. That’s something we do really well at SPIN, you know, having groups of people and then doing team building around the ping pong table,” said Pettersson.

Group or solo, SPIN has something for everyone. While there, patrons can also check out SPIN Cafe which offers bar food and drinks. It should also be mentioned that there is a different menu for events that features more high-end food. They even have gluten-free and vegan options! There are a lot of good handhelds and finger food that are popular on the menu. In terms of must-try items, Pettersson emphasizes pizza and burgers, their best-selling items. If you are looking to pair these items with a good drink, the seasonal mule and Marty Reisman cocktails are among customer favorites. While there is the ping pong aspect of SPIN, lots of people will still come in just for food, drinks, and to watch a good showdown.

“Our food and drinks are also one of the unexpected parts of what you think of when you come into a ping pong place…there’s a giant bar, a

private bar, and then the communal area where you can sit and hang out and play some of our games, [such as giant Jenga and Connect Four] if you are not coming for the ping pong,” said Pettersson.

Reservations are highly recommended to get a table, and can be done online through SPIN Boston’s website. However, they do welcome walk-ins. Tables are available for up to ten guests, with reasonable pricing that fluctuates throughout the week. People of all backgrounds and physical abilities are welcomed, it is important to note that after 9 PM, it becomes 21 plus.

SPIN’s interior design team described the atmosphere as “upscale, surprising & pop art inspired”. A local artist who goes by the name Blind Fox assists the interior designers in creating a space that encapsulates SPIN’s energy. She does this through her mural work. At all SPIN locations, you can also find immersive art installations such as a bathtub filled with ping pong balls, which create fun photo opportunities. The artwork mixed with the ping pong tables is a uniquely mesmerizing scene. Due to these attributes, many people are naturally drawn to SPIN.

SPIN is the perfect place to have parties, events, or even just to have a fun night out with your friends. SPIN offers a welcoming and entertaining environment to keep you amused even if you are not planning on playing ping pong yourself. The SPIN team’s intent is to build social connections.

“People really unplug and actually hang out together. That I love seeing with all the time we spend on our phones and computers and everything else,” said Pettersson.

People from all walks of life have the ability to engage in a game and conversation. They find their friends and even strangers disconnect from their screens and enrich future connections. SPIN offers a safe and welcoming environment to facilitate these exchanges and to bring the community together, whether that is sharing a good pizza or competitive, fast paced game of ping pong.

@wearespin; wearespin.com Abi Brown