Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Edwards.
Hi Erin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started while visiting some friends in South Florida. They wanted to take us to do something fun and suggested a Pinball Museum in Delray Beach Florida. At first we thought that was a boring idea because we thought a pinball museum was like any other museum where you would go just to look at pinball machines, When we got there we learned that at a pinball museum you actually get to play the exhibits. We walked in and there were rows of pinball machines, skee ball and retro arcade video games that we used to play as kids. After a couple of hours, we didn’t want to leave. We had such a good time playing pinball that when we got back home to Aiken, we decided to look for a pinball machine for our home. We found one on eBay in Atlanta and we made a road trip to go get it. It was a Freddy: Nightmare on Elm Street and it needed some work so Eric had to take a crash course in pinball repair.
So, after we got the one, we started thinking, “let’s get another one”. Then they started multiplying like rabbits. The next thing we know we have 17 pinball machines in our living room and are hosting monthly parties at our house for our family, friends and co-workers. This was during Covid, so we were limited with what we could do, but we like many other people didn’t handle isolation very well so we decided to make our own social group. We enjoyed it so much that we started entertaining the idea of opening our own small arcade because everyone seemed to be in agreement that Aiken had a lot of beautiful things to see but not a whole lot to do. We had a newly developed passion for pinball and gaming but we didn’t actually know if our community would share that passion and support our business enough for us to succeed but fortunately for us the support has been more than we could have ever hoped for.
We opened our doors in August 2023 with around 60 games. Since then, we’ve grown into South Carolina’s largest pinball arcade, now featuring more than 125 games, including approximately 70 pinball machines alongside a wide variety of classic arcade video games, air hockey, skee-ball, foosball, and more.
Our mission has always been about more than just games. We wanted to build a community where families, friends, coworkers, and visitors could create lasting memories together. Today, we host birthday parties, corporate events, youth and competitive pinball tournaments, school and church groups, and welcome guests from across South Carolina, Georgia, and beyond. Seeing people introduce their children to the games they grew up playing—or watching new players discover pinball for the very first time—is what makes this journey so rewarding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was a challenge at first to open our arcade business because we had never opened a business before let alone an arcade. We received so much guidance and help from other arcade owners that we had visited their arcades. Kelly at The Pinball Palace in Brunswick, GA is amazing and we still pick his brain about things. Mike at Player 1 Up in Rockhill, SC and Mike Martin at Upstate Pinball & Arcade Museum in Simpsonville, SC were very helpful too.
The only struggle we had was the law still on the books for it being illegal for minors to play pinball in SC. Fortunately, after 72 years, our local Stat Representative Bill Taylor really stepped up and rally with our SC Reps and Senators for this antiquated law to be removed from the books and we wouldn’t have it hanging over our heads anymore. It was a law that was never enforced but it still worried us when it came to our business and all the licenses we have to have to operate our business possibly being in jeopardy.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Radioactive Pinball Arcade is much more than an arcade—it’s an experience built around bringing people together. We’re proud to be South Carolina’s largest pinball arcade, with more than 125 games, including approximately 70 pinball machines spanning every era, from classic electromechanical games to the newest releases, along with over 55 classic arcade games and attractions.
Unlike traditional arcades that require quarters or game cards, every admission includes unlimited free play for the entire day. That means our guests can focus on having fun, trying new games, and making memories instead of watching credits disappear.
One thing that truly sets us apart is the atmosphere we’ve created. Whether you’re a lifelong pinball enthusiast, a parent introducing your kids to the games you grew up playing, or someone who’s never touched a pinball machine before, everyone is welcome. We regularly host birthday parties, corporate team-building events, church and youth groups, school outings, family reunions, and competitive pinball tournaments that attract players from throughout the Southeast.
We’re also passionate about helping grow the pinball hobby. In addition to operating the arcade, we’ve partnered with Marco Specialties to help customers purchase new and pre-owned pinball machines, giving people the opportunity to experience and play games in our arcade before bringing one home.
What makes us most proud isn’t simply the number of games we have—it’s the community that has formed around them. We’ve watched friendships begin over a pinball machine, families make us part of their traditions, and people travel hours just to spend the day with us. Our goal has always been to create a place where people can disconnect from their screens, reconnect with each other, and leave with a smile and lasting memories. If someone walks through our doors feeling like they’ve stepped back into the best parts of their childhood while creating new memories with the people they love, then we’ve accomplished exactly what we set out to do. Seeing adults turn into 12-year-old kids is quite fun!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
We protect our reputation at all times because we don’t want to be known as an arcade with broken and dirty games.. We maintain our standards high for our games to be clean and in perfect working order for all of our players. That is what makes us stand out. A person coming in to play a game and to see an “Out of Order” sign on a game is very dissapointing. So when a game breaks, we roll it out of the arcade and bring in a replacement game immediately.
Pricing:
- All Day Pass $20 per person for Admission
- A One-hour pass is $15 per person for Admission
- Birthday parties and Group events start at $199 and up depending on number of people
Contact Info:
- Website: https://radioactivepinballarcade.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radioactive_pinball_arcade/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadioactivePinballArcade/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=radioactive+Pinball+Arcade
