SPiN
.jpg) Sign outside of SPiN Chicago | |
| Founded | September 17, 2009 in New York City, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Founders | Franck Raharinosy, Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Bricklin, Andrew Gordon |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Susan Sarandon, Pieter Vanermen (CEO), Soo Yeon Lee (brand ambassador) |
| Services | Table tennis clubs |
| Website | http://wearespin.com/ |
SPiN is an international chain of franchised table tennis clubs and bars. The company was founded in 2009 by actress Susan Sarandon, her then-boyfriend Jonathan Bricklin, and other investors including Andrew Gordon and Franck Raharinosy.[1][2]
History and locations
The first location of SPiN opened in New York City's Flatiron District on Park Avenue.[1] Susan Sarandon got involved in the project after attending a table tennis party held by Franck Raharinosy.[2]
The first SPiN franchise outside of New York opened in 2010 in Milwaukee[3] (the table tennis bar at this location is now no longer affiliated with the SPiN brand[4]). In 2011, a location opened in Toronto[5] and in 2013 a location (containing a gold-plated ping pong table) opened in Dubai[6] (it later closed due to Dubai's more conservative drinking norms[7]). Further locations have opened (or are planned to open) in Austin,[8] Chicago,[4] Los Angeles,[9] Philadelphia,[10] and San Francisco.[7] As of 2017, there are seven current or planned SPiN locations in the U.S. and Canada.[11]
Concept and marketing
The concept of SPiN was inspired by popular table tennis parties (called "Naked Ping Pong") held regularly by SPiN co-founders Bricklin and Raharinosy.[2] SPiN franchises incorporate full-service bars and restaurants along with their ping pong tables. The ping pong tables can be reserved by customers (including a "center court" table at many locations)[3][4] who then play for an hourly cost (or purchase a membership).[5] Location openings have often included celebrity appearances and professional table tennis players.[5][9] Sarandon and SPiN brand ambassador Soo Yeon Lee have also promoted the chain.[12][13] The chain has partnered with organizations such as the Glide Foundation to help provide access to table tennis to youth who might be otherwise unable to play.[7]
References
- ^ a b Somaiya, Ravi (November 26, 2008). "Back-and-Forth Sport Is Back Again". New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c Morgan, Spencer (February 11, 2009). "Franck Raharinosy Is New York City's Priapic Prince of Ping-Pong". New York Observer. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ a b Miller II, Stanley A. (March 3, 2011). "Pingpong club puts new spin on night life". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c Selvam, Ashok (March 18, 2015). "Susan Sarandon's SPiN Bar/Restaurant Bringing Ping Pong to River North". Eater Chicago. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c Olivero, Simone (October 13, 2011). "Introducing: Spin Toronto, the new King West ping pong club co-owned by Susan Sarandon (no, really)". Toronto Life. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ Wilson-Powell, Georgina (May 22, 2013). "Dubai's ping pong nightclub". BBC Travel. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c Williams, Felicia (May 20, 2016). "SPiN ping pong club premieres its San Francisco location". Tech Crunch. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ O'Donnell, Amanda (March 21, 2017). "Austin to get first ping pong bar". Statesman. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ a b Gelt, Jessica (December 14, 2012). "Giving L.A. a glitzy SPiN on ping-pong". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ Tanenbaum, Michael (May 2, 2017). "Popular ping-pong social club SPiN coming to Center City". Philly Voice. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ "SPiN: United by Ping Pong". SPiN. SPiN Global. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ "Susan Sarandon". The Jay Leno Show. Season 1. Episode 59. December 7, 2009. NBC. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ "Soo Yeon Lee". SPiN. SPiN Global. Retrieved May 27, 2017.