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Pink Gorilla LLC
Company typeLimited liability company
IndustryVideo game retail
FoundedApril 29, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-04-29) (as Pink Godzilla Games)
July 8, 2009 (2009-07-08)[1] (as Pink Gorilla)
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington
,
U.S.
Number of locations
2 (formerly 4)
ProductsRetro and modern video games and consoles, imported video games, video game accessories, branded merchandise, imported plushies, gashapon
OwnerCody Spencer & Kelsey Lewin
Websitepinkgorillagames.com

Pink Gorilla, LLC is a retro and imported video game retailer with two locations in Seattle, Washington. It was known as Pink Godzilla Games until 2009. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer considers it "Seattle's best" among such retailers.[2]

History

The store was founded as Pink Godzilla Games in 2005 and was known by that name for many years. Toho, owner of the Godzilla franchise, claimed the store was infringing upon its trademark.[2] Pink Godzilla announced in 2009 that it would change its name.[2] Rather than engage in a legal fight, the store decided to voluntarily rebrand.[2]

The company's mascot is Pink Gojima, from the fictional Island of Go.[3] It is also known as Pinky G or just Pinky.[3] The mascot uses the colors of pink and green, which are also used to decorate the retail locations.[4]

In 2018, Pink Gorilla was featured on IGN as one of the Top 5 Essential Spots to Visit In Seattle for Nerds.[5]

Products

Pink Gorilla buys and sells video games. Offerings include classic games for numerous video game consoles, ranging from early home consoles such as the Atari 2600 and Nintendo Famicom through to modern consoles, namely the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. They also import games and accessories from Japan.

The store offers a number of other non-game gaming products, including imported Japanese plush toys, key chains, magazines, strategy guides, accessories, [6] trading cards, and small toys from gashapon machines at both locations.

The store also offers merchandise such as toys and Pink Gorilla-branded T-shirts, hats, beanies, and stuffed pink gorillas fashioned after the store mascot Pinky G. [7] As a sales promotion, the store gives customers who walk in wearing store-branded T-shirts a discount on purchases.[7][8]

Locations

People browsing a Pink Gorilla store.

Pink Gorilla operates two retail locations.[9] The original Pink Gorilla store is located in the Chinatown-International District of Seattle, Washington. The company opened its second location in the University of Washington University District on October 13, 2009.[4]

Video game players and Twitch.tv viewers from Spencer's streams are known to drive from nearby regions, including Canada and Oregon, to visit the store.[7]

Staff

As of 2005, Pink Gorilla was owned by partners Nathan Paine and Greg Hess.[7] The two both know Japanese, which they say helps them negotiate with Japanese game sellers.[7] Paine noted, "[The] Japanese are more happy to have business with Japanese speakers, but not the outsiders who don't speak the language."[7]

As of August 1, 2016, Pink Gorilla is owned by Cody Spencer and Kelsey Lewin. Spencer and Lewin both worked for Paine in the store for many years before purchasing the company in full from Paine and Hess. The new owners both work full time in the store. Spencer often live streams himself after normal business hours from inside the store fixing gaming consoles and performing other store tasks on the website Twitch.tv under the name DSKoopa.[10]

Lewin is also a co-director at the Video Game History Foundation.

Events

The store represents itself at a number of comic- and gaming-related conventions, including Emerald City Comicon,[11] Sakura-Con,[12] Seattle Retro Gaming Expo,[13] Portland Retro Gaming Expo,[14] and Penny Arcade Expo.[15][16]

The store also hosts its own events, in the past including video game tournaments,[17][18] chiptunes shows,[19] and launch events for major video game releases.[20][21][22][23]

In 2011, Pink Gorilla held a fundraiser for the Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief efforts and donated $1000 to the cause.[24]

References

  1. ^ "PinkGorillaGames.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". WHOIS. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  2. ^ a b c d Metcalf, Jacob (2009-06-14), Pink Godzilla Games is changing their name, Seattle: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 2012-06-09
  3. ^ a b Taragan (2009-09-07), Pink Gorilla FAQ, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2009-09-11, retrieved 2012-06-09
  4. ^ a b Kozo (2009-10-13), Pink Gorilla University District Construction Update #2, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2009-10-17, retrieved 2012-06-09
  5. ^ 5 Essential Spots for Nerds in Seattle (with Sydnee Goodman) - FAST TRAVEL - IGN Video, retrieved 2018-07-08
  6. ^ Sanji (2011-03-30), No Foolin' Spring SALE and Clearance Event, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2011-08-09, retrieved 2012-06-09
  7. ^ a b c d e f Yiu, Joyce. "Pink Godzilla Brings Unique Gaming to the ID." International Examiner: 16. Ethnic NewsWatch. 2005. Web. 9 June 2012.
  8. ^ Sanji (2011-03-03), Pokemon Black and White is Upon Us!, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-05-30, retrieved 2012-06-09
  9. ^ http://www.pinkgorillagames.com/locations
  10. ^ "Twitch".
  11. ^ Sanji (2012-03-29), Pink Gorilla at Emerald City Comic-Con 2012, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-04-14, retrieved 2012-06-09
  12. ^ Sanji (2012-04-06), Pinky G Invades Sakura-Con 2012, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-04-14, retrieved 2012-06-09
  13. ^ Sanji (2012-05-13), Pink Gorilla at SRGE - May 28–29, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2011-07-29, retrieved 2012-06-09
  14. ^ Sanji (2011-09-09), Weekend Festivities - PRGE and Back 2 School BASS, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2011-11-08, retrieved 2012-06-09
  15. ^ Sanji (2011-08-17), Pink Gorilla @ PAX 2011 - Booth 149, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2011-09-20, retrieved 2012-06-09
  16. ^ Parish, Jeremy (2009-09-06), Retronauts at PAX: Day 3, 1UP, retrieved 2012-06-09
  17. ^ Kozo (2012), PG University Arcade DDR SN2 Tourney Recap, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2010-03-06, retrieved 2012-06-09
  18. ^ Sanji (2012-02-09), Feb 15: Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Tournament @ PGUD, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-05-30, retrieved 2012-06-09
  19. ^ Sanji (2011-07-07), 2 Hot Summer Chiptune Shows @ PG, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2011-08-09, retrieved 2012-06-09
  20. ^ Kozo (2010-11-03), Assassins Creed Brotherhood Official Launch Party!, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-05-30, retrieved 2012-06-09
  21. ^ Kozo (2011-09-14), Gears of War 3 - Midnight Launch @ PGUD, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-02-08, retrieved 2012-06-09
  22. ^ Sanji (2011-02-17), Killzone 3 - Midnight Launch at PGUD, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-05-30, retrieved 2012-06-09
  23. ^ Kozo (2010-10-15), Fallout: New Vegas Midnight Launch @ PG UD, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-05-30, retrieved 2012-06-09
  24. ^ Kozo (2011-04-14), Japan Relief Donation, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2011-08-09, retrieved 2012-06-09
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