Downtown developer Chris Nickell has turned his pinball hobby into a new use for the former Cafe Moxo space, at least for now.
“I bought a machine to play with my kids and had a personal interest in pinball,” Nickell said. “My son and I played in a tournament at Dumb Records.”
Now, Nickell has partnered with Brian Galecki and Jeff Black, the owners of Dumb Records, 418 E. Monroe St., to operate Vault 66 Pinball Arcade in Nickell’s building a block away at 409 E. Adams St.
“I started buying machines and putting them in the building, then decided to be open a few hours a week just to get people inside the space to see what we have,” Nickell said. “The Dumb Records guys have taken a keen interest and we’ve agreed to have a partnership.”
Dumb Records has eight pinball machines and three arcade games in its game room, and Vault 66 has 14 pinball machines, with plans to add additional games. The $10 entry fee to Vault 66 can also be used to access the arcade at Dumb Records, and both locations offer unlimited play.
Initially, Nickell said he was opening Vault 66 during the Old Capitol Farmers Market and before and after the Thursday evening Levitt AMP concerts. But the partnership with Dumb Records has allowed him to expand the operating hours.
“Their folks are going to man the operation; it’s turned into an expansion of their arcade,” Nickell said.
A grand opening will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and customers will get a Vault 66 logo tote bag filled with goodies. Creole Smoke will have its food truck parked outside.
Following the grand opening, Vault 66 will be open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday and 12-6 p.m. on Sunday, closed Monday.
The building at 409 E. Adams St. has been vacant since a fire on June 19, 2024, in the adjacent building. Cafe Moxo, which had operated downtown for 18 years, later relocated to the west side, and the fire-damaged building next door was demolished. Special brackets were put in place to stabilize the wall that was between Cafe Moxo and the three-story building that was destroyed by the fire.
Nickell said while he originally hoped Vault 66 would provide a temporary use for the space until he found a new tenant, it has already evolved into more than he initially envisioned.
“Because of the interest I’ve gotten, both with people coming into play and the folks at Dumb Records, it may be more permanent than it was initially intended to be.”