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it's a growing fad
pinball players to beat the machine and be
a "wizard."
Because of the increased enthusiasm for
these games, an establishment or area which
features them does well financially. The
Clackamas Community College game room
is an example.
In the game room in the Community
Center there are three pool tables, two
foosball tables and five pinball machines.
From the pool and foosball tables, a $200
average revenue is generated weekly. Ex
pectations for the game room's income for
next year is over $9,000.
The M&J Game Room opened for such
activities two months ago at 16585 S.E.
McLoughlin Blvd.
"We have just added some new tables
and the interest is very good. The place
pays for itself," said Mike Wenklepleck,
owner of M&J.
M&J's has 12 foosball tables and nine
pinball machines, but no pool tables at
this time . According to Wenklepleck, ex
pansion plans are being made and pool
tables will be added when there is room.
Foosball makes up over half of M&J's
business, with pinball and food creating the
rest of the income.
Wenklepleck credits the growing excite
ment for foosball to the increased interest
in soccer. When soccer caught on in Port
land, interest seemed to be generated for
foosball, he said.
Nearly 95 per cent of M&J's business
comes from people between the ages of 12
and 20. At times, negative reactions are gen
erated when this particular age group and
pool and foosball are mentioned. Wenkle
pleck said he has had no serious problems
despite the bad feelings people have.
"Actually, this is a great hangout for
kids and it gives them a positive place to
be," he said. "I would much rather have
them here than some place else, possibly
causing trouble.
"I think this is a great idea," he added.
"It gives them someplace to go for good
fun."
If all this talk of fun and skill sounds a
little farfetched for "dumb little games"
like foosball, pool and pinball, one should
challenge a steady player. Anyone will be
surprised at not only how much fun the
games are, but also at how badly someone
can be beaten.
M&J GAME ROOM
FOOSBALL
PINBALLS
Foosball tournament every Thursday,
7 p.m.
COST; $2.00 per person; trophies
SNACKS
COLD DRINKS
1 block north of Super 99 Drive-in
HOURS
Mon. - Thurs. 2 -12
Fri. 2 -1
Sat. 12-1
Sun. 12-12
Photos by Jerry Wheeler
16585 S.E. MC LOUGHLIN
MILWAUKIE 659-6097
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