SPiN

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]

This article is about the chain of table tennis lounges. For the alternative rock band, see SPiN (band).
SPiN Global
FoundedSeptember 17, 2009 (2009-09-17) in New York City, New York, United States
FoundersFranck 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)
ServicesTable tennis clubs
Websitehttp://wearespin.com/

History and locations
Interior of SPiN NYC

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]

Panorama of SPiN San Francisco's interior

References
  1. Somaiya, Ravi (November 26, 2008). "Back-and-Forth Sport Is Back Again". New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  2. Morgan, Spencer (February 11, 2009). "Franck Raharinosy Is New York City's Priapic Prince of Ping-Pong". New York Observer. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  3. Miller II, Stanley A. (March 3, 2011). "Pingpong club puts new spin on night life". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  4. Selvam, Ashok (March 18, 2015). "Susan Sarandon's SPiN Bar/Restaurant Bringing Ping Pong to River North". Eater Chicago. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  5. 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.
  6. Wilson-Powell, Georgina (May 22, 2013). "Dubai's ping pong nightclub". BBC Travel. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  7. Williams, Felicia (May 20, 2016). "SPiN ping pong club premieres its San Francisco location". Tech Crunch. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  8. O'Donnell, Amanda (March 21, 2017). "Austin to get first ping pong bar". Statesman. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  9. Gelt, Jessica (December 14, 2012). "Giving L.A. a glitzy SPiN on ping-pong". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  10. Tanenbaum, Michael (May 2, 2017). "Popular ping-pong social club SPiN coming to Center City". Philly Voice. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  11. "SPiN: United by Ping Pong". SPiN. SPiN Global. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  12. "Susan Sarandon". The Jay Leno Show. Season 1. Episode 59. December 7, 2009. NBC. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  13. "Soo Yeon Lee". SPiN. SPiN Global. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
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