I used to play pinball here, at the now-abandoned Paradise Pool Hall and Arcade on Barnett Avenue and 48th Street, in Sunnyside. Before its closure Paradise housed the only pinball machines I knew of in the Long Island city area. The owner of the place seemed proud of this when I expressed to him my surprise at finding them. The place closed some years ago. Any time I entered Paradise the place was nearly empty, save for a couple of teenagers making out in a far corner, or a small group of elderly Spanish-speaking men playing pool. Such a sprawling space would seem desirable to developers, but I’ve heard no chatter regarding plans for the structure or the lot. I like the smiley face for its crass declaration of self, and for the ability to get this photo with no trace of myself in the door’s reflective surface.
Abandoned Billiards and Pinball Hall
