DELRAY BEACH, FL February 4, 2016
Founded by Robert Ilvento and Steve Zuckerman in 2009 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the Silverball Museum is not a traditional museum, but a collection of high-end, pristine pinball machines and other popular arcade games from the early 1950s through the 2000s. Two hundred of the top games are regularly rotated from the owners’ multimillion-dollar collection of more than 600 machines.
Silverball anticipates replicating this unique experience in Downtown Delray Beach. The museum will hire 20-30 staff members for its second location in the “Village by the Sea.” Coincidentally, Silverball’s first location is in the “City by the Sea.” Dan Toskaner is the general manager of the Silverball Museum. With more than 30 years of experience, he is among the top arcade technicians in the world. According to Toskaner, Silverball looks forward to being a popular attraction for fundraising, family, friends and a great time in its new community. The museum is expected to open in 2016 in the former nightclub location at 19 Northeast 3rd Avenue.
The original Silverball Museum even features the original skee ball alleys from the famous Eldorado Arcade in Coney Island, New York. Silverball’s mission is to archive this era of arcade games for generations to come. Both educational and entertaining, each game features a placard that tells the story of its historical significance. Every game in the museum is set for free play, and yes, all games are available to be played. Patrons enjoy themselves for minutes, hours or days at a time by purchasing a 30-minute, one-hour or daily pass, or by becoming a museum member for $50 per month. Members are granted free access along with one free guest. Additional members’ guests receive half-price admission.
Without Ilvento’s autistic daughter, Morgan, becoming so fond of pinball machines, there would be no Silverball Museum. The Silverball Winter Gala for Autism is an annual formal event at the museum which raises more than $10,000 each year for three worthy charitable organizations: Autism Speaks, Autism New Jersey and The Arc of Monmouth. Additionally, thousands of free passes are donated each year to local nonprofit organizations through silent auctions and other fundraising events. Selling passes to the museum has become a popular fundraiser among churches, schools, children’s sports teams and other organizations. Giving back to the community is at the heart of Silverball’s mission.
The Silverball Museum has hosted guests such as some of New Jersey’s best-known disc jockeys, Big Joe Henry and Glen Jones; New Jersey’s governor, Chris Christie; Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny Lyon, Glen Burtnik, Ivanka Trump, Fred Schneider of the B-52s, Adam Levine and Wendy Williams.
