Spin, a pingpong social club, was created to encourage connections. In 2007, Jonathan Bricklin and Franck Raharinosy, founders of Spin, wanted to take their recreational pingpong skill set to the next level. To up their game, the two hosted weekly pingpong parties to practice. These gatherings brought in diverse individuals—actors, bankers, artists, and news broadcasters, for example—in a quest to enjoy the sport and improve their skills. The diversity of the party-goers sparked the idea to create a permanent space for pingpong lovers regardless of background or athletic experience. Thus, Spin was born in the Flatiron District.
“Pingpong is a really unique, fun, social activator,” says Gregory Godfrey, vice president of brand and culture for Spin. “This is for anybody … whether you are 5 years old or 80 years old, people [get excited about it], and they can have a really good time around a pingpong table.”
Godfrey notes that the Spin team can work with planners to organize tournaments, facilitate exhibition games, and create unique dining experiences with craft cocktails and delectable bar bites for groups as small as two and as large as 900. And for the newbies out there, each location is equipped with a pingpong professional to coach players.
“We made the venues comfortable for every type of guest, and they are really crafted for group experiences,” Godfrey says. Since its inception, the company has expanded from New York City to other locations across the northeast including Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Boston, Massachusetts. A second New York City location in Times Square is coming soon.
