Pins & Pints pinball bar lights up new entertainment option in Powell

Opportunities to realize lifelong dreams are rare.

Thomas Noble has the personality that won’t allow one to pass him by.

“I’ve always thought that owning a bar was part of the American dream,” said the 39-year-old Noble. “I grew up during the boom of video games. If it’s a game, I’m all for it.”

A native of suburban Chicago, Noble had been a specialist in operations and supply chain management. Jobs sent him and his wife, Ashley, to places like Louisville and Lexington in Kentucky, and even Singapore for two years.

“We got burned out about the corporate life,” Noble said. “We came to the conclusion, if we didn’t leave Kentucky last summer, we’d be there forever.”

Ashley (Shehan) is a Central High School graduate with family in the Fountain City area.

“We decided to move back to Tennessee and go after our lifelong dream of owning a bar,” Noble said.

Last March, the paperwork was completed. By mid-July, Pins & Pints Pinball Club (1336 E. Emory Road) in Powell was opened.

Tennessee embraces competitive pinball

Eighteen pinball machines will make the Powell facility unique. Noble, who is a competitive player, said there are establishments in downtown Knoxville and West Knoxville that have monthly tournaments.

He plans to have weekly tournaments, which will draw people from all over the area.

Noble said there are about 400 competitive pinball players in Tennessee and he is ranked about 150th.

“I like pinball, but I’m not a very good player,” Noble said. “I like it because it’s a physical game. You are physically controlling a ball. It’s a game I fell in love with when I was young, and still love doing.”

That’s what he’s counting on being the draw for the community.

“This will be a place friends can come together and compete in a game they knew well,” Noble said. “We want this to be a safe space for the community.”

Quality, affordable food on menu

Repurposing the facility has worked well. Noble said the second-generation restaurant took some paint and the revamping of the bar to get it physically ready to function.

“I didn’t know anything about getting a bar off the ground,” Noble said. “There’s no playbook, whatsoever. We just prepared for all the emotions.

“There was the stress of the timelines and lining up the vendors. Every day there has been something new.

“We’ve had to tell ourselves to enjoy the process. Don’t get too overwhelmed. Remember, we asked for this. We’re happy to do what we’re doing.”

Ashley, who has a background in hospitality and culinary arts, will be in charge of the menu. The focus will be on quality with typical pub food. There won’t be a lot of items, but the food will be quality and affordable.

Making that challenge tougher is the fact that, after 20 years together, the couple had their first child in April. Lily made an unexpected and exciting arrival.

The plan is for the facility to be closed on Tuesdays. Hours will be 3 p.m.-midnight during the week, 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays and 11:30 a.m.-midnight Sundays.

All ages are welcome before 9 p.m. After that, it will be over-21.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Pins & Pints pinball bar lights up new entertainment option in Powell