CONCORD, CALIFORNIA – A lot of people in Concord still have no idea this place exists.
Hidden inside a picture framing business on Shary Circle, The Flipper Room has quietly become one of the East Bay’s most unusual hangouts — part pinball arcade, part art gallery, part community gathering spot.
And this weekend, it is going bigger than usual with the return of the Concord Open and Art Market, a three-day event that is set to bring top players, vendors, live music, and even a giant tent full of extra pinball machines to town.
The “secret” part is real
The Flipper Room is not a flashy storefront on Todos Santos Plaza. It is a hidden-in-plain-sight arcade inside APF — The Art of Picture Framing — in Concord.
Even the venue itself leans into that under-the-radar vibe: its own site describes it as a pinball arcade and art gallery in Concord, while Diablo Magazine called it “a hidden haunt inside the APF framing shop.”
The business began as APF — The Art of Picture Framing — serving artists, photographers, and shops along the 680 corridor. The owner reportedly didn’t even want pinball machines originally. But now, it’s a core part of APF’s business.
Today, The Flipper Room says it has more than 30 pinball machines on quarter play, with games ranging from 25 cents to $1 per credit. The machine lineup mixes classics and modern titles, from older games like Wizard and Sinbad to newer ones like Pokemon Premium, Predator, and Winchester Mystery House.
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What’s happening this weekend
The big event is the 4th annual Concord Open and Art Market, running April 17 through April 19. According to The Flipper Room’s event page, Saturday’s outdoor Art Market runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include art and craft vendors, live music, Hippy Dave’s tie-dye tent, and a 60-foot tent filled with pinball machines.
Inside, the annual Concord Open tournament will be underway at the same time, with organizers saying some of the best players on the West Coast will be competing.
The schedule is packed:
- Friday, April 17 — Classics qualifying from 10 a.m. to midnight, and main qualifying from 5 p.m. to midnight
- Saturday, April 18 — Main qualifying from 11 a.m. to midnight, classics qualifying from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., classics finals at 5:15 p.m., and a women’s matchplay tournament at noon
- Sunday, April 19 — Main and B finals at 10 a.m., plus a consolation pin-golf tournament starting by 1 p.m.
IFPA listings show the Concord Open has become a real competitive event, with separate main, side, classics, and women’s divisions listed for 2026 and prior winners going back to earlier years. The IFPA page for this year’s event shows 75 players in the field as of the current listing snapshot.
If you go
The Flipper Room is at 1033 Shary Circle in Concord. Visit Concord lists the venue as open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., and closed Sunday, though event weekend hours are expanded for the Concord Open. The arcade uses quarter play, has a bill acceptor/change machine, does not have an ATM onsite, and advises visitors to bring cash for games.
