Pink Gorilla

Pink Gorilla, LLC is a retro and imported video game retailer with three locations in Seattle, Washington. It was known as Pink Godzilla Games until 2009. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer considers it "Seattle's best" among such retailers.[2]

Pink Gorilla LLC
TypeLimited liability company
IndustryVideo game retail
FoundedApril 29, 2005 (2005-04-29) (as Pink Godzilla Games)
July 8, 2009 (2009-07-08)[1] (as Pink Gorilla)
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington
,
U.S.
Number of locations
3 (formerly 4)
ProductsRetro and modern video games and consoles, imported video games, video game accessories, branded merchandise, imported plushies, gashapon
OwnerCody Spencer & Kelsey Lewin
Websitepinkgorillagames.com

History

The store was founded as Pink Godzilla Games in 2005 and was known by that name for many years. Toho, owner of the Godzilla franchise, claimed the store was infringing upon its trademark.[2] Pink Godzilla announced in 2009 that it would change its name.[2] Rather than engage in a legal fight, the store decided to voluntarily rebrand.[2]

The company's mascot is Pink Gojima, from the fictional Island of Go.[3] It is also known as Pinky G or just Pinky.[3] The mascot uses the colors of pink and green, which are also used to decorate the retail locations.[4]

In 2018, Pink Gorilla was featured on IGN as one of the Top 5 Essential Spots to Visit In Seattle for Nerds.[5]

Products

The store offers a number of other non-game gaming products, including imported Japanese plush toys, key chains, magazines, strategy guides, accessories,[6] trading cards, and small toys from gashapon machines at both locations.

The store also offers merchandise such as toys and Pink Gorilla-branded T-shirts, hats, beanies, and stuffed pink gorillas fashioned after the store mascot Pinky G.[7] As a sales promotion, the store gives customers who walk in wearing store-branded T-shirts a discount on purchases.[7][8]

Locations
Interior of the Chinatown-International District shop, 2022
Exterior of the University District location, 2023

Pink Gorilla operates three retail locations.[9] The original Pink Gorilla store is located in the Chinatown-International District of Seattle, Washington. The company opened its second location in the University of Washington University District on October 13, 2009.[4]

A third location on Capitol Hill opened in January 2023 at a 1,400-square-foot (130 m2) storefront facing East Pike Street.[10]

Video game players and Twitch.tv viewers from Spencer's streams are known to drive from nearby regions, including Canada and Oregon, to visit the store.[7]

The stores aim to recreate video game outlets in Tokyo.[11]

Staff

As of 2005, Pink Gorilla was owned by partners Nathan Paine and Greg Hess.[7] The two both know Japanese, which they say helps them negotiate with Japanese game sellers.[7] Paine noted, "[The] Japanese are more happy to have business with Japanese speakers, but not the outsiders who don't speak the language."[7]

As of August 1, 2016, Pink Gorilla is owned by Cody Spencer and Kelsey Lewin. Spencer and Lewin both worked for Paine in the store for many years before purchasing the company in full from Paine and Hess. The new owners both work full time in the store. Spencer often live streams himself after normal business hours from inside the store fixing gaming consoles and performing other store tasks on the website Twitch.tv under the name DSKoopa.[12][13]

References
  1. "PinkGorillaGames.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". WHOIS. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  2. Metcalf, Jacob (2009-06-14), Pink Godzilla Games is changing their name, Seattle: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 2012-06-09
  3. Taragan (2009-09-07), Pink Gorilla FAQ, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2009-09-11, retrieved 2012-06-09
  4. Kozo (2009-10-13). "Pink Gorilla University District Construction Update #2". Seattle: Pink Gorilla. Archived from the original on 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  5. 5 Essential Spots for Nerds in Seattle (with Sydnee Goodman) - FAST TRAVEL - IGN Video, retrieved 2018-07-08
  6. Sanji (2011-03-30), No Foolin' Spring SALE and Clearance Event, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2011-08-09, retrieved 2012-06-09
  7. Yiu, Joyce. "Pink Godzilla Brings Unique Gaming to the ID." International Examiner: 16. Ethnic NewsWatch. 2005. Web. 9 June 2012.
  8. Sanji (2011-03-03), Pokémon Black and White is Upon Us!, Seattle: Pink Gorilla, archived from the original on 2012-05-30, retrieved 2012-06-09
  9. "Pink Gorilla LLC - Locations". www.pinkgorillagames.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09.
  10. Jimenez Romero, Jacquelyn (November 23, 2022). "Why Pink Gorilla is coming to Capitol Hill". Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  11. Gilbert, Ben. "I went to Seattle's retro-gaming paradise, and it blew away my expectations — see what it's like to visit the legendary 'Pink Gorilla'". Business Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  12. Baume, Matt (December 17, 2020). "How Seattle Livestreamers Brightened Quarantine". The Stranger. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  13. "Streamer left red-faced after failing in-store skateboard dare in style". Dexerto. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
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