PingPod, a futuristic table-tennis company, providing 24/7 on-demand access for players, recently opened its fourth location at 30-18 Steinway Street in Astoria.
Since it first launched in 2020 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the pod-based ping-pong company has rapidly expanded adding new locations at West 37 Street and Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The brand new 3,200 square-foot gaming space in Astoria features a six-table multi-pod space, including two private pods with a separate entrance, and a dedicated robot table.
Max Kogler, one of the three partners behind PingPod’s unique business model, said that the company’s main goal is to make it easy for people to play table tennis by bringing smaller pods, which are highly visible from the street, to residential areas of the city.
“When we first started exploring Astoria for PingPod we were struck by the vibrancy and diversity of the neighborhood,” Kogler said in a release. “While Astoria is teeming with life and with an abundance of restaurants, there seemed to be a lack of recreational activities. We believe that PingPod will help fill that void by providing a safe and comfortable space for all people from retired adults to young families. We are so excited to be in Astoria.”
PingPod was created by David Silberman as a state-of-the-art concept, aimed at launching a network of the world’s first tech-enabled autonomous table tennis “pods,” which are open retail spaces, ranging from one to six tables that are available to rent in 30-minute increments via an online application.
There are no on-site employees and the locations operate 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Players who register can reserve a table online and check-in at an automated kiosk. When participants arrive at the table, they are provided with a basket full of high-quality ping-pong balls and free paddles to use.
In the two years since it launched, PingPod has proven to be a popular spot for casual players seeking fun date nights, new fitness opportunities, and training for competitive players preparing for their next tournament. So far, PingPod has registered more than 14,000 people to play, with more than 40,000 hours of logged game time.
