CLEVELAND, Ohio - Three artist friends are turning their hobby into a business by opening the Superelectric Pinball Parlor in the Gordon Square Arts District.

Artists Ben Haehn, David Spasic and Nathan Murray met while studying art at Bowling Green State University. After graduating, they began working out of a third-floor studio at 78th Street Studios, where Superelectric Press designs and provides silk screening services for posters and clothing.

A few years ago, Haehn's father gave him a 1960s-era pinball machine called Cow Poke, which Haehn remembers playing as a child at home.

The men renovated it. Eventually, they bought additional pinball machines, learning how to repair them. Every third Friday, they opened up their studio for the public to come in to play pinball while looking at their artwork.

"After a while, we realized it would be nice to have someplace we could do this more often - more than just once a month," Spasic said.

They found a first-floor space adjacent to the Capitol Theatre, at 6500 Detroit Ave.

Pinball, while popular through the 1980s, began to wane with the introduction of arcade, and then home video games. But Spasic and Haehn said there now is a resurgence of interest.

"Some of these machines are 50 years old, and you won't see them anywhere else," Haehn said. "It's a great way to explore the art and the fun of a sport that a lot of people forgot was around. We're trying to bring that back and have a good time."

The men use their artistic skills to refurbish used machines. Often, the artwork on the cabinets is worn or damaged, and they are able to restore it to its original condition.

In addition to selling tokens to play games at Superelectric Pinball, the men sell refurbished pinball machines. The parlor currently serves soft drinks and snacks, but there are plans to put in a kitchen and apply for a liquor license. However, the owners said they want to maintain a family atmosphere.