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]
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]
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
[edit]Interior of the Chinatown-International District shop, 2022Exterior of the University District location, 2023
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]
As of 2005[update], 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]
Media related to Pink Gorilla Games at Wikimedia Commons
