Pink Gorilla Games did not leave Seattle’s International District after a difficult run of security incidents in 2022. Instead, the retro-game retailer opened a Capitol Hill shop on January 1, 2023, while keeping its original neighborhood store open. The owners described the expansion as a way to keep serving both communities and support the business through Capitol Hill’s foot traffic.
What happened to Pink Gorilla in Seattle?
Pink Gorilla opened its Capitol Hill location at 613 E. Pike St. on January 1, 2023. In a January 13, 2023, report, GeekWire described it as the company’s third Seattle location. The article put the new shop at 1,400 square feet; that is a figure reported at the time, not a verified current measurement.
The opening followed a turbulent year at the International District shop. Pink Gorilla’s co-owners told GeekWire that the store suffered a $14,000 burglary in July 2022, an armed hold-up in October, and other incidents, including broken windows. They said 2022 was worse for crime at that store than the previous 17 years. Those are the owners’ accounts in the 2023 report, not a measure of citywide crime or a statement about current conditions.
Did Pink Gorilla leave the International District?
No. The owners considered leaving, but chose to keep the International District location and add Capitol Hill. They cited employee retention and a desire not to abandon the neighborhood as factors in the decision.
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- 【Supported Operating System】The Game Controller is specifically designed for playing classic old school retro snes games on computer or laptop. Compatible with Windows 98 / ME / Vista / 2000/2003 / XP / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10/11, Mac OS X/ OS X 10.0 and beyond, Raspberry Pi, Raspberry PI 2 model B,Model A, Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+, Raspberry Pi 2,Raspberry Pi OS, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, Raspberry Pi 3, Raspberry Pi Zero.
- 【Simple USB Plug and Play】If your program or application accepts USB controller input, this classic game controller do not need install drivers or patches. 1.5 meter external cable(approx. 5 ft. Long). Notice: Please download the game emulator first before start the games, and then you must manually set the buttons and directionals within the emulator you're using, and the controller not automatically assigns buttons/directional axes. If on the Steam platform, you need to first enable Steam's "Universal Controller Configuration Support" and then restart Steam. After entering the game, you also need to manually bind key positions in the game
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Co-owner Cody Spencer explained the neighborhood concern to GeekWire in January 2023: “We’ve been in the International District for 17 years. If we leave, that place is kind of doomed. It’s just a spiral. Another business leaves, then another and another.” He also said the community was trying to support the district and pointed to the Business Improvement Area’s work to make it “a better and cleaner place.” These comments describe the owners’ thinking at the time of the expansion.
Why choose Capitol Hill?
Spencer told GeekWire that foot traffic was central to the choice. He connected a steady flow of customers with the store’s ability to offer lower prices, saying: “We have the lowest prices. The only way we can do that is because a lot of people come through. If we were out in a more rural area, we would probably have to be more expensive. [Capitol Hill] is a perfect mix.” The article did not include comparative price data, so this is the co-owner’s explanation of the business strategy, not an independently measured pricing advantage.
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- Hall Effect Joystick Update.
- Compatible with Switch/Switch 2, Windows, Apple, Android, Steam Deck, and Raspberry Pi.
- Compatible with iPhone, iPad, macOS and Apple TV now. (Officially Supported)
- Full-featured retro controller- clickable joysticks, rumble vibration, motion controls, wireless Bluetooth, rechargeable battery, home and screenshot Buttons and a USB-C connector
- Perfect classic d-pad.
Where are Pink Gorilla’s Seattle stores now?
Pink Gorilla’s official website currently lists three Seattle shops, as well as a separate Las Vegas store. The Seattle locations are:
- University District: 4341 University Way NE
- Capitol Hill: 613 E Pike St
- International District: 601 S King St
The current location and product information comes from the retailer’s website. Hours vary by shop and can change, so check the official site before visiting.
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- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
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What does Pink Gorilla sell?
Pink Gorilla describes itself as an import and retro gaming retailer. Its website lists games and gaming-related goods alongside books, trading cards, apparel, pins, plushies, stickers, character merchandise, and keychains.
The retailer also accepts gaming items for evaluation at its Seattle stores through its buy/sell/trade service; offers depend on condition and change over time. Its mail-in trade information covers games, consoles, and accessories. Online inventory is separate from in-store inventory, so a product shown on the website should not be assumed to be available at a particular Seattle shop.
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- Wide Compatibility – Compatible with Nintendo Switch (Switch 1 only), Windows PC, Mac OS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, RetroPie, Recalbox and more. Perfect for retro gaming, emulators, and classic game systems. Not compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.
- Advanced 2.4GHz Wireless Connection Stable 2.4GHz RF wireless technology provides a fast and responsive gaming experience with up to 10 meters (32 ft) of range. No lag, no drops — just smooth gameplay.
- Simple Plug & Play Setup: No drivers or software required. Just plug the USB receiver into your device and start playing instantly. Compatible with most programs and emulator platforms that support standard USB game controllers.
- Classic Retro Design with Precision Controls Features a familiar SNES-style layout with super-sensitive buttons for accurate, responsive control. Ideal for NES, SNES, Genesis, GBA, RetroArch, BSNES, OpenEmu, and more.
- Rechargeable Battery with Long Life Built-in 240mAh rechargeable battery provides up to 3 hours of continuous gameplay. Fully charges in about 1 hour. Includes battery level indicator for convenient monitoring.
What the expansion does—and does not—show
The Capitol Hill opening was an addition, not a relocation away from the International District. It showed how the owners chose to balance a difficult security environment at one shop with neighborhood ties, employee continuity, and a location they believed would draw enough foot traffic to support their pricing approach. The 2023 report and current store listings do not establish whether security conditions have since changed or whether later incidents occurred.
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