WASHINGTON (AP).- The National Pinball Museum in Washington is being forced to close after just five months.

David Silverman, who put up $300,000 of his own money to help open the museum, tells The Washington Post he recently received a letter informing him he'll have to leave his third-floor space in Georgetown in mid-July.

The museum features 200 pinball machines, some of which visitors can play, as well as displays detailing the art and history of the game.

Silverman says he's being asked to leave to make way for mall renovations. Officials at Vornado Realty Trust declined to comment to the newspaper about the lease agreement.

Silverman says he remains committed to keeping the museum alive.

In a statement the museum said:

By now, some of you have seen or heard the news that National Pinball Museum has lost our lease at The Shops at Georgetown Park. Here’s what happened: shortly before opening in December, we learned that the mall was sold at auction. Much to our shock and dismay, the new owners (working within the parameters of our lease agreement) revoked our lease on May 18, 2011 permitting us just 60 days to vacate the facility to allow for their redevelopment of the mall.

This devastating news could not have come at a worse time for the Museum as we entered the peak tourist season and had just begun implementing our education and outreach programming. Now, we must not only secure funding to continue our programs, but we must also find and secure a new facility and orchestrate the relocation of the Museum. We are confident that with the support of the community, we will accomplish these tasks in short order.

We have developed a plan to minimize our downtime (if any) and are currently searching for a new location. The good news is that we are continuing operations at our current space through July 4, 2011 including exhibits, parties and of course pinball. So come out and play to until the flippers fall off!

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Information from: The Washington Post.


Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.