Could it ever work to open an arcade co-op?

hisnice

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I was looking at Vectorman's arcade and loving the concept of it being open on fri night and all day saturday and that's it.

Then I was wondering, with the economy as it is, and with so much empty dead retail space out there for super cheap, could it be possible to open a retro arcade in 2010? The answer is still no. No one has the time and money to spend and no one would come play.

UNLESS!.... what if 10 people owned it!?! 10 people each bring 5 games, at least 1 of the 5 is pretty special (like a warlords cocktail or EDOT or something). We're open 10 days a month so each person gets a day. Everyone pitches in a few bucks toward the rent, everyone helps fix games and mop the floor. You put some parts and supplies (lamps, molex...) out for sale and maybe locals can put their machine in for sale on consignment (but it's available for anyone to play)....

Is that crazy? I live NW of Chicago and there's a ton of gamers within an hour of here. It could be a rare local place to pick up parts and it may also be a great meeting place to talk gaming.

So, here's why it wouldn't work:
* Getting 10 people is tough. Bill likes Jim, Jim likes Tom, Tom thinks Bill can go f*** himself.
* There's still not much demand for classic arcade gaming. Unless there was enough money coming in from consignments (on game and retail sales), and maybe the occassional private party, it's probably going to lose money each month.
* There would need to be management/leadership. Jim fixes a lot of games, but can't work his shift for 3 months. Is that ok or not. Blah blah blah....

Anyway, I'm going to say that it COULD work, and I personally would put 5 games in and would help, if it was in the NW Chicago burbs and not too expensive.

What do you think a) about the concept and b) about doing one in your city?
 
There was a place that I guess was similar to what you're saying, but I think it involved less people. They had warehouse space and a bunch of games. Unfortunately, the place burned down. This was a couple of years ago, someone could probably fill in the gaps I'm missing.

There are about 5 people in my life that I'd consider doing something like this with. As much as they enjoy coming over and playing games at my place, they're not into it enough to commit to something like that. You need to have very easygoing, responsibly and trustworthy people to do this with. Not easy to find people with all those traits, unfortunately.

Just look at all the sellers here that flake out and cite personal issues (not pointing fingers, its happened dozens of times). Imagine counting on someone like that to pay their share of a $3000 rent/utility bill every month?
 
If one of the 10 takes count of the money brought in and then uses that to pay the rent. If it is less than the rent and electricty then you'd had to have the group split what was owed.

The building fire may have been the OK City place.

There are several arcades/museum already opened or in the works.

NY (The one that was told he couldn't operated in the city)
Galoping Ghost
Fun Spot
OK City
Pinball Hall of Fame
IVGHOF (In planning stages)
and I know of two in TX which I can't talk about as they may not want it public yet.

Might be others I am missing.
 
I always thought about finding a fellow klover (or klovers) to rent industrial space with to just store machines and have a place to restore them, meet customers at etc. Not an arcade, but just a means of extra space.

Brendan
 
business with friends never works, let alone 9 other "friends".

Bingo, we have a winner. Friends are cool as long as money isn't involved. Then they get exposed as cheap asses, or they spend too much, or whatever. Partnerships in business have a really high failure rate, it's just a baaaaad idea.

And co-ops only work when there's 1000's of people involved, like a phone company co op or something. Even then, the only responsibility the members have is to pay money, they hire other people to run the damn thing.
 
I think if the arcades also served Pizza and beer like many arcade joints did BITD,this little venture would fare a lot better.But then you'd open yourself up to even more issues and fees.(Food permit,alcohol license,etc.)
 
F*** Bill, F*** Tom, and F*** Jim. That's all i'm sayin..
 
There was talk of the chicago gang getting togther just for wrehouse space if anything, but i like the idea of the co-op.. only prob is, getting everyone to follow through on thier commitments is next to impossible..

In a perfect world thats an awseome idea, but in reality its just not a great idea
 
seems like if something like that were to go, you would want to offer chassis rebuilds, and any other repair services as well, just to sweeten the pot a little.
 
The best idea is to:
Win the powerball.
Buy a shitload of games
Buy or build a big building to put them in
Hire a few people to run it and a few techs for game repairs.
Charge a nominal fee for all day play and/or rates for private parties.

Viola! :D
 
Just a thought

I would love to have a multi level arcade it would be great and one hell of an attraction. Like three levels. probley would be like 60's/70's level, 80's level and then 90's level.
which level you guys would have the most play time.
I think it would be the 80's games!
 
I'd rather get 4 freinds or collectors together and buy a building. Then we each get a quarter of the space for our collections. If the building is big enough, then we could have special 1 day only parties to play either your set of games or 2, 3, 4 sets of games. This wouldn't be a money making deal, just a hobby deal.

I just got 4 more games and literally I am out of sapce. I'd like to have my collection in one space all together. Looks like I can top out at about 25 in one spot and 10-15 in another spot.
 
I looked into opening an actual arcade with my games a few weeks ago. After lots of research and several attempts at various steps in the process, all I can say is... never again.
 
I would love to have a multi level arcade it would be great and one hell of an attraction. Like three levels. probley would be like 60's/70's level, 80's level and then 90's level.
which level you guys would have the most play time.
I think it would be the 80's games!

Great idea. I would put the 60/70's on level 1, then 80's on level 2 and rest on level 3 that way new generation would have to pass the evolution before they get up to top. Hopefully that would spawn off interest and they stop and play the classics before heading up to their generations games!
 
I looked into opening an actual arcade with my games a few weeks ago. After lots of research and several attempts at various steps in the process, all I can say is... never again.

why was it so hard? village regulations? or just the usual landlord/taxes/legal crap for any business.
 
Trying to get interest in a world of XBOXES :rolleyes:

I find that strange, some of the neighborhood kids have seen/played my games and they are in awe and don't care about the graphics.

"You can OWN these things!?" is about the first thing that comes out of their mouths. And they play until I shuffle them off.

Mind you I don't own any "classics" as you guys refer to them, my games are from the late 80s/early 90s, gots not Asteroids/Robotron/Defender up in here and likely never will as I don't enjoy them enough to own them.
 
I find that strange, some of the neighborhood kids have seen/played my games and they are in awe and don't care about the graphics.

"You can OWN these things!?" is about the first thing that comes out of their mouths. And they play until I shuffle them off.

Mind you I don't own any "classics" as you guys refer to them, my games are from the late 80s/early 90s, gots not Asteroids/Robotron/Defender up in here and likely never will as I don't enjoy them enough to own them.
I got SOME interest... but only from the 4 or 5 dudes I know locally that wanted to work there if it was made. Hell, one of the potential employees actually has 5 games in her house. In the end though we decided there was no way to pay off the rent with gameplay alone and I decided I didn't want my games getting mangled in public :D
 
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