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

[thefader]

I think it would work, if you did a couple things. First you'd have to have a liqour license, so it would attract more of a crowd during the weekends. Then some sort of food sold there, so the under 21 crowd could go there in the daytime. Then, also setting up events, tournaments, things like that, that draw people in, then you make the money off them in liquor allowing you to stay open.

 

[LyonsArcade]

... and then, when the first rent payment comes around, only 2 of your 4 friends pays anything. Then you end up in court. LOL

 

[pringlez]

I think for an arcade to live, right now, it has to have a few things:
1.An owner with some cash
2.Great location
3.(sadly) repemption games

people don't seem to have the desire to visit an arcade that's only video, anymore. But if you had a great location, and the perfect video/redemption/merchandiser ratio, you could do it.

 

[Wundercade]

Pretty much Richyknucklez is the only successful retro arcade with a sustainable business model. God knows how he does it, but he does.

 

[demogo]

It works for these guys:

http://www.1984arcade.com/

I've been there, all classic games, all very fun. Almost everything was working well too although their Spy Hunter needed the usual gas pedal stuff.

They said there were are a number of partners (something like 6-7) and if there had been less partners they could make a living at it. As it is now it's just extra income for all of them.

My kids loved the place. It's in downtown, easily accessible, pretty visible.

 

[1984arcade]

Well this popped up in an internet search, so I felt like I had to reply to it.

My name is Devin. My arcade is 1984. You can find us on the web at www.1984arcade.com. This past July we celebrated our 5th year. We have now been open longer than MOST of the original 80's arcades, and we seem to be recession proof and going strong. Three Saturdays ago was the biggest Saturday we have had to date.

Last week was the slowest week we have had in a very long time. We are open from Wed through Sat and had bad storms on Wed night, then a tornado on Thursday night, all on top of a labor day weekend... HOWEVER if you all would like, I will track down every one of the 348 people we had in last week and tell them all that they didn't want to be there, that our arcade would never work, their kids didn't have fun, that nobody wants to play 80s games, and that they couldn't possibly have fun in a no alcohol environment. Oh and I almost forgot, I'll explain that to the three birthday parties we had there AND I'll call up and refund the money to the seven that I booked during the course of the week.

I guess that perhaps a modern arcade won't work and that we are on some railroad track to failure. I have to say that it sure doesn't seem like it, and that we are all enjoying the ride in the meantime.

And yup, that pedal on Spy Hunter just won't stay calibrated, usually you have to end up sort of stomping on it to get 100 percent throttle.

 

[hisnice]

Dude, that SUCKS!

I'm so sorry to hear that your 1984 arcade is such a bust and now you have to give all that money back to those kids that had fun....

So, I do think there's some market and I do think that you have to be a fairly savvy business person to find the mix of marketing/promotions and game selection and atmosphere that would make it work, but it wouldn't be easy.

And I've had several business ventures with friends and family and we all still get along just fine, but I know that there are lots of opportunities for conflict.

Well, if anyone has any other ideas/models. I'd be happy to hear them. In the meantime, I'll just go play my games and work in my workshops.

 

[Robotron Jon]

We had some arcades like that in CA, they are now all closed.

Is this a non-profit enterprise?

 

[rony2211]

i opened a small arcade ( about 20 games) at or local flea market about 2 months ago its only open sat-sun, im doing about 200-250 a day , all games in the arcade are 25 cent, i do have about 8 more in front of my videogame store there that are set on 50 cent, but the 25 cent arcade does 95% of the daily cash. so i think there is a market for these games you just need a plan and go for it, Ron

 

[norton9478]

I can think of a few models that work...

1. College Town with locals (University Pinball, Philly).
2. Tourist Traps with lots of redemption/Crane (Boardwalks on the Jersey Coast)
3. Museums (mentioned)
4. Hobbyist run admission based warehouses attached to your house (Pinball Parlor, Earlington PA)
5. Urban hipster bar where they let you bring your dog (Barcade Brooklyn)

 

[pistonhurricane]

Thanks 1984 arcade for actually taking the chance to go into the arcade biz. The 300 + people sounds like great #'s! Just wondering if the electric bill is through the roof or alot lower than most people think? Sounds like things are going great and are getting better. Good luck and have fun!

 

[demogo]

1984 is really a nice place. It very much reminds me of the arcades from back in the day.

They have a good selection of games, offer food, and even have a high scores wall where they record that year's and the all time high score for each game and the initials of the person that did it.

It's a family friendly place -- it was crowded with kids when I was there with some amused parents that were getting into the games too. It's fun to see "non-hobbiest" parents playing the games from BITD and enjoying the place.

I did have one bad experience though.

I was playing Spy Hunter and gunning for the all-time high there and apparently a kid was waiting impatiently to play it. So at about 200,000 points I take a 10 second break and stretch while I'm coming back from a boat trip and being unloaded by the weapons van on the side of the road.

And literally 2 seconds after I start stretching this kid jumps in front of the game and grabs the steering wheel and just gapes at the game because he doesn't understand what's going on.

I guess he was used to his games taking 2-3 minutes and jumped the gun.

 

[mckindy]

This has been posted before, but is about as close as it gets for me. I have been twice and it has been absolutely packed. Little different business model though.

http://barcadiadallas.com/

 

[LyonsArcade]

Well this popped up in an internet search, so I felt like I had to reply to it.

My name is Devin. My arcade is 1984. You can find us on the web at www.1984arcade.com. This past July we celebrated our 5th year. We have now been open longer than MOST of the original 80's arcades, and we seem to be recession proof and going strong. Three Saturdays ago was the biggest Saturday we have had to date.

Last week was the slowest week we have had in a very long time. We are open from Wed through Sat and had bad storms on Wed night, then a tornado on Thursday night, all on top of a labor day weekend... HOWEVER if you all would like, I will track down every one of the 348 people we had in last week and tell them all that they didn't want to be there, that our arcade would never work, their kids didn't have fun, that nobody wants to play 80s games, and that they couldn't possibly have fun in a no alcohol environment. Oh and I almost forgot, I'll explain that to the three birthday parties we had there AND I'll call up and refund the money to the seven that I booked during the course of the week.

I guess that perhaps a modern arcade won't work and that we are on some railroad track to failure. I have to say that it sure doesn't seem like it, and that we are all enjoying the ride in the meantime.

And yup, that pedal on Spy Hunter just won't stay calibrated, usually you have to end up sort of stomping on it to get 100 percent throttle.

I think you misread. The question was, "Would an arcade CO OP work", to which everybody resoundedly said "No". Nobody said "1984 won't work". You must be real fun to work with.

 

[Grantman]

My name is Devin. My arcade is 1984. You can find us on the web at www.1984arcade.com. This past July we celebrated our 5th year. We have now been open longer than MOST of the original 80's arcades, and we seem to be recession proof and going strong. Three Saturdays ago was the biggest Saturday we have had to date.

You need to have the location (city, state) of your business in the web page title and on the homepage (on every page, ideally). It took some digging just to find out that this place is located in Missouri.

 

[pistonhurricane]

I think you misread. The question was, "Would an arcade CO OP work", to which everybody resoundedly said "No". Nobody said "1984 won't work". You must be real fun to work with.

Well since he opened his own WORKING arcade co-op so he has experience to answer this specific question...He gave a great answer and honestly it sounds like your hurt or jealous buy saying "you must be real fun to work with". I mean the guy is doing the best thing for this hobby in a POSITIVE way and succeeding. No need to to give him a ticket for going 56 in a 55 mph zone.

 

[SgtSmackaho]

GIf anyone is interested I know a guy with 2800 square feet of retail space for lease in s e michigan 49236 CHEAP!

 

[demogo]

Well since he opened his own WORKING arcade co-op so he has experience to answer this specific question...He gave a great answer and honestly it sounds like your hurt or jealous buy saying "you must be real fun to work with". I mean the guy is doing the best thing for this hobby in a POSITIVE way and succeeding. No need to to give him a ticket for going 56 in a 55 mph zone.

Agreed. I believe they are a co-op with multiple partners as I mentioned in my posting.

 

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

F*** Bill, F*** Tom, and F*** Jim. That's all i'm sayin..

Agreed. I don't like those guys. They sound smug.

 

[OldTymeToys]

Well this popped up in an internet search, so I felt like I had to reply to it.

My name is Devin. My arcade is 1984. You can find us on the web at www.1984arcade.com. This past July we celebrated our 5th year. We have now been open longer than MOST of the original 80's arcades, and we seem to be recession proof and going strong. Three Saturdays ago was the biggest Saturday we have had to date.

Last week was the slowest week we have had in a very long time. We are open from Wed through Sat and had bad storms on Wed night, then a tornado on Thursday night, all on top of a labor day weekend... HOWEVER if you all would like, I will track down every one of the 348 people we had in last week and tell them all that they didn't want to be there, that our arcade would never work, their kids didn't have fun, that nobody wants to play 80s games, and that they couldn't possibly have fun in a no alcohol environment. Oh and I almost forgot, I'll explain that to the three birthday parties we had there AND I'll call up and refund the money to the seven that I booked during the course of the week.

I guess that perhaps a modern arcade won't work and that we are on some railroad track to failure. I have to say that it sure doesn't seem like it, and that we are all enjoying the ride in the meantime.

And yup, that pedal on Spy Hunter just won't stay calibrated, usually you have to end up sort of stomping on it to get 100 percent throttle.

Nice, I'm in Springfield twice a year for meetings with Bass Pro. I'll be by to visit in March!