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

[demogo]

Check your private messages here, Devin.

 

[1984arcade]

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

Let me know what your favorite game is and I will make sure it is on the floor.

And FWIW it is a co-op, there are 7 of us total. We split everything up into areas where that person has the ULTIMATE say so, it keeps things from being bogged down in committee and any arguments. For example, Chris does all the look and feel work (including the bathroom... do a youtube search for "1984 arcade bathroom" and you'll understand), Lincoln handles the advertising, Jason does the A/V and so on. I am the one that doles out budgets and I am the one that makes games purchases and provides overall direction. So, if for example, Chris wanted to hang all the games upside down from the ceiling and he could do it in budget and justify to me that it fits our theme, that's what would happen.

No we are not a "not for profit". We make money.

And for the record I am in fact an ass to work for.

 

[mclemore]

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

I had never heard of Richyknucklez before but thanks for mentioning it. Definitely not the only place successful as the thread already mentions.

Besides the ones mentioned a variety of other ones seem to be doing fine. Ground Kontrol in Portland has been around for something like a decade, right? Half that time in their present location with a liquor license.

And Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame in Vegas (no liquor) just (a year ago) upgraded from a rental space to a 10,000 building they bought. Also, as a non-profit, they raised between x and x they not only survived but donated $54091.17 to charity (I counted up the checks photocopied on: http://www.pinballmuseum.org/donate.php

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.

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

Partnerships can be tough. Someone always has more time, money, smarts, motivation, different interests or different visions than another and it's a dark road...

I also think on the co-op question that it lends itself to being more practical in some cities than others. You have to get a group of people close enough together to make it work, which usually means a very urban setting, which unfortunately usually means higher monthly cost per square foot.

It works for these guys:

http://www.1984arcade.com/

Sounds like although a group project that there is a captain to the ship...

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.

Thanks for joining us. I see you've had an account for 5 years actually..

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

Thanks for listing those examples...

I continue to explore the feasibility of opening a living/playable museum. I'm particularly looking at Los Angeles, Pasadena in particular. It's not easy.

I'd also like to create a good list of all these places for posting on the site, both to help people find these great locations, and even to help the locations find each other. I think that sharing what works and what doesn't with each other would be useful to at least some of them.

 

[simpsons99]

I would love too have a place like Richies even though i've only seen it on video and web cams.. Seems like that would be my dream arcade.

I had never heard of Richyknucklez before but thanks for mentioning it. Definitely not the only place successful as the thread already mentions.

Besides the ones mentioned a variety of other ones seem to be doing fine. Ground Kontrol in Portland has been around for something like a decade, right? Half that time in their present location with a liquor license.

And Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame in Vegas (no liquor) just (a year ago) upgraded from a rental space to a 10,000 building they bought. Also, as a non-profit, they raised between x and x they not only survived but donated $54091.17 to charity (I counted up the checks photocopied on: http://www.pinballmuseum.org/donate.php






Partnerships can be tough. Someone always has more time, money, smarts, motivation, different interests or different visions than another and it's a dark road...

I also think on the co-op question that it lends itself to being more practical in some cities than others. You have to get a group of people close enough together to make it work, which usually means a very urban setting, which unfortunately usually means higher monthly cost per square foot.



Sounds like although a group project that there is a captain to the ship...




Thanks for joining us. I see you've had an account for 5 years actually..



Thanks for listing those examples...

I continue to explore the feasibility of opening a living/playable museum. I'm particularly looking at Los Angeles, Pasadena in particular. It's not easy.

I'd also like to create a good list of all these places for posting on the site, both to help people find these great locations, and even to help the locations find each other. I think that sharing what works and what doesn't with each other would be useful to at least some of them.

 

[mclemore]

Back to the co-op question, if profit isn't the motivator it is potentially a nice way for a number of people to collectively volunteer to make something happen.

Both the Pacific Pinball Museum and the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club are non-profits with 100% volunteer labor which changes the whole equation of course.

For anyone interested in learning about the non-profit arcade model, how about a peak at their tax returns?

Pacific Pinball Museum

2007 - http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/202/467/2010-202467607-05d9f1a4-Z.pdf
2008 - http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/202/467/2008-202467607-050d9450-Z.pdf
2009 - http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2010/202/467/2010-202467607-05d9f1a4-Z.pdf

Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club (Las Vegas Pinball Museum):

2007 - http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/260/060/2007-260060884-0401229b-9.pdf
2008 - http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/260/060/2008-260060884-05274050-9.pdf
2009 - http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/260/060/2009-260060884-060571cd-9.pdf

I was impressed that Vegas does all their accounting by hand, that (according to the 2007 return) electricity was only $13k for the year, and that in 2007 that they made about $150k from operations. I take that to mean that even if it hadn't of been a non-profit and had paid salaries and wages, that it would probably still survive (but no one would be getting rich).

 

[OldTymeToys]

Let me know what your favorite game is and I will make sure it is on the floor.

You'll laugh, but Crystal Castles is my favorite game for a ton of reasons! Congrats on your success and continued success- see you in March.