Retro Arcade Opening in Central NJ

Homer79163

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Red Bank, New Jersey
Hi all, I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be opening a retro arcade in Red Bank, NJ hopefully by the end of September. The name of the arcade is YesterCades and will feature 60 arcade games, approximately 12 pins, a couple flat screens for current gaming systems, and a pool table.

All games are set on freeplay and the fee will be charged on an hourly rate.

I know there are many of you out there that are longing for that classic arcade setting (like I am), so I thought it would be good to spread the good news.

I am on both Facebook and Twitter Like & Follow me on there and I will do my best to keep everyone posted.

If you'd like to email me any thoughts or ideas, I can be reached at [email protected].

Hope to see you this fall!

- Ken Kalada
 

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Good luck! Love this trend in NJ. Third arcade I'm aware of there!
 
Wish there was something like that closer to here; but I am curious - how do you enforce the hourly rate? Is there a wrist bracelet, or something directly tied into the games?
 
The hourly plan ends up making Spy Hunter cost me $10 per play :(
You should ponder offering a flat rate admission also.
If you expect only transient traffic, you will do fine.
If you expect repeat customers, give them a fair value.
And don't skimp on playability & repair issues.
Many admission-based arcades fail in this respect
and lose the interest of their core base fast.
I'm sure you've spoken to several operators about these
things before signing a commercial lease, though.
 
I am right up the street from Jay and Silent Bob - I've spoke with them about cross promoting and they were majorly excited about the whole idea.

Keeping track of time if done exactly like you said, via a scanable bracelet through a POS System. You would think that this would'v ebeen an easy task but I went through absolute hell trying to find a company that would be able to do it.

I certainly will have specials for regulars and flat rate priced days. Day passes will also be available for purchase. I had to go through all kinds of special approvals and get a change of variance from the town of Red Bank, they were pretty strict on allowing it provided it didn't become a "hang out" where people just loiter and create problems. I really don't forsee any issues, but it was a real pain to get through.

Everything is trail and error really for at least the first year. Certain things that I haven't even thought of will work better than things that I think now are a home run. Please keep the suggestions coming, all input is greatly appreciated.

I am really excited about this and can't wait to finally get open!
 
I had to go through all kinds of special approvals and get a change of variance from the town of Red Bank, they were pretty strict on allowing it provided it didn't become a "hang out" where people just loiter and create problems.

This in itself is a big win. Red Bank seems like a town that would surely fight the opening. My advice would be to keep people from standing at your entrance, which may be difficult if they are smoking. Signage indicating "no smoking within 20ft of entrance" might help, but be sure to enforce it, kindly. This image of people loitering out front is indelible in the minds of town management and law enforcement.

Try hard NOT to call the police about problems with customers unless absolutely necessary. You will get known as a source of nuisance. Offering discounts/free plays to children with good report cards is a killer PR move, too. Heck, give out 60 minute free passes to township officers, too. And I don't need to tell you about booking birthday parties, I bet.
 
Without a doubt I will try to keep the police calls at an absolute minimum. Two of my employees are SURA certified, so for real busy nights (like during the fourth of July fireworks in town), I will have them in uniform to hopefully squash and garbage that may occur. I know a lot of the officers on the force in town (in a good way, not for the wrong reasons) and definitely will offer them free passes and family discounts (for fire, ems, and military too) - I think it is important to do things like this and every business should show their support by doing so.

I am right down the street (about 200 feet away) from a Catholic High School and Grammar School - I will definitely offer promotions for Honor Roll Discounts and maybe coincide specials for school events like dances, etc. Also thought of doing after school specials on certain days and see what happens.

The sky is the limit with all this stuff and it is great to hear others' ideas and listen to what people want. Not only in this operation, but in any business opening up I think that this is critical in not only the start-up success, but on-going. That being said, keep the ideas coming :)
 
Good News Ken! Glad to see it getting off the ground. If you need any help
getting it going give me a hollar.. I'll check it out opening weekend.
 
This concept is what I always thought would be the future of arcades and have voiced for years!! I think this WILL sell, and get both young and old interested in playing real arcade games! After hosting over 30,000 arcade parties at TNT Amusements since 1987, I have always seen the interest of people when they can play any game they want without having to plug quarters in them---they could then try games they wouldn't have tried.

Some people will have enough after an hour while others will stay longer....but slow days (Mon & Tues probably) could have a two or three hour special....plenty of room to experiment!! Good luck with this...it should work out great! Todd
 
Definitely hoping to attract both young and older generations of gamers. Part of what I am hoping will draw the younger crowd is the abaility to play console systems (PS3, etc) in a true arcade setting that you can't otherwise. I think it'd be also pretty cool to be able to play with 5 or 6 of your friends at once. I don't know about you but my parents would never let me have 6 kids over at once unless it was a party!

I plan on trying out different promotions and contests to draw people in on the slower nights to create a steady flow of people coming in and out throughout the week and not just on the weekend. Everything is trial and error the way I see it - I am more than open to suggestions and welcome any ideas you guys may have!
 
Are you going to sell food and drinks? Alcohol? A hassle to get a license, I'm sure, but Ground Kontrol in Portland gets half their revenue from the bar. It's 21+ after 5pm. Are you planning anything like that?

Good luck, by the way. Always good to see new classic arcades opening up.
 
Are you going to sell food and drinks? Alcohol? A hassle to get a license, I'm sure, but Ground Kontrol in Portland gets half their revenue from the bar. It's 21+ after 5pm. Are you planning anything like that?

Good luck, by the way. Always good to see new classic arcades opening up.

He may have trouble with that - NJ (like PA) has a limited # of liquor licenses in each area based on population. I'm not sure about NJ, but in PA the number issued is small enough that they are very expensive and hard to get.

Serving food is a whole separate ball of hurt with food safety inspections, special training, etc. If he's got the budget it's a good way to make some money, but if not he can always do a vending area for now and expand later.
 
You hit the nail on the head with both food and liquor. The last liquor license that sold in Red Bank a few months back went for around $350K and that was considered "a deal". Plus there comes all the added insurance and hassles once you involve liquor. I can do a BYOB for private parties, as I have a back area that I am going to use for a pool table (maybe 2 if I can fit another one back there).

Food is also another ball of wax with the extreme start up expense (you would think there is plenty of used crap out there but there is NOTHING that out there that you actually can use LOL). I don't know squat about the food industry and I didn't want to take on more than I can chew to start. I will be able to offer a couple of menus from area restaurants for customers to order from and "cater" them in. This should work fine for starters. I will have chips, sodas, etc. in vending machines as well.

Getting my change of use variance from retail to assembly was very arduous. Arcades are not allowed in Red Bank and I had to go before the zoning board to do so. If I planned on offering food, I was told by my lawyer that it would be met with much discontent as every business that opens in Red Bank seems to be a restaurant. When I came up with the idea of working with local restaurants to cater food in - the support from the town was wonderful. Hopefully that will work out well in the beginning.

Another thing I thought of doing is a buy & sell counter and be able to sell reconditioned Ataris, Colecos, NESs, etc. to the public. I thought it would be great for those who aren't huge fans of ordering that kind of stuff online. I would like to start off easy with doing it and then expanding it once revenue starts coming in the door.

Thank you for all the ideas and support again, it really makes me feel like I am doing the right thing when I get a positive respsonse.
 
I'll definitely be stopping by man, especially since my wife is a huge fan of Broad St and the shopping there. Best of luck!
 
You hit the nail on the head with both food and liquor. The last liquor license that sold in Red Bank a few months back went for around $350K and that was considered "a deal". Plus there comes all the added insurance and hassles once you involve liquor. I can do a BYOB for private parties, as I have a back area that I am going to use for a pool table (maybe 2 if I can fit another one back there).

Food is also another ball of wax with the extreme start up expense (you would think there is plenty of used crap out there but there is NOTHING that out there that you actually can use LOL). I don't know squat about the food industry and I didn't want to take on more than I can chew to start. I will be able to offer a couple of menus from area restaurants for customers to order from and "cater" them in. This should work fine for starters. I will have chips, sodas, etc. in vending machines as well.

Getting my change of use variance from retail to assembly was very arduous. Arcades are not allowed in Red Bank and I had to go before the zoning board to do so. If I planned on offering food, I was told by my lawyer that it would be met with much discontent as every business that opens in Red Bank seems to be a restaurant. When I came up with the idea of working with local restaurants to cater food in - the support from the town was wonderful. Hopefully that will work out well in the beginning.

Another thing I thought of doing is a buy & sell counter and be able to sell reconditioned Ataris, Colecos, NESs, etc. to the public. I thought it would be great for those who aren't huge fans of ordering that kind of stuff online. I would like to start off easy with doing it and then expanding it once revenue starts coming in the door.

Thank you for all the ideas and support again, it really makes me feel like I am doing the right thing when I get a positive respsonse.

Good luck man, I hope you do well. I'm sorry I'm not in the area, or I'd stop by.

I think having the buy/sell counter might be a good idea, and you can start just haunting yard sales for your initial inventory. Also, you might consider a cooler and a rack of candy as well as have the vending machines.

Oh, something you might try: If you can find oddball flavors of soda, you might try stocking some of those in a cooler. You'd be buying small lots so prices would be high, but if it's stuff people can't get elsewhere, it might be a nice draw.
 
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