Sandy Hook parents open up free play arcade

cointech

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Grand opening is Saturday, Feb. 16, 1 p.m.

Newtown, CONN. (February 6, 2013) -- As parents and Newtown residents for over 10 years Andrew Clure and Scott Cicciari share the emotions of all their neighbors in the wake of 12/14/12. The community has been polarized in unity to heal and begin to move forward. Mr. Clure and Mr. Cicciari where searching for an outlet to help. Drawing on a passion for pinball machines and their contacts in the arcade industry they developed the idea of opening an arcade full of family games.

The Sandy Hook Arcade Center (SHAC), located in Sand Hill Plaza at 228 South Main Street, will be open after school three days a week and on weekends. Newtown residents will always play for free. As a not-for-profit initiative the operators will use donations and proceeds from out of town guests to cover the overhead and the rest will be donated to the Town of Newtown.

"This town is struggling and we really wanted to do something to help. We made some initial phone calls to feel people out and the response was tremendous. Then we knew, we have to give this a shot," says Andrew. "For us this is not a business, it's simply our commitment as parents and residents to promote one of the core values in Newtown -- family."

Once the ball was rolling the duo were busy juggling the logistics. "When we called people on the phone, most strangers, and we explained what we wanted to do, the response was amazing. People just really want to help out. It gives you renewed faith in the goodness of people," explains Scott. "There are the big hurdles, like securing the space and getting some fun games. But we soon found out there was so much more. When we open the doors this month we will owe a huge thank you to so many people."

Local small businesses, national companies, the town officials and many local trades people have gracious lent their goods and services to get Sandy Hook Arcade Center off the ground. There will be games for all ages including driving games, pinball machines, air hockey, XBOX Kinect, and many more. Check out the SHAC at their grand opening later this month.

For more information, visit the SHAC website at www.sandyhookarcadecenter.com or like Sandy Hook Arcade Center on Facebook.
 
Local collectors be ready with your cash. Once the pols lose interest and the families have gone their various ways, this thing will dry up. It's a feel-good story in the immediate term, though.
 
"Family games" do not include Silent Scope, Carnevil, etc. Foolish question.

This is heartwarming and interesting.
I hope it provides a meeting place and source of fun
for those children and their nervous parents.
 
"Family games" do not include Silent Scope, Carnevil, etc. Foolish question.

This is heartwarming and interesting.
I hope it provides a meeting place and source of fun
for those children and their nervous parents.

Well said. As a Dad, I can't even imgine what these people are having to live with and recover from. Breaks my heart.
 
Having read and seen so many documentaries over the last 10 years that talk about the struggles of Arcades across America trying to convince the masses that an Arcade is a "Family" establishment, this is indeed a good thing to hear about all of these years later.

It's an arcade specifically to bring families together! That rules. The fact that it's in Newtown is for sure a bonus. I've got family 10 minutes from there... gonna send them a note to check it out.
 
it all sounds great but unless they are getting free rent or its a group of collectors
that are looking for a place to store and share their collection.
after 6 months when no one wants to work because they don't get paid or
when they get the $2000 electric bills each month, and they have no funds to keep buying new games, people will lose interest, both as voulenteers and customers. It really sounds like a great thing, but without an income, will it last.
 
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