I started researching opening my own arcade. It’s a childhood dream I’ve had, among others. I have some big ideas for it. I’ve been a gamer my whole life. I attempted to learn game design. Unfortunately, that dream crashed and burned due zero support from my ex wife who always wanted me to skip class. I have dabbled in game design via RPG Maker. But I’ve always wanted to open an arcade. Hell, I’ve always wanted my own personal arcade and I have it with my Arcade 1ups. As a kid, I loved arcades. The sights, the sounds. I could be in one all day. I was sad when Aladdin’s Castle was taken out of Layton Hills Mall. That was a part of my childhood. With the home consoles being more powerful and MAME on computers, why do we need arcades? They’re pretty much gone. Sega already closed their arcade division. But wait! These days…retro is in! There were a few retro arcades that have popped up. These one north of me. There are retro arcade bars in Salt Lake and Ogden. And here I am in between. My one horse town of Kaysville Utah has Boondocks and Cherry Hill. Boondocks is open year round but their arcade is not retro. It’s mostly redemption machines, a few driving games, no pinball. Cherry Hill is a seasonal business and would not be open during the winter. My dream arcade would have not only classic games, maybe a few current games, a pinball section, a snack section with vending machines, but also an indoor mini golf course! I doubt I could make it that big at first, but in time, why not? I plan on researching further, seeing what I need, where I can go, and how much it’s going to be. This would take a while.
Have you ever been to Galloping Ghost Ar axe near Chicago? I believe it’s the largest arcade in the United States. They’ve got over 1000 retro machines. You pay a flat fee and get unlimited plays all day. Last time I was there, it was $25. It may have gone up since then.
Pilgrimage time! I went there four times while I was living in that area. Every time I had less fun than I expect that I would, yet I still wish I could go back right now. It’s pretty cramped there, and about 20% of the machines are broken at any given time. But if you ever are in the Chicago area for any reason, you definitely want to make a visit.
Ogden used to have Nicklecade, where all machines cost a nickel to play. Though a good chunk didn’t work, and a Spy Hunter cab had a major fit and crashed when I dropped a coin in. Screens were discolored and the Simpsons Pinball had loose flippers. It’s gone now. Quarters two locations in SLC and the LAB in Ogden are decent but they are arcade bars. No way I’m applying for a liquor license, not in my town. There is a Main Street Arcade attached to Louie’s Pizza in Layton. It’s pretty small but the kids love it. Flynn’s Retrocade in Roy is all ages. Been there once and I hope to go there again. I envision a pretty fun place for my arcade.
Well, I took my daughter to Flynn’s Retrocade. Part of this was doing something fun with my daughter. The other part was market research. I see no reason why a place like this can’t work in my town.
On my Uber deliveries, I picked up at a pizza restaurant. But right next door, there was a vacant space. I peered in through the window. Except for a few renovations, it was almost perfect. I could imagine arcade games, pinball machines, and claw machines lining the walls. Not quite the location I had in mind but it can’t hurt being next to a pizza joint. I’m still in the dreaming stages. I don’t know where to start.
I'm so happy for you @Old Nick! Pursuing your dreams can be a lil difficult at first but it's so rewarding when you've accomplished it. There's a few retro arcades that I go to in my hometown of NYC. One is called Barcade and it's really cool. They have a bunch of pinball machines in there but I'm not that big a fan of pinball. My favorites that I play there is Tapper, DigDug, Galaga, The Simpsons (4 player), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (4 player), MK3 and Crazy Taxi. The other arcade I go to is called Action Burger but they are dedicated to retro consoles: Nintendo, Super Nintendo, N64, PS1&2, Xbox, Sega Genesis, DreamCast, Game Cube, etc. No new consoles. My favorite games to play there are DBZ: Budokai 3, Tekken Tag 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, Paper Boy & Duck Hunt (they got the gun and everything!) You said you wouldn't get a liquor license but I would suggest that you do because kids don't really play retro games (they barely play couch videogames) They mostly play their games online. Adults like us play retro games and I feel retro arcade games and beer just go together! So it would be lucrative for you to have a bar in your arcade. Just like Dave & Busters, kids are still allowed inside and you'll just have to card EVERYONE at the bar. I guess where you could start is opening up a business account with your bank and name it the name of your arcade. You want to build credit under the arcade name and not from your personal credit. After that you could apply for a business license. I believe you'd want an LLC as opposed to a corporation or franchise. I mean if after 10yrs you wanna expand to multiple locations then you can eventually change it to a franchise but for now an LLC would be best. One reason being because you'd be renting the space for your arcade and you don't wanna be liable just in case anything goes wrong at the location. The next thing you could do after that is getting an EIN (Employer Identification Number) and a TIN (Tax Identification Number) from the IRS. You'd fill out all forms with the name of your arcade (like the business account from your bank) and of course your name as the owner. After all those steps, that's when you would start tallying up everything it would cost (games, furniture, kitchen stuff if adding a kitchen, employee salary, store front rental space, etc.) so you could start applying for business loans. You really wanna look for one that won't ask for payments until after 5yrs. After 5yrs is when you'll first start to see a profit. You don't want to struggle with paying a loan back when you have renovations, game repair and employee salaries to consider first. My dream is to open a bar in Brooklyn so I've HEAVILY done my research and I hope this advice helps I know you'll accomplish your goal because it's a dream that's in your heart. Good luck, I believe in you!
Thank you for your insight. I think if I were opening this arcade anywhere other than the town I live in then maybe I’d pursue a liquor license. But I took my daughter to Flynn’s Retrocade, and there were kids there playing these games. I saw a kid that looked about five or six playing the original Pac-Man. I was four when I was introduced to that one. But the clientele for Flynn’s was kids and their parents who grew up with this stuff. My kiddo rarely plays the old games but she loved the arcade. Plus, I started following Quarter Drop Arcade on YouTube and I like the owner’s business model. All the machines are coin operated. I was told it would be best to implement a card system like the LAB does, but the dude put in an ATM machine and a change machine. Plus, I’m sure that card system has fees. Flynn’s has all games set to free play, and you can pay for an hour or all day. Quarters has their games taking quarters. I want to open in my town but I did see a vacant space in the next town while doing Uber Eats deliveries. It’s perfect.
It's your dream, you can do whatever you like! So if you'd like to start, those steps are usually the way to: Business bank account Business license EIN & TIN from IRS Business loan I can't wait to see ur place up and running! So exciting!
Look at vegas and pinball hall of fame. Nothing but old school pinball and arcade games on giant warehouse no cards all quarters. Newest pinball I remember was avatar. Place was about half full. Not just adults either. So point being you don't need new fancy shiny wrapper games. As you said retro is in.
Place by me has arcade that has batting cages the huge version of space invaders and connect 4 and ghostbusters. House of the dead and bunch of kiddie games like whack a shark. Place is always packed
Yep! It’s still a fun game and it holds up today! Fun fact: Shigeru Miyamoto was tasked to design a Popeye game as Nintendo made a few electronic games starring Popeye, but King Features wouldn’t grant Nintendo the license for an arcade game. Miyamoto-san went back to the drawing board and that proposed Popeye game became Donkey Kong. The Popeye game came a few years later.
Awesome advice @AntoinetteMarie to @Old Nick!!! I can't wait to see what happens!!! Good luck to all your future endeavors!!! Go after your dreams!!! Make it happen!!!
Old Nick how interesting. I liked playing Donkey Kong. The Popeye game would’ve been cool had I known about it then
I played Revolution X at Quarters for the first time in a long time last weekend. I forgot how fun it was, and I hope to put it in my own arcade.
I’ve been looking up videos on how to open an arcade on YouTube. Doing as much research as possible. I think I might lease the games rather than buy them. Makes it easier to switch them out. Still not sure what the first step is.
