Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: drawfull on February 18, 2009, 02:21:25 pm
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Basically, the premises we have are split over three floors.
1st: Restaurant
Ground: Coffee Bar
Basement: Video Games, Foosball, Air Hockey, Pool, Sky TV (Sports)
We plan to offer table service throughout, and a high-quality menu that will be for both take out and eat in. We also serve alcohol for on licence use. Decor is open, dependent on name.
We have narrowed down a potential list of names which are in the poll above. Would really value independent thoughts on these, so vote if you have an opinion and share your reasoning too if you can
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
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I hate to ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- in your cereal, but I don't like even one of those choices enough to vote.
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I'm in agreement. If you are absolutely set on those choices, I'll pick Voodoo, but I really don't like any of those names.
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I hate to ---Cleveland steamer--- in your cereal, but I don't like even one of those choices enough to vote.
All feedback really important. Thanks! I added none of the above :)
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Out of those I would probably go for Hub although it would be more suited to a LAN center/cafe.
Where abouts is it by the way?
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Franco, it's in Douglas, Isle of Man
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Names are horrible... sorry :)
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I'm Canadian, so "Chapters" is out. That's the name of a well established book store chain here.
I like "The Hub" best. Only GEEKS will think of "LAN center", which is OK since they like games anyways, and you have some! :-) ( see definition here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hub )
Have you already done trademark searches on those choices?
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Guilty as charged :P
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ok, isn't there aplace already called chapters and honestly thos are some crazy name's try something more now, not like voodo and hub that is weird try something like all your arcade's is belong to us
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Name it "Unga Bunga".
That should get people talking.
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call it 4Q
That way, nobody will be able to talk about it without insulting someone :P
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For the most part, most bar names have been done to death in dozens of different ways in thousands of locations around the world. Might as well call the bar Drawfull (or whatever your Real World (c) name is) and be done with it.
Why not do a local (regional?) contest to see who can come up with the best name? Offer something like a gaming card good for a years worth of game play or something?
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By the University I attended we had a coffee shop called "The Hub". Very popular and pretty good atmosphere too.
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Horrible names. Not a good start
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What market are you targeting? High school kids, all ages/family, teenage/young adult/university? It might help with deciding the name.
Ex. if family, a good name might not be Buttmonkey's Hideout. (teen/university maybe).
Drawfull's(or insert name here) Place or Drawfull's Cafe might be safe bets.
Anything but what you have listed. The Hadron Disaster, The Wiley Wombat, hell, The Electric Banana - anything else.
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I voted none of the above as well. That Aitch one is weird and hard to say.
The others are a bit too generic. I can't really offer a suggestion on an alternate name, but I think it'd be helpful to convey the gaming/entertainment part of your operation. Cheetah Room sounds like a nudie bar.
The Hub seems closest along those lines. There was a place near me called Cyberhub. It was like a hangout gaming place that had overnight parties and stuff. Unfortunately, it didn't make it but I see the domain is up for sale.
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I voted for Aitch, bur only if you leave the A away. Itch would be pretty funny :laugh:
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OK... I'll say it... I like "Chapters".
The place has multiple floors symbolizing different "chapters"... from Old school (the arcade)... through the restaurant... to the Coffee bar (probably the most recent "chapter"....
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I'd just call it "Dave & Busters" and be done with it. ;D
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I'd just call it "Dave & Busters" and be done with it. ;D
No, you're supposed to confuse people with a slightly different name.
DAVID BUSTER'S
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And what's up with Purple Moon? "Raspberry Corvette" already taken? ;D
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Most of those would be great....
...if you were opening a strip joint or a gay bar.
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Most of those would be great....
...if you were opening a strip joint or a gay bar.
You didn't see his other thread? He found another building with lower rent. Those are going to be on the 2nd floor and in the back room respectively.
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OK... I'll say it... I like "Chapters".
The place has multiple floors symbolizing different "chapters"... from Old school (the arcade)... through the restaurant... to the Coffee bar (probably the most recent "chapter"....
That's our favourite too, for those reasons, but we are listening to all feedback.
To SavannahLion, we didn't find a building with lower rent. We decided to buy a building in a better location.
The game side is only a part of what we're doing, and while it's important to the model we have, it ain't the be all. I agree certainly that a couple of the names scream lapdancing whatever; we want feedback from a small community that have a possible interest of one area of what we're doing.
I asked for names in the first thread. We are open to ideas; the latest issue of Night has names such as Bacchus (good ol FF), JuJu and OoJam - It's what we're up against good or bad.
It would be great if those that voted none of the above would give their chioce, if they have one.
Oh, Savannah, we're paying £xxxxxxx for the building. Considerably more 'rent' I think you'll find - but the finance side is none of anyone's business, we need help with names. From whereever that may come.
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Ouch, I'm in a ---smurfy--- mood, please ignore previous :)
Sorry all.
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Chapters to me sounds like an early-80s restaurant and bar with open mic comedy every Saturday night.
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For the most part, most bar names have been done to death in dozens of different ways in thousands of locations around the world. Might as well call the bar Drawfull (or whatever your Real World (c) name is) and be done with it.
Why not do a local (regional?) contest to see who can come up with the best name? Offer something like a gaming card good for a years worth of game play or something?
I didn't see this, thanks for the feedback. (//skulks)
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Chapters to me sounds like an early-80s restaurant and bar with open mic comedy every Saturday night.
Well, we are aiming at retro...
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Yeah, but I didn't mean that in a good way.
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Yeah, but the retro market is very big here. And everywhere if you buy into media hype. In any case, decor is a small part. A big part of what we call it is the fact we can adapt. I know that's contradictory to what you said and I take it on board, that's why the name is so difficult. Cheers Ginsu
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Might as well call the bar Drawfull (or whatever your Real World (c) name is) and be done with it.
Actually, I think "Drawfull's" is a cool name. If it were in that list I would vote for it.
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Might as well call the bar Drawfull (or whatever your Real World (c) name is) and be done with it.
Actually, I think "Drawfull's" is a cool name. If it were in that list I would vote for it.
Heh, but it's spelt incorrectly! It's just a bastardisation of my name, if you say it fast, drunk. I couldn't use my surname, for a few reasons, so xxxxxxx's doesn't work unfortunately.
Aitch, is the initial of my better half's name, but no one can spell that either - the rest of the planet say Haitch.
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Drawfull sounds like Awful. "Hey let's go hangout at that Awful restaurant". I dunno... hehehe
OK thinking 80's... how about:
Neon
Dink's
Big hair and ugly women
Restaurantris
Bartris
The 80's
OH GOD KILL ME NOW
Cosby Ain't Here
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To SavannahLion, we didn't find a building with lower rent. We decided to buy a building in a better location.
.
.
.
Oh, Savannah, we're paying £xxxxxxx for the building. Considerably more 'rent' I think you'll find - but the finance side is none of anyone's business, we need help with names. From whereever that may come.
I was being facetious towards shardian. My apologies if they were taken in the wrong context.
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To SavannahLion, we didn't find a building with lower rent. We decided to buy a building in a better location.
.
.
.
Oh, Savannah, we're paying £xxxxxxx for the building. Considerably more 'rent' I think you'll find - but the finance side is none of anyone's business, we need help with names. From whereever that may come.
I was being facetious towards shardian. My apologies if they were taken in the wrong context.
No apologies required, I'm tetchy today.
LOL @ RayB :D
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Big hair
elizabeth shue was not ugly
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Yeah, but the retro market is very big here. And everywhere if you buy into media hype. In any case, decor is a small part. A big part of what we call it is the fact we can adapt. I know that's contradictory to what you said and I take it on board, that's why the name is so difficult. Cheers Ginsu
Keep in mind I'm looking at this from an American viewpoint and the way those sort of restaurants were back then. Also, "Chapters" reminds me of "Brothers" for some strange reason, which was a TV series on Showtime about three brothers who ran a bar.
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Chapters to me sounds like an early-80s restaurant and bar with open mic comedy every Saturday night.
Well, we are aiming at retro...
I know! How about Cafe 80's (http://bttf.wikia.com/wiki/Cafe_80%27s) complete with hanging monitors showing Max Headroom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Headroom_(character))-like characters. You could even do the whole bar in pastel coloring. ;D
You can even source out snap bands (http://www.wristbands.co.uk/wristbands-snap-bands.htm) as a door giveaway or something. I don't know where you're going to get Hypercolors though.
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Cafe 80s wouldn't work because you have to play the games with your hands.
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Cafe 80s wouldn't work because you have to play the games with your hands.
You could play with your Wii. ;)
Oh wait. No, you'd still be using your hands.
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Might as well call the bar Drawfull (or whatever your Real World (c) name is) and be done with it.
Actually, I think "Drawfull's" is a cool name. If it were in that list I would vote for it.
To many syllables, try dropping the first two letters.
I don’t think any of those names work for a high-quality menu.
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How about the "Blue Oyster?"
;D
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Maybe call your business Levels.
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Might as well call the bar Drawfull (or whatever your Real World (c) name is) and be done with it.
Actually, I think "Drawfull's" is a cool name. If it were in that list I would vote for it.
To many syllables, try dropping the first two letters.
I don’t think any of those names work for a high-quality menu.
I'm agreeing with you I think.
How about the "Blue Oyster?"
;D
Haha
Maybe call your business Levels.
Thanks for the suggestion, this is incredibly difficult. :(
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I remember about 20 years ago, a local mall arcade was named "Yesterdays". I always thought that was a cool name.
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The Peach Pit
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"Epic Fail"
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Pixeleat
a play on the word pixelate and eat, cause its a restaurant.
What do I win?
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St. Elmo's
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Chapters sounds like some cross of 'Cheers' and 'Friends'. Blech. But, given it's a UK place, maybe not?
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I always said, if I was going to open a bar... it would be
"liquor box"
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"The Arcade Zone"
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i got it the CONGO BONGO Lounge :cheers:
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Dr. Awfull's
Its perfect
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It sounds like 'Hub' is the most popular, so maybe explore that avenue a liitle? The first one off the top of my head is 'Core'
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"Losing Propositions"
"Money Pit"
"Hell Froze Over"
"Loose Change"
"Mighta Worked In the 80's"
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Nothing like a bit of PMA eh Fritz?
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Of the three I like the most, my thoughts:
Voodoo has been used a lot, and I know of a "Voodoo Lounge", that's a bar, restaurant, bowling alley, with a few video games (California), as well as a few straight bars named Voodoo. Also, not a family name; more for the (rebelling) teen to 20's age group, trendy-like.
Hub, or "The Hub", is a geeky name, great for college students, but IMO doesn't call to (non-geeky) families, teens, or non-tech 20-30 year olds. Does hint at the multiple activities feature of the business. Okay for a cheap or middle range restaurant.
Chapters sounds the most "high end" IMO of all the choices. More appealing toward the parents, and educated 20-30 year olds (but maybe not as much for the techies as Hub). Implies a more classy restaurant than "Hub" would. Like Hub, hints at the multiple activities, but sounds more cafe-ish & restaurant-ish, than bar or arcade.
Of course, this is the opinion of a mid 30 year guy from California, and trends have changed since I was a teen & college student. Also, probably some differents 1/3 way around the world. ;) So get and use local opinion more than mine.
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Thanks U rebelscum
As of Friday last, we decided on Chapters as it fits with the kind of place we want. I agree completely with you Urebel on that. Logo and branding work has begun, I might post some concepts.
Cheers
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If you're going retro - can Disney sue you for calling it "Flynn's" ? :dunno
Other thoughts:
Flashback
Icon
Brand the logo like a university or Greek frat and call it "C.P.U."
Level Up
Or steal one of the greatest storefront names I've come across in the states --- "The Bunghole" -- their motto is "I got it in the The Bunghole" lol...(incidentally, they're a liquor store -- yes yes, Bunghole Liquors -- the possiblities are endless......
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LMAO @ Blue Oyster reference to Police Academy!
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Thanks U rebelscum
As of Friday last, we decided on Chapters as it fits with the kind of place we want. I agree completely with you Urebel on that. Logo and branding work has begun, I might post some concepts.
Cheers
May I suggest you're going about this wrong? You're talking to a bunch of dedicated retro-geeks here. We're not a big enough group to keep you in business, nor are we a sufficient unbiased sampling. If you're really sinking money into this, you need to do real market research. Come up with several names, and go do some polling. For instance, "Chapters" to me says "bookstore."
When I was in college, one of my business classes was a small-business consulting thing. Small businesses applied to the college for help, and in the course of the semester the students (under the guidance of the business professor so that nothing went awry) would do market research, troubleshoot problems, determine advertising plans, etc for the business free of charge. Business would get a good foundation for success, students get experience.
Don't know if the local college near you has such a beast, but if not there still should be something that can be done. Your local chamber of commerce or whatever your equivalent is can probably help. If nothing else, hire one of those companies that has people in the mall ask survey questions, or find a place with a good mix of people and do it yourself over the course of several days or even a few weeks. Do it in the area you're thinking of setting up shop in, but don't be afraid to expand your research to nearby areas that are within reasonable driving distance to get to you.
If you don't have a business plan and solid homework/research behind you before you start, you're setting yourself up for failure even if the idea is a good one but is poorly implemented. 8 out of 10 startups fail I believe. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but you should do everything you can to be in the 20% category who succeed. Asking for opinions here is a good place for some creativity, but a lousy place to make a decision. You, your partners, your friends, your family, are also lousy places to make a decision - all too close to the issue. You need good, unbiased opinions from a significant sampling size of people who don't have any personal investment (emotionally or monetarily) if you succeed or fail.
Good luck!
--- saint
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Ted: We should buy a bar.
Barney: Of course, we should buy a bar!
Ted: We should totally buy a bar.
Barney: We should totally buy a bar. Our bar would be awesome. And dude, dude, dude, dude... the name of our bar... Puzzles. People will be, like, "Why is it called Puzzles?". That's the puzzle!
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"Losing Propositions"
"Money Pit"
"Hell Froze Over"
"Loose Change"
"Mighta Worked In the 80's"
LOL If it could work for "50's Diners" why couldn't an 80's theme work?
Great advice from Saint there. Don't neglect to do a trademark search.
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Coming from a 27 year old guy, who goes to a lot of shows, clubs, etc -
all those names are TERRIBLE. Sorry =/
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What about calling it "Lehman Brothers"?
I think that name is available.
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they invasion
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We use to call the place down the road from us "The Slots"
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Coming from a 27 year old guy, who goes to a lot of shows, clubs, etc -
all those names are TERRIBLE. Sorry =/
The frequenters of those places are a narrow age group, though.
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I saw a "Hot Rod Grill" yesterday and I thought of "Grill and Games" I just did a Google search and about 14,700 other people have already thought of it.
I didn't realize how hard it was to come up with a new name for this type of business and thinking of a name will probably be the easiest thing you'll have to do for this business.
Good luck.