Running an Arcade? Starting one?

[Tritoch84]

Now, I know the overhead for an arcade must be insane, and there is no way I have money to put into what more than likly will be a failed idea (arcades are not as popular as they used to be, but I have some different ideas)

But I was wondering if anyone here had owned/ran a arcade before. It's always been my dream to run an arcade, but this is not till much later in life (i'm 20). What was it like running an arcade? What where the big problems (if you can say), and are the problems the same as any small business?

[paigeoliver]

If no one pipes up here I know klov.com has one VERY active manager of a small arcade, a few other people in the biz, and (not super active) the manager of the largest arcade EVER as members.

[Tritoch84]

Thanks! I don't want to pry, and if there has been another thread on this forgive me (and point me to it).  Thanks again.

[Floyd10]

I havent seen another thread of this nature. I, myself, am very interested in knowing.

[zaphod]

This might be of interest.  I know there have been other discussions here but I could not find them through search quickly.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,14122.0.html

[D_Zoot]

I own a small arcade, around 9 pins 15 vids.

[Tritoch84]

Great post! I hope this thread gets a few more like it!

[paigeoliver]

Would you mind sharing what kind of take you usually end up with in the old cashbox?

Best earner?
Worst earner?

[HaRuMaN]

The mall here had a great arcade...  lots of new games with some classics.  Then Abercrombie & Fitch came along, wanting to put a store in the mall.  They only had one condition.  They wouldn't put their store in until the mall forced the arcade to close...  some BS about the "type of people" an arcade attracts.

You can guess who won that battle...  Damm you, A&F!

Plus it put my friend who managed the place out of work for a while, too...   

[D_Zoot]

Would you mind sharing what kind of take you usually end up with in the old cashbox?

Best earner?
Worst earner?

Discussing actual money figures seems taboo, but I can tell you what's good and what isn't.

I do have a couple of "newer" vids, but only a couple. Tekken 3 is my best earner, followed by a Daytona driving game.

My worst are two of the classics,  Space Invaders and Omega Race.   I knew they wouldn't do anything, but just to have them in there for looks is worth it, they are both unique and cool looking cabs.

Some other classics seem to do so-so.  BattleZone, Galaxian, Gorf, Championship Sprint and Moon Patrol run middle of the pack.

The pins are a different story, strange actually.  Pins generally don't do much anywhere.  But I've got two that do more than I would have expected.  A Gottlieb Robo-War.  Robo-War is a rather bland, mid-80's pin.  The other one is a Bally Ro-Go, which is an electromechanical!!     The newest pin I have, Judge Dredd, does almost nothing.   I would have figured it the other way around.  All I can assume is that the simpler and slower play of the older pins is more attractive to the casual player than the faster play and more complicated ruleset of the Dredd.

That's what it's like now,  I'll be rotating some games out after the holiday's and it will be intereting to see what the replacements are like.  I'm not sure what I'll be bringing in yet, but I know it will be mostly more classics.   


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[Sephroth57]

im sure if you got some bemani games you would make some good cash on them. DDR machines arent too expensive these days, with bootleg copies of Extreme and Extreme Plus going around.  I know around here the few arcades that have good bemani games (besides DDR) have regulars that probably pay at least like 15-20$ a week on single games. plus you have the people that go hey that looks cool, lets try that.

anyway , im sure youre aware of the popularity of bemani games, you should look into it if you havent.

[D_Zoot]

you should look into it if you havent.

I could.  There is alot I could do with the place to try and get more money out of it.  But this takes me back to my original post. Remember,  I'm only doing it for a hobby (gone extreme maybe).

If I invest in newer games and try and push the place, then I have the worry of trying to at least recoup my investement.   Right now I have no worries (other than wondering if the XY monitor in BattleZone is still working or not    )

For me, it's a comfortable way to do it.  It doesn't have to make much money and if I had to close it now I'm not out anything at all.   But like I mentioned above, my situation is unique.


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[RetroBorg]

D_Zoot,

Your arcade sounds cool, it reminds me of the old arcades I went to as a 16 year old.