Arcade Collecting > Miscellaneous Arcade Talk

Opening an arcade

<< < (6/6)

Dave_K.:

--- Quote from: the3eyedblindman on March 29, 2005, 03:19:52 pm ---Youd be better off making a restaurant and putting your arcade games in the back then making a dedicated arcade.

--- End quote ---

Or better yet a nightclub/bar dedicated to gaming...make your money off booze which has a higher markup.  Thats what I'm planning...

RayB:
Even that's a risky prospect. Sega "Playdium" failed. There was one right smack in downtown Toronto, in the middle of the club/entertainment district. A year or two later it was sold off to another company, and then a year or two after that it closed.

There's one off in the suburbs which is still open today, but it also has go-karts, minigolf, driving range and stuff like that to attract enough people.

fredster:
The new arcade model is to have a coffee shop, gift shop, old skool machines, and a host of interactive computers playing games like Halo and clans.

There's a site for cybercades, I don't have the link, but that's a cool way.  You pay like $3 an hour and have card readers.  The old games and coffee/pizza shop is for the grownups to eat at and play games.

It could would well in the right area, but the downside is the abuse of the games and the trouble young punks bring with them.

Wade:
Gameworks might be bankrupt (?) but every one I know of is still open.  The Dave and Busters and Jillian's places are still open too.

The draw for these places is not just the games, but it is the games for me.  The ability to drink, smoke, eat, socialize, AND play games is what does it.  It's the whole experience.

I wouldn't try to open a regular arcade.  The only way I'd try to do it is to have a bar and restaurant that can make money (alcohol = HUGE, easy markup), and have the games just as a bonus.  The games can't really make much money on their own.

A beer bought in a case is what, $0.30 each... at most bars they are $3, at a few of the nicer bars around here they are $6.50.  SIX FIFTY!  For a Thirty Cent bottle of beer.  It's crazy!

That's why I love my gameroom.  I can drink beer cheaply, listen to whatever music I want, watch whatever I want on TV, and play games that work well and are clean.  However, it takes effort to get people around for socializing (read: have to throw a party, or at least invite some people over).  Which I don't like to do all that often, as it takes effort and planning, and I'm hugely non-committal at this point in my life.

Wade

Ken Layton:
I think you should open up a HOOTERS restaurant. You'd definitely make money. :o

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page