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Arcade-orientated new business - it's happening BUT NEED NAMES. Probably ;)

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Flake:
There is a bowling alley right next to my house that has a small arcade.  They had some older games but not many, 3 pinballs (but one was for sale), a dance-dance revolution game, and some whack-a-mole type games.  The last time I was in there it was fairly populated by little kids whose parents were presumably bowling.

Zeosstud:
I think it can work.  I have often though about a bar / arcade setup mostly because bars make money and I love classic arcade games.  I have run the numbers many times and 2 things always become apparent.  1st you cant pay to god awefull much in rent and 2nd... and this is the kicker...  You have to be 100% hands on.  Meaning YOU run the place, you don't have a manager, you don't take alot of time off you have to be hands on.  It is so easy in a cash business to get screwed by anyone and everyone, you have to put in the hours.  Now, once you wrap your head around that, then you have to make some more decisions.  How many games, 100% classics or do you add in a few of the latest fighters or networked driving games.  Do you buy / make your games or just lease them from the local guy with a route.  Lots of issues.  Do you do the cover to get in the door and everything is free or do you make it .25/.50 at a time, do you take tokens or quarters...  Its a long list.  It can be done, and you can be as successfull as you want to be.  If I was gonna do it, I would want 15 or so classic games, left slot takes tokens, right slot takes quarters, waitresses would not only be hot they would be friendly.  I would also consider being open wednesday - saturday and reserve Sun - Tues to rent the place out for special occasions at a nice clip where I still made some coin.  The final thing to remember, like most businesses.... Location Location Location.

-Zeosstud

Ummon:

--- Quote from: DrumAnBass on January 09, 2009, 04:11:21 pm ---I think these guys have figured it out - http://www.barcadebrooklyn.com/

The bar comes first and this is where you make money.

The arcade games give it an 80's nostalgic feel to bring in the gen-x / children of the 80's hipsters with expendable income. They provide a signature ambiance more than income.

They have attempted this here in LA but didn't quite do it right... http://www.la.cityzine.com/2008/03/13/la-gamer-miss-ts-barcademisses-the-mark/

--- End quote ---

Looks like they're still going.


I know. Make it a church. Tons of tax breaks, donations a-plenty, and a dedicated customer base.

Magnet_Eye:
I live in Portland, Oregon and frequent an 80's arcade called Ground Kontrol. It is pretty popular, is in a prime downtown location, serves beer, has live music a couple nights a week, has dj's a couple nights, has a weekly rock band competition  pumping through a large system with a projector on a large screen, and so on. Games are at 80's prices... still a quarter.

They have employees. They are doing pretty good I would say. It really got better for them once they started serving beer. I would say it double or tripled their business. So, make it a bar foremost, and you should do fine.

drawfull:
Things are happening in the something + arcade area - thanks for all the advice.

I will likely have more posts detailing other issues soon (ie what games would be one!).

Cheers - wish me luck!!!

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