Old school arcade-gauging interest - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

robbie111 · 09-28-2016, 01:18 AM

Was thinking about starting an old school arcade in Calgary that focused on pinball and arcade games.

The idea is to focus on corporate team building events, parties, date nights and also having it open to the general public on weekends.

If it was open would you and your family and friends visit?

RougeUnderoos · 09-28-2016, 01:29 AM

Depends on location, but yes. For sure. Just not in the sticks.

iggy_oi · 09-28-2016, 01:30 AM

I would go, and I'd bring my kids, my wife would probably go too, at least at first, but given the amount of time I would likely start spending there she may end up hating you for opening this establishment and start to boycott it. You might get a lot of that situation.

CliffFletcher · 09-28-2016, 06:55 AM

You'd want to make it a bar too and aim it at young adults. The bar/arcade I went to in Chicago seemed to be doing really well. I don't know how viable an arcade would be without liquor sales making up the bulk of the revenue.

surferguy · 09-28-2016, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

You'd want to make it a bar too and aim it at young adults. The bar/arcade I went to in Chicago seemed to be doing really well. I don't know how viable an arcade would be without liquor sales making up the bulk of the revenue.

Went to barcade in Brooklyn and it was a great night out

Slava · 09-28-2016, 07:00 AM

I think that there are 1-2 of these in Edmonton as well and they're quite popular.

speede5 · 09-28-2016, 07:12 AM

There's one in Saskatoon as well, as far as I know it's a hit.

puckedoff · 09-28-2016, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

I think that there are 1-2 of these in Edmonton as well and they're quite popular.

There's one called Denizens and its great fun. OP, I recommend checking it out and seeing if something like that could work here.

Edit: Its a bar, I assume you mean like an arcade bar. Not a kids arcade.

bossy22 · 09-28-2016, 08:16 AM

There used to be one in Eau Claire. When I worked at Merak Projects we did some team functions there. It was a lot of fun.

Ozy_Flame · 09-28-2016, 08:17 AM

If you don't have Simpsons arcade machine im not coming

LGA · 09-28-2016, 08:21 AM

I'd be all over this, definitely miss arcades.

PsYcNeT · 09-28-2016, 08:23 AM

Location would be the #1 consideration for me in all honesty, but if you have a ludicrous selection of pinball I would be down.

Also, do the Laser Illusions thing and have old school consoles (NES, Master System, SNES, Genesis) and let people rent time. The competitive 2 player stuff always go over well on those things.

Sliver · 09-28-2016, 08:41 AM

I'd be careful on going too hard on pinball. My gut says a very vocal minority of hipster dudes like them, but for whatever reason their voice carries to make it seem like they're more popular than they actually are. A pinball machine looks like it would require a lot of expensive maintenance and the machines would incur more downtime than regular video games. Plus they take up more space.

I'd go for sure, though. If you do this, the alcohol sales would be important, but so would daytime hours that allow families. I'd love to take my kids to an arcade. I'd park myself at a Guantlet machine, so try to get one of those. And a helicopter simulator. I'd love to play one of those again like they had at UC in the 90s.

calgarygeologist · 09-28-2016, 08:41 AM

As others have mentioned location is critical. It has to be easily accessible (decent parking and c-train access) so that you can get maximum exposure. I'd probably check it out.

Sliver · 09-28-2016, 08:45 AM

So where do you guys think would be a good spot for this? I mean a specific location (not just "downtown" or "inner city").

I'm thinking like in Chinook Centre would be cool along the east side of the building, but I'm sure rent would be outrageous and you'd have to go in with a major investment to get it looking like it belonged there. A funky, fun interior design would be absolutely mandatory. That's probably way over-budget.

You'd have to think they're be some pretty sweet deals on rent out there right now. I pretty much don't leave my neighbourhood so I'm not really up on where would be good.

Fuzz · 09-28-2016, 08:46 AM

This building right here:
https://goo.gl/maps/QmQQ45t1bR32

No idea what it looks like on the inside, but that awning is perfect.

calgarygeologist · 09-28-2016, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sliver

So where do you guys think would be a good spot for this? I mean a specific location (not just "downtown" or "inner city").

I'm thinking like in Chinook Centre would be cool along the east side of the building, but I'm sure rent would be outrageous and you'd have to go in with a major investment to get it looking like it belonged there. A funky, fun interior design would be absolutely mandatory. That's probably way over-budget.

You'd have to think they're be some pretty sweet deals on rent out there right now. I pretty much don't leave my neighbourhood so I'm not really up on where would be good.

Maybe that funky, circular purple building across from Chinook (the old Le Chateau Outlet/Computer store.) Maybe the old Loungeburger across from the BMO Centre/Dome or some place in the East Village.

Hockeyguy15 · 09-28-2016, 08:51 AM

You should get one of these http://www.costco.ca/ICE-Super-Chexx...100234303.html

photon · 09-28-2016, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Maybe that funky, circular purple building across from Chinook (the old Le Chateau Outlet/Computer store.)

That'd be a good location for families, lots of parking, but not so good for the bar I don't think.

Plus I'm pretty sure the location is cursed.

calgarygeologist · 09-28-2016, 08:55 AM

Upfront costs must be huge for an arcade as each machine is $2000 to $5000 (maybe more for those fancy motion machines.) I'm assuming there must be companies that lease arcade machines.