Would an 80's/90's style arcade be profitable?

[niketalker23]

In South Sac? I dunno 'bout that TBH....

Come on bro...

 

[sumrndmdude]

It would definitely be profitable for people looking for a general hang out spot to just chill and maybe catch a bite or something, the games would add to the atmosphere . . . I say go for it, OP . . .

this.

It would be more about the atmosphere and location, something akin to a dave and busters but more focused.

There's a place close to where my folks live that has something similiar to what you are talking about though:

http://www.trenchesgaming.com/Home.php

 

[niketalker23]

I'm definitely not going for the Dave and Busters feel. I hate DnB, I want this to have the more friendly mom and pop feel of your neighborhood arcade..

 

[powerballin]

I'm definitely not going for the Dave and Busters feel. I hate DnB, I want this to have the more friendly mom and pop feel of your neighborhood arcade..

The business model has changed man.  Old school arcade games only isn't profitable unless you are in/near a tourist attraction.  You might as well open a video rental store 

.  The main question you have to ask is "what is going to drawn in non-gamers and women?"  The whole play video games into the wee hours of the night aint realistic.  Unless you can a find a hardcore demographic in your area I don't see this working.  You need repeat business.  Why would I come back to this place over and over? The games? Nawwww.  You need a great atmosphere.  I'm not spending a friday night playing arcade games on a consistent basis unless women, alcohol, and good looking people are around.  I can't see this working without food either.  Food and drinks will give people a reason to come there and stay there.  

 

[niketalker23]

I'm definitely not going for the Dave and Busters feel. I hate DnB, I want this to have the more friendly mom and pop feel of your neighborhood arcade..

The business model has changed man.  Old school arcade games only isn't profitable unless you are in/near a tourist attraction.  You might as well open a video rental store  .  The main question you have to ask is "what is going to drawn in non-gamers and women?"  The whole play video games into the wee hours of the night aint realistic.  Unless you can a find a hardcore demographic in your area I don't see this working.  You need repeat business.  Why would I come back to this place over and over? The games? Nawwww.  You need a great atmosphere.  I'm not spending a friday night playing arcade games on a consistent basis unless women, alcohol, and good looking people are around.  I can't see this working without food either.  Food and drinks will give people a reason to come there and stay there.  

What will draw people here? All three will compliment eachother. Alcohol, food, and cheap arcade games. Not a full menu though, just probably a typical bar/finger food menu. My plan would be to place it in a location in close proximity with other bars in a walkable area downtown/midtown area, to take advantage of the bar hopping crowd especially from thursday-sat. If I'm charging .25 a game, I'm obviously not relying on getting a significant amount of revenue from the games.

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

In order to obtain/keep a ABC liquor license, at least in VA, a club/bar must have a certain percentage of it's sales from food. That's why you see a lot of supper clubs and such that serve really s**** food.



Richmond, VA would be a good market for this concept of a place. They have multiple colleges and demographics that this would appeal to. It is a smaller city as well with a lot of personality.

 

[powerballin]

What will draw people here? All three will compliment eachother. Alcohol, food, and cheap arcade games. Not a full menu though, just probably a typical bar/finger food menu. My plan would be to place it in a location in close proximity with other bars in a walkable area downtown/midtown area, to take advantage of the bar hopping crowd especially from thursday-sat. If I'm charging .25 a game, I'm obviously not relying on getting a significant amount of revenue from the games.

yeah no need for a full menu. sounds good so far.  something like this you want to keep classy and clean.  I'd suggest a slight dress code.  

 

[mrkittles20]

There is a barcade in Wilmington, DE called 1984 that is always packed the few times I've been. They have all these snacks from the 80s and at least 20 games. It definitely caters to the hipster crowd though. Like wall to wall hipsters at all times.

http://1984wilmington.com/

 

[sumrndmdude]

What will draw people here? All three will compliment eachother. Alcohol, food, and cheap arcade games. Not a full menu though, just probably a typical bar/finger food menu. My plan would be to place it in a location in close proximity with other bars in a walkable area downtown/midtown area, to take advantage of the bar hopping crowd especially from thursday-sat. If I'm charging .25 a game, I'm obviously not relying on getting a significant amount of revenue from the games.

yeah no need for a full menu. sounds good so far.  something like this you want to keep classy and clean.  I'd suggest a slight dress code.  

 

[greezee]

Like this? http://www.insertcoinslv.com/

YO! I've been there in Downtown Las Vegas! That place was crackin' like a mug! They had old and new games in there.

They also had big screen tvs with PS3/Xbox hooked up. They also have a dance floor in there. The DJ was on point.

My boys and I stumbled on that place while walking downtown. I'm glad we went in there. It's like a club that has video games.

There were some bad broads in there too. I'm definitely going to go there again the next time I go to LV.

 

[infam0usp]

Like this? http://www.insertcoinslv.com/

 

[Peep Game]

Reminds me of that Supertrack Arcade center from back in the day. Used to love that place. Don't know when they closed it, but that used to be the spot.

 

[mkc1983]

no. for one, the machines require a lot of space. a lot of space + a good location = expensive. it could be profitable if that's not the main seller, e.g. you open a bubble tea shop with a a pacman machine and some pinball machines at a corner. there is this one cafe/arcade that opened in downtown toronto a while ago. here's the vid:

 

[samb]

Oregon has two barcades that do extremely well and have very good selection of games. Ground kontrol in downtown Portland is hella legit and has been open for a grip. It has 80 / 90's titles and is pretty much what your thread is pertaining to. They do free play thurs and wed once a month for $5 that night amd that spot is super packed for those 8 hours. The other spot someone mentioned is Shoryuken league in eugene, OR (home of the ducks) and that spot has been doing extremely well in that college town. Google both the spots up to get a better idea.

 

[jm9312]

OP maybe instead of arcade games you use old gaming systems. Like NES and Atari. If you cop a SEGA Genesis I'd come through.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

williamsburg

figured that but where? what's the name of the place?

 

[mints]

OP maybe instead of arcade games you use old gaming systems. Like NES and Atari. If you cop a SEGA Genesis I'd come through.

There was this bar I used to go to back in the early 2000s that had a bunch of old tvs with Atari 2600s hooked up to them, something like 200 games available to play and all kinds of cheap beer. Sadly a string of armed robberies outside and a lot of drug buys inside made the place shut down back in 2004. It was a lot of fun partying in there and was ahead of the trend of retro gaming by a few years I think.

 

[water]

Why would tourists be INDOORS playing video games?

It can be a fun place for families. For example if you visit Vegas, a highly populated area. Kids don't really want to go to the casinos. They want to go somewhere where they can have fun, and a highly attracted arcade with lots of lights to attract attention would be great. 

EDIT: Read some more of OP's posts. Guess you don't want that DNB's feel. I would just say if you believe in it, can dedicate yourself to the fullest, then go for it. 

 

[pepperjackchees]

 

[nycposite]

lmfao.
might as sell, sell candy, white Ts, illegal drinks
what type of ghetto haven are you guys trying to create?

Add a stripper pole downstairs, pool table and you have my old barber shop.

Dude use to make a killing. Nutcrackers, tees, cuts, pool tournament, nba show time machine and after hrs spot downstairs

Then ATF shut it down

 

[ijumpman]

Most areas wouldn't be too successful, as today's gaming systems are capable of playing all of the classic games. Maybe in a larger college town or in Vegas, like this one in Vegas that SwagKing Cole posted. I really want to check this place out someday.

Like this? http://www.insertcoinslv.com/

 

[xtapolapacetl]

I don't think it would be profitable as an arcade by itself. But if it was a retro themed restaurant with an arcade, I can definitely see it making some money and attracting some people.

Arcades being extinct and soon the same thing with video rental shops

 

[xtapolapacetl]

No.
People can play their arcade games on their PCs.
No and just NO.

Way to miss the point. Playing it on an actual arcade cabinet where other people are physically there is part of the overall experience, not just the act of playing the game itself. Just like going to the cinema is a social experience more than about just getting to see the movie.

 

[DCAllAfrican]

Way to miss the point. Playing it on an actual arcade cabinet where other people are physically there is part of the overall experience, not just the act of playing the game itself. Just like going to the cinema is a social experience more than about just getting to see the movie.

And having the ability to play movies at home has taken away $ from the box office.
And in this case home gaming has taken away arcade gaming.
Nobody has the motivation to do it. It isn't profitable.

So nah, I didn't miss any point

 

[tim teufel]

love my x arcade