This thread has been fantastic! I really appreciate OP and the many who've contributed photos and stories.
I'd been to many, many arcades in the States and Europe, but had never seen anything quite like Arnie's Place in Westport, CT. He went over the top trying to make it decidedly UN-seedy/smoky/etc. but there was still much drama with local authorities.
Arnie'sPlace-EG84MayPg223 (resized).jpg
Here's a site about it: http://www.arniesplacearcade.com/
And here's a fantastic essay about it that anyone who's enjoyed this thread will also really like: http://theferrett.livejournal.com/2005/03/28/