Unfortunately many will close, especially since it's been handled so poorly. I hope I'm wrong

anything retail is challenged now.

i think they will survive ok. poeple want to go out and the barcades will get busy again. where i live, in cleveland, tons of people are going out. not sure ohioians are playing it safe.

They will either become Private Clubs like the Prohibition Speakeasies or move into home environments with secrecy. People are going to do what they want to do, even if it means breaking rules.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/abari-game-bar-noda-comes-end-line/PGQXJVUNJBBW3N2XTNANEMIURM/

Charlotte just lost one yesterday ....... Sucks

2 Barcades in Sioux falls are closing. The pinball club in Fargo also closed. Stern better realize home use may be by far their largest client base and stop gnore customers with serious quality control issues.

Charlotte lost another one as well “Lucky’s”

Sadly, it may get worse before it gets better. Especially if we slide into a recession.

The next half year or so is going to be rough.

LTG : )

I feel that some will some won't. Eventually this will end and things will get back to a certain normal. Probably not the same normal we know now. That's because things change regardless of a virus. But if you look back at other epidemics they all went away eventually and so will this one. Unfortunately not everything survives. A lot of restaurants around here that I enjoy are not making it and I'm sad to see them go. In 3-5 years I'm sure others will emerge. The main challenge is some of these businesses have a well built staff. When many are laid off they all need to find their own sources of income. Once they do, "getting the band back together" can be very difficult if not impossible once some of these businesses are allowed to open once again.

All the ones around my way are making it. One huge new one is waiting to open until nashville gets further along to phase 4. Nashville has a idiot mayor. I think we are on the downhill slide of this thing. People are done with the hypocrisy and getting out. traffic is back and schools around here are opening.

I got to visit there back in March when on what turned out to be my last work trip. I thought the place was fantastic. Real shame to see it go.

Selfishly I really hope Logan in Chicago makes it. I just took a job with it’s HQ in Chicago and I’d be lying if that wasn’t a small factor.

I know some will go away, but I have to imagine a lot are surviving like any other restaurants right now and will reopen when this is over. It will still be a popular business on the end of this. Maybe I'm just being optimistic.

I can’t believe they opened schools in tn. The numbers are going up there not down!

I know of quite a few that are closing. Some have been closed since March and still unable to open up. Unfortunately those that were able to open up have lost 75% of their revenue pre covid. Arcades that had 200 people a day are seeing 40-50 a day now. Sad times to be an operator or arcade owner. My brewery location still has the games turned off.

PogO didn't ask!

Even when they finally tell us “ok everybody’s safe now” who in their right mind would want to start a non-essential bizz?

Silverball saloon in Rochester also threw in the towel today.

“They’ll be fine” is pretty naive when a ton have closed already. I guess the question is if replacements spring up if we ever beat this pandemic in the US.

One thing I've noticed. For my business. Almost 48 years of experience is gone.

I used to know patterns. Real hot, real cold. Rain, snow. Summer. Fall, Winter. Week people get paid. Week people don't get paid. Sun sets later, sun sets earlier.

And prior to the 2005 down turn. Coin op used to be better in bad times. Cheaper entertainment. That wasn't the same in the mid 2000's.

Everything is changed. I don't know what to expect any more. I don't know if anybody does.

Will more places close ? Later, will new ones open ? Will people have money ? After staying home, will they go out again ? Will new customers arise ?

Check back in five years and I'll let you know.

LTG : )

Hopefully by then Elon will have us all on the moon selecting custom tailored sperm so we all look like Ivan Drago

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If barcades were huge, publicly-traded corporations, the Federal Reserve would ensure their survival.

I honestly was going to try to open one in my area glad I didn’t

I feel this. I work grocery, same deal. Trying to make plans besides "be nimble" seems pointless.

Happy accident for me. I was closing the deal on a location...(Omg Great location, 1/2 mile down Harbor Blvd from Disneyland.) This was 2 years ago...anyway Landlord went with a noodle bowl place instead. I was sad for days, even had built in Liquor license. I would now buy that Landlord a Drink. Pin God's were actually looking out for me.

Sadly, I think pinball will be even more about private collector/player machines and less about barcades after this. Not many places will survive this pandemic/no customers and afterwards peoples behavior will probably change to go out less.

I'm not a Dr. but I am chock full of common sense. AS of 8/2/2020 The world has an estimate 7.8 billion people and just shy of 693,000 people have died from covid WORLD wide. Yes, well aware COVID deaths that weren't the actual cause of death are part of that number but it's all we have to go off of. Any death is tragic but the people in charge of this country have chosen financial oblivion instead of common sense.

Open the country back up WITH EXCEPTIONS for those who fall into the high risk categories. Fully supplemented incomes for those until a vaccine is released. This would be SOOOOOO much cheaper than this bullshit $600 a week for everyone. Truly the ONLY way we're going to save these small businesses. We can't keep firing up the printing press and bailing people out devaluing the dollar which eventually leads to hyper inflation.

And lastly, my brother works for Daimler and he was telling me they laid off a bunch of people. The workers that weren't laid off were bitching because they have to work. Unreal. I'm an essential worker. I'm thankful to have a job and am completely repulsed when a certain faction was trying to pass a bill that would push additional money in my pocket FOR DOING MY JOB. Stop with the f-ing hand outs.

Title removed the word "barcade". Is Barcade (the registered trademark holder) still sending cease & desists every time that portmanteau is used?

Especially that one bill that included 40 billion for Venezuela. I don't know if it went through or not. I hope not.

LTG : )

Funny, I got one of those letters 2 years ago.

I’ve received several. It would be something if they’re still bothering with it at the moment.

Yes several myself.
Registered a name on godaddy and the letters started, never responded to anyone of them, but also never did anything with it , yet.

This whole Corona BS fuckin sucks. Way to go worthless leaders. Shut the whole economy down, that’ll fix it right.

Ok now you’ve thrown up the bat signal....the posse of banned covid thread truthers will be here in seconds spreading the knowledge...

Why did you change it from “the death of barcades” to “the death of” to “the death of arcade bars”? Just curious.

Read post #29, maybe Robin did ? It is still in the URL.

Your Shadow got a credit dot ?

LTG : )

Those with high debt loads to fund the place and low operating margins - done for. Those with low debt loads and high operating margins - can survive if they decide its worth their effort.

Ahh that makes sense. They likely still have the lawyer on retainer.

Probably not for long. They have some pretty high rent properties. And yes I’ve gotten a cease and desist notification when we used a hashtag they didn’t like. The TM may be all that is left when all is said and done. Won’t be shedding lots of tears on that one

The market leader is Free Play Arcade located in Texas. Many locations, understands the market, great business model, and the CEO is an attorney. Guru of foreseeability.

The market leader I’ve never heard of. Googling now...

The good doctor agrees!

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How many working pinballs?

Looks cool to me. I'd still be pretty skeeved out especially with it being all-ages. Texas fucks, though!

Besides my concern for those on business, my concern is supply of arcades going forward. Seems new stuff costs a pretty penny, I can't imagine many buying new equipment in the near future. Will manufacturers close? How many will want to start a new arcade manufacturing business to fill the void? Old arcades are often either expensive or slowly getting trashed. Plus the lost generation of bar goers. Thos who are 21 right now still had oppoortunies for experience with arcades growing up. Maybe an old Cruisin' USA at a hotel by the ice machine, or a Silent Scope at an arade that was mostly turning to redemption aracdes. In a few more years few young bar goers will have a nostalgic connection to arcades and pinballs. Maybe having computers set to play multiplayer or PS2's with Grand Theft Auto Vice City will be the next big thing. I just don't know how much new blood a barcade would attract with the older arcades and pinballs Pinside members tend to gravitate to...

Hope everyone is doing alright on this Saturday. Hang in there, eventually these times will be "i remember 2020..." and this will be long past us.

The big concern is the potential long term health consequences like lung and heart damage

It will come back. People haven't lost interest, they are just afraid. Things die when they have run their course and I don't believe pinball and the arcade bar have run its course yet. If anything I think the hiatus might cause a resurgence once we're over this. It will be time for new beginnings. Some old staples will go away, some will survive and new locations will open. Playing skill games in public will be a thing forever. It just is in hibernation currently. This too shall pass.

It will all magically disappear as soon as the election is over....