Got some quick items for new arcade locations out there to discuss so let’s start with…
Button Mash Coming To Echo Park Los Angeles – If you are in the LA area then another bar/arcade is soon opening their doors by the name of Button Mash. They have a minimalist design on the interior and beyond the selection of drinks, their solid classic game lineup includes: 720, Asteroids Deluxe, Berzerk, Burgertime, Donkey Kong, Forgotten Worlds, Ice Cold Beer, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Moonwalker, OutRun, NBA Jam, Pacmania, Smash TV, Space Harrier, Space Invaders, Super Hang-On, Super Punch Out, Tapper, Timber, Toobin’, TRON, X-Men (6-player) and more. They also have a pinball room with 10 pinball machines including KISS, Medieval Madness, Star Trek(2013), Tales from the Crypt, TRON Legacy and a few others. They should be open “by the end of the month” so if you are in the area, go check them out! [Button Mash Facebook / Main Website / LA Eater article]
Dave & Busters Continues Strong Growth – It has been no secret that the popular eater-tainment arcade chain Dave & Busters has been enjoying success in recent years and with the posting of their 2nd Quarter financial results, the trend continues with the company reporting a near 20% increase in revenues over the same period in 2014. THanks to this strong growth, they are raising their estimates and plan on opening eight to nine stores this year instead of seven/eight; to quote the release:
In 2015, we now intend to open a total of eight to nine new stores (vs. seven to eight stores previously) and relocate one existing store during the third quarter. All but one of our new store openings will be in the large store format.
We opened two stores during the second quarter in Kentwood, Michigan and Woburn, Massachusetts and a total of four stores through the first half of the year. We opened a store in Edina, Minnesota during the third quarter and we plan to open our new relocated Buffalo store at the beginning of October. During the fourth quarter, we will open stores in Friendswood (Houston), Texas and Glendale (Phoenix), Arizona, Springfield (Greater DC), Virginia as well as possibly one additional location.
and on top of that the CEO, Steve King added their location goal:
Our long-term target for North America development is in excess of 200 stores which we intend to achieve through approximately 10% annual growth in our store base.
That would more than double their total base of stores to reach that number but given the growth so far, it sounds realistic. To give you an idea of them against the largest chain of arcades in the world, Chuck E Cheeses has about 500 locations worldwide.
Either way, that means better chances of finding new arcade entertainment near you. What do you think about these developments?
Love new arcades / barcades / fec anywhere. It means more games will be profitable to the companies that make them and we might see more video game development soon now that so many barcades and fec’s have been opening in the last half decade.