24/7 Fun at Arcade Time
New Orlando Location Packed with 350 Games
If you haven’t yet heard of Jonathan Demare’s Arcade Time USA, you have now! (And you haven’t heard the last of them!) Demare has more than 20 years in the industry and launched the Florida-based Arcade Time in 2021 in Coral Springs.
They’re up to 12 confirmed locations already, including the recently-opened Orlando venue, positioned right on the famous I-Drive. “It was always our plan to scale,” Demare explained. “Our path to 100 locations is getting very close,” he smiled.
They are also currently operating – or will be soon – in Wellington, Florida; Jacksonville; Miami; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Nashville; Charlotte; Raleigh; Columbia, South Carolina; Augusta, Georgia; and Atlanta.
While not yet announced on their website, Demare also noted flagship locations coming to Las Vegas, Ohio and Texas.
The Arcade Time facilities are located in malls and as freestanding stores (with Orlando being their first of the latter). They each have more than 300 arcade games and range from 28,000 sq. ft. to 50,000 sq. ft.
The Orlando location itself opened with 32,000 sq. ft. of space but will expand to 50,000 sq. ft. The flagship location also has upwards of 350 games and is the first 24-hour location for Arcade Time.
“My wife and I actually met inside an arcade, and it happened to have been a 24-hour arcade,” Demare explained. “It’s something people can go to and it’s always accepting – no matter your schedule or lifestyle. Since Covid, so many things – from Walmart to convenience stores – they stopped doing that stuff.
“We want to give more to our guests, and we want that experience to be phenomenal. Just to have the doors always open is a phenomenal feeling.”
Not only is the massive arcade open 24/7, so is the dining room, operating the full menu, which includes filet mignon, ahi tuna and other high-end bar and grill type food. “It’s leaps and bounds better than our competitors,” Demare boasted.
In addition to the arcade and food, the venue has duckpin bowling, Krazy Darts from LASERTRON, and 1980s theming. “We want to create an environment that’s nostalgic, modern and welcoming all at the same time,” he said.
Something like custom metal work on the duckpin bowling lanes are an example of “the attention to detail we feel was missing in the industry.”
Now, let’s not gloss over that whopper of an arcade. They have many new games from the likes of Raw Thrills (Wizard of Oz and Fast and Furious Arcade among them), Bandai Namco (the shooter GoldStorm Pirates) and Adrenaline Amusements (the racer Need for Speed Heat Takedown). They also have Cannonball Jam from the Canadian manufacturer Blue Motion Games.
On the VR side of things, they have Godzilla, King Kong and Storm, among other standalone cabinets. There’s also a customized Pac-Man Battle Royale on a 15-ft. screen for up to four players in the upstairs social area.
“We’re always going to have more than 300 games,” Demare said. “We pride ourselves on having an amazing game selection.”
But it doesn’t stop with new games. Demare, 44, said retro games like Galaga and Street Fighter are among the classics available for play.
“These were the games I used to experience back in the day,” he said. “It was a huge part of my life growing up.” Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Simpsons were a pair of favorites, he noted, adding, “I would also challenge anyone in the industry on a game of NFL Blitz.”
Rounding out the fun is Pinball Alley, which features fan favorites like Stranger Things and Star Wars, and an expansive redemption arcade and store, with a group of merchandisers and cranes as well.
Arcade Time is “a place for everyone,” Demare said. “We check all the boxes. We are very family-friendly. In the new Orlando location, it’s a split floorplan. New games are downstairs. Upstairs is another bar and lounge area with duckpin, Krazy Darts, the retro arcade and Pinball Alley. People can kind of find what area best suits them or they can experience all of it.”
He added that corporate events and team-building events have been a huge portion of business at the first locations, and he expects that moving forward, too.
Orlando is the company’s first freestanding venue – a flagship meant to be a “destination location.” But Demare added, “We’ve brought a lot of action into malls that were in need of an influx of people, a rejuvenation so to speak.” A mix of both types of locations are planned for the future.
In addition to LASERTRON, Arcade Time works with QubicaAMF on the duckpin bowling and deals with distributors Betson and Player One. Intercard is their exclusive cashless provider.
“We only choose to work with people in a very small circle,” Demare said. “Our relationship with them is incredibly strong and I’ve worked with them for many years.”
Arcade Time in Orlando opened on Aug. 29. If you want to visit, here’s your reminder not to bother checking the hours – they’re open 24/7! Use the QR code to visit www.arcadetimeusa.com.