100-Plus FunZones! Arcades Now a Cornerstone for Pizza Ranch Chain By Matt Harding Back in 2010, franchisee Todd Pharis brought an exciting new idea to Pizza Ranch – an arcade concept he was eager to launch at his Sioux Falls West location. What started as a bold, local experiment quickly proved to be a game-changer. The arcade’s overwhelming success transformed the guest experience and sparked something bigger. Soon, the brand that had been serving its signature pizza since 1981 leveled up, rolling out the FunZone Arcades concept to locations across the country. Another influential group that helped take the FunZone…
Author: RePlay Editor
I’ve been covering this business for over 60 years, from the days we called it the “coin machine business” up to today’s abbreviated “coin-op.” During all that time, I’ve interviewed more than a few people, and a frequent response to the basic interviewer’s question “What accounts most for the success of your company?” has been praise of key employees. Witness Terry Moss’s recent RePlay Podcast interview when he complimented his staff for a far longer portion of the interview than he did anything else. That may sound trite, but I believe that every person who said something of that nature…
Be the Life of Your Own Party Four Ways to Reframe Slow Traffic into Strategic Growth By Beth Standlee, CEO, TrainerTainment When foot traffic slows and customers hold tight to their wallets, family entertainment center operators face a critical choice: wait and hope things improve or take control of things you can do something about. As I wrote in my April column, the difference between holding a “potential party” versus a “pity party” determines whether you thrive or merely survive. The most resilient businesses don’t just weather economic uncertainty, they reframe challenging circumstances as an opportunity to try something new.…
Two Paths to Play Lessons from KTR and Alley Cats by Barry Zelickson This month, we’re heading to two very different but equally compelling facilities: KTR in Chandler, Arizona, and Alley Cats in Burleson, Texas. One is built around motion, progression and high-energy activity; the other is a refined, full-scale FEC that’s earned its reputation over time. Both offer clear lessons for operators looking to sharpen their own approach. KTR – Chandler, Arizona KTR calls itself an indoor action playground, and from the moment you walk in, that description holds up. The space is built for movement. Skateboards rolling through…
The Guest Lens Auditing the Journey from the Smartphone to the Front Door Owner of Planet Novak & The Novak Network As I travel the country for the Novak Roadshow, I hear the same refrain from nearly every operator I meet: “Clint, I just can’t find good help.” It’s the universal struggle in the 2026 FEC landscape. We are all fighting for the same talent pool, and when we find someone who actually knows how to smile and show up on time, we treat them like we found the Golden Ticket. As operators, we spend a lot of time looking…
Bowl Expo 2026 By Howard McAuliffe, Partner, Pinnacle Entertainment Group Every June, many of us fly to Bowl Expo, which, along with Amusement Expo and IAAPA, has become a tent- pole event in the family entertainment business. Most proprietors attend education sessions, walk the tradeshow floor looking for new ideas, and have a lot of fun at night with friends, colleagues and the industry at large. It’s easy to get excited, take lots of notes and then come back home and never implement any of them. This year, more than any year I can remember, it is essential to come…
Challenges & Solutions by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com As I write this column, I’m thinking of the summer. The war with Iran is being held up in a shaky ceasefire. If that’s still the case when you read this, we have bigger problems, like the economy. Our business is known for being a lower-cost way to be amused and entertained. While everything has gone up in price, our industry still provides fun at a relatively low cost. In comparison, if I go to a Yankee game with two kids, I’m looking at the cost to get there,…
One of my favorite features in RePlay magazine is the Blasts from the Past that Key and Ingrid produce from time to time showing photos of those “good old guys and gals” we once met along our journey in this business. For many readers, it’s a peek back into the “good old days” when things were supposedly better than any at other time in their lives. This last thought is, as people well know, questionable. It’s like the guy who famously said: “My time in the Army really sucked, but when I look back on it, I really had a…
Bowling Powerhouse QubicaAMF Company Says Its Ecosystem of Products Can Work for Every Operator By Matt Harding From their traditional, yet modern, 10-pin bowling to the Fly’n Ducks duckpin bowling and Highway66 mini bowling attractions, QubicaAMF says they have something for everybody. The goal, said Bart Burger, director of marketing and investor success for new business development, is that each of the products “fits a different venue model.” Of course, 10-pin bowling is for centers of all types. QubicaAMF offers standard width lanes as long as 60 ft. (the certified length for competition) and as short as 24 ft. for…
Addition By Subtraction Why Keeping the Wrong Employee Is the Fastest Way to Lose Your Best Owner of Planet Novak & The Novak Network As I travel the country for the Novak Roadshow, I hear the same refrain from nearly every operator I meet: “Clint, I just can’t find good help.” It’s the universal struggle in the 2026 FEC landscape. We are all fighting for the same talent pool, and when we find someone who actually knows how to smile and show up on time, we treat them like we found the Golden Ticket. But there is a dangerous trap…