Moss Distributing topper Terry Moss is among the latest inductees into the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame. Before coin-op, he started his career with a record company, tasked with trying to get radio stations to get the label’s bands into the airplay rotation. His dad needed help running his successful amusement game distributorship in the Midwest, so back home Terry went. “One of the first tasks his dad gave him was to load as many Megatouch games into the wood-paneled station wagon as he could fit and not come back until they were all sold,” said AAMA’s Pete Gustafson while…
Author: Matt Harding
Roger Sharpe’s story of helping to defeat New York City’s pinball ban was recently showcased on CBS Saturday Morning. April 2 marked 50 years since Sharpe showed city council members that pinball was skill-based, not a game of chance. They also touched on the movie made about his life that was released in 2022, Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, and about the pinball community at large over the many years since its legalization in NYC. And, of course, they showed that Sharpe is still sharp on a pin, calling his shot while playing Stern Pinball’s latest, Pokémon. Click…
AAMA’s FEC of the Year winner, Star Lanes Polaris in Columbus, Ohio, will play host to the association’s FEC Connect event from May 4-5. They call it “the event for both new and seasoned family entertainment center operators looking to elevate their business.” What better than an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look into the award-winning FEC to learn the secret to success? From operations and attractions to revenue strategies and guest experience, attendees can connect with and learn from the best at FEC Connect. Click here to register and see the schedule of events.
A South Carolina arcade bar called Pinky’s Revenge has moved locations from Taylors to downtown Greer. On Facebook, ownership reported they were unable to afford a massive insurance hike to serve alcohol, so they changed spaces and no longer have a bar. However, the new space will have the same arcade games, plus some additional pinballs, and will be adding ice cream today, April 15, and a beer and wine selection soon. The new address is 230 Trade St., Greer, SC 29651. Or you can visit them online at www.pnkysrevenge.com.
The major attractions association IAAPA has tapped Michael Rigby as its first vice president and executive director of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, further expanding their global footprint. He’s based in the UAE and brings more than 20 years of international business experience to the trade. Most recently, he served as general manager of WhiteWater Middle East. “Michael’s deep regional expertise, industry relationships and strategic vision make him the ideal leader as we establish and grow IAAPA’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Jakob Wahl, president and CEO of IAAPA. “We are thrilled to…
Rooted in a family entertainment legacy that spans more than a century, Linda Fernandez and her late husband Kane were inducted together into the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame for their many decades running Fun Factory. The Hawaiian business started with Kane’s father, who went by E.K. He had left his father’s hardware store business in Honolulu to follow his passion for entertainment. “His earliest attempt was to film the lush island scenery and project the images on a bed sheet for the enjoyment of sugar plantation workers providing much-needed entertainment for them and their families,” said AAMA Executive Vice…
Hooky, a new experiential entertainment venue featuring movies, bowling, arcade games and more, is set to open April 29 at Nashville Yards, reported Nashville Lifestyles. Nashville Yards is a mixed-use development that also features live music, dining and other entertainment options. This 50,000-sq.-ft. multi-story facility will have a dine-in cinema, full-length bowling lanes, an interactive arcade and a social dining experience with private event spaces and more. “Hooky is a natural fit for Nashville Yards, a development built around bringing people together through shared experiences,” said CEO Charlie Tiantawach. “It’s about giving people more ways to be connected. From cinema…
The Card Recycle Kiosk from American Changer was recently introduced, the company reports. They say the product was created based on operator needs for a low-cost compact kiosk for customers to deposit unwanted payment system cards. The kiosk can hold roughly 2,000 cards and features an optional “Check Balance Reader” on top. Operators should place the kiosk in strategic locations – like an exit point. When finished playing customers can then easily deposit their cards in the designated slots. Operators can empty the bin and reuse the cards, saving money on card reorders. The kiosk also has a locked front…
The North Carolina arcade bar chain Boxcar, with existing locations in Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro, will soon have a venue in Winston-Salem, WFMY reported. While an opening date has not yet been announced, more information is expected soon on the company’s website and they’re currently in the process of hiring staff. You can also click here to subscribe for updates. Learn more about the business in general at www.theboxcarbar.com.
An IAAPA networking experience will be held on May 6 from 6-8:30 p.m. in Orlando. Click here to register. (Members pay $49 and non-members pay $99.) “Whether you’re looking to exchange ideas with industry peers, or connect face-to-face with the IAAPA team, this is your evening,” the organizers wrote. There will also be a special guest announcement featuring executive leadership from the Orlando Magic. Learn more at: www.iaapa.org/event/iaapa-meetup-iaapa-hq.