Larry Hilimire, the owner of Stanton Automatics, passed away on Sept. 1, according to his obituary. Hilimire took the company from a small 13 location games and music company and “turned it into one of New York’s largest entertainment operations” over the course of his 50-year career. He also spent time serving multiple terms on the AMOA board as well as the TouchTunes advisory board. Earlier this year, he was named the inaugural Michael Pace Integrity Award Winner, which was presented at the AMOA-NY gala in April. Outside of the industry, Hilimire was the founder of Waterloo Youth Hoop, which…

Hot Wheels Ultimate Speedway from Coastal Amusements is now shipping, the company reports. The fun, fast-paced game was designed to entice repeat play. In it, players are challenged to slide a puck down a “beautifully-lit air hockey table,” attempting to hit four moving dot-matrix targets to win points. As the player accumulates points, a Hot Wheels car races up an eye-catching 70” high by 31” wide dot-matrix display. Operators can link up to four games for competitive play as each Hot Wheels car races toward the finish line. The further it goes, the more tickets a player wins. “In addition…

Zelky’s Beach Arcade North in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is auctioning off its approximately 80 games now through Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The location is closing after 40 years due to building redevelopment. (Zelky’s will be returning to the location in 2027 in a larger, brand-new space.) Bill Ramsey and Associates is handling the auction. You can click here to see what’s available and make a bid. Among some of the games on offer are pinballs like Elton John, Ghostbusters, Munsters, Cactus Canyon, Godzilla and Star Wars. They also have video games and other amusement machines like…

Orlando’s “first and only” 24-hour arcade and restaurant opened Aug. 29 on I-Drive. Called Arcade Time USA, the Florida-based chain has additional locations in the Sunshine State and is planning big-time growth around the U.S. (RePlay will have a full-length feature story on the company in our October issue, so stay tuned.) Arcade Time Orlando boasts some 350 arcade games – from VR and the latest video games to timeless classics. There’s also duckpin bowling and Krazy Darts. The business is also known for its quality food, from mini burgers and Hawaiian barbecue chicken to filet mignon. Founder and CEO…

Betson Technical University’s training program has been expanded, Betson Enterprises recently announced. The new curriculum now includes three distinct training options “designed to meet the diverse needs of FECs, helping them maximize revenue by minimizing equipment downtime.” The expanded offerings of Betson Technical University now include BTU Core, BTU On-Site and BTU Wellness. BTU Core is the foundational two-day training and certification course that offers an “intensive, hands-on experience in a classroom setting.” Participants learn practical exercises in troubleshooting and repairing arcade games. BTU On-Site, made for larger teams, brings Betson’s expert trainers directly to a customer’s location. The program…

VEX Solutions recently released their first arcade game, the mixed-reality HyperDash. It’s an attendant-free, high-visibility arcade machine that “combines mixed-reality gameplay with active gaming thanks to two massive interactive LED screens – one vertical display and one floor display.” With a capacity of 1-4 players, quick 2-5-minute rounds and a compact footprint, VEX said the attraction requires no wearables, special lighting or staff, making it a “powerful addition to arcades, FECs and centers of all sizes.”  “VEX has built its reputation on immersive VR experiences, but with HyperDash, we wanted to bring that same level of innovation to the arcade…

Jack Guarnieri, known throughout the business as Jersey Jack, is celebrating 50 years in coin-op today. (You may already know that if you’ve read his recent RePlay column, which he’s been writing since October 2004.) Jack’s journey began as a pinball mechanic, repairing electromechanical machines in college game rooms in the New York City area. “I was fortunate to become an operator, securing some locations and buying games, and after moving to New Jersey, I opened my first arcade, followed by a larger amusement center,” Guarnieri explained. He later worked as a consultant and then general manager for Mondial Distributing.…

AMOA’s On the Road educational program will be Oct. 22-23 at the Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca, Illinois. It includes an Arachnid 360 factory tour in addition to a product showcase. The keynote speaker is Tony Leone of The Constance Group, who will give attendees “unstoppable strategies to help you crush the competition and claim your place at the top.” Other sessions include a legislative luncheon with John Russell of DGA Group; “Optimizing App Features for Business Impact” with AMI Entertainment, Stern Pinball and TouchTunes; and industry roundtables.  Click here for the brochure or visit www.amoa.com for further details.

Rocco “Rex” Yannarell, a former vice president of international sales for Rowe, died in early August at age 96, according to his obituary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Yannarell joined the Army in 1946 and served in the Korean War. Upon his return home, he attended Pierce Business College and trained and worked as an accountant, later forming his own company that introduced mini bars in hotel rooms around the world. By age 40, he built a successful business that he sold. Looking for a new…

F1 Arcade, a Formula 1 racing experience venue, recently signed a master franchise agreement with Top Racing Iberia, which will bring an F1 Racing venue to Madrid, Spain, within the next year, followed by Portugal at a later date. These will mark the first locations outside of the U.S. or U.K. “The signing of this master franchise agreement represents a milestone in our international expansion plan,” said Jonathan Peters, F1 Arcade’s global president. “We firmly believe in the potential of the Iberian Peninsula – a market with a deep-rooted passion for Formula 1 and home to Spain’s very own Grand…