The 31st Annual East Coast Gift & Variety Show, put on by the New Jersey Amusement Association, is scheduled for Feb. 26-27 at the Golden Nugget Grand Ballroom in Atlantic City. Dubbed “the trade show to keep you connected to the amusement industry in the tri-state area,” attendees at the event are owners, partners, managers and buyers, as well as workers of amusement parks, arcades, games, concessions, piers and restaurants. For exhibitor information, contact NJAA Executive Director Kimberle Samarelli at [email protected] or call 732-904-0580.
Author: Matt Harding
Secret Atlanta recently reported that F1 Arcade is soon coming to their city, with an expected opening of Feb. 6. (Reservations can be made starting tomorrow, Jan. 15.) The arcade will be 15,000 sq. ft. and feature 68 state-of-the-art Formula 1 simulators, as well as a “lively patio and a private room perfect for corporate events and celebrations.” Highlights on the “elevated comfort food” menu include ahi tuna tartare, wagyu beef sliders and chipotle shrimp tacos. Other locations include Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Denver and Las Vegas. The company, which started in the U.K., also has venues in London and…
Treasure Lanes Bowling Center, a 45-year-old family-owned alley in Port Charlotte, Florida, has expanded their offerings with the addition of Game Zone, a brand-new arcade designed and installed by Betson Enterprises. The company reported that their regional sales representative Joe Herbert worked with the team at Treasure Lanes to curate a diverse game room lineup that includes ICEE Slush Rush (Bay Tek Entertainment), Angry Birds Boom! (Raw Thrills/Play Mechanix), NBA Hoops (ICE), Duck Derby (Adrenaline Amusements), E-Claw (Elaut), Taj Mahal (Smart Industries), Funko Funcade (UNIS) and Find a Key Deluxe (The Really Big Crane Company). In total, Game Zone is…
Launch Houston has taken the title of world’s largest Pixel Floor, the makers recently reported. Launch installed a 15×35-ft. Pixel Games Floor at their Houston location – nowhere else can you experience their interactive gaming floor at that size. The company also noted three other partnerships: Zap Zone in Michigan has new installations at their Battle Creek, Farmington and Warren locations. Combat Ops in Fort Wayne, Indiana, added a 13×16-ft. floor to their 10,000-sq.-ft. arena space. FUNHUB DIX30 in Brossard, Quebec, added a 16×20-ft. attraction to their venue.
The second season of Pop-A-Shot Elite’s Virtual League starts up today, Jan. 12. Click here to join or learn more at www.popashot.net. The competition structure allows teams to compete against opponents across the country while playing exclusively at their home venue, organizers explained. Here’s how the National Pop-A-Shot League Works, as detailed by the organizers: The format enables 4-person teams to participate in organized league play without geographic limitations. Teams register, compete weekly at their local Pop-A-Shot Elite location, and face off against opponents who may be in the next town or across the nation. Key Features: Flexible Scheduling– Play…
Playcity Milano, operated by Allstar SRL in Milan, Italy’s Bicocca shopping mall, recently implemented Semnox Solutions’ comprehensive venue management platform, the company reported. Allstar SRL manages more than a dozen centers nationwide. Their Playcity Milano facility now operates with more than 100 arcade games equipped with Semnox Lumin readers and three self-service kiosks with integrated payment processing. “Playcity Milano exemplifies how the right technology can transform operational efficiency while respecting regional compliance requirements,” said Vinayaka Kamath, business head at Semnox Solutions. “Allstar SRL’s vision for a flexible, guest-centric operation aligns perfectly with our platform’s capabilities, and we’re proud to support…
The NJAA has reported that longtime arcade operator Martin Shapiro died on Jan. 4. In 1952, at the age of 16, Marty got his start in the amusement business as an attendant at a Skee-Ball parlor at Olympic Park, located in Irvington, New Jersey. By the age of 17, he was managing the location. Just after he turned 21, Shapiro became an owner of a Fascination parlor, which marked the beginning of a lifelong passion he had for that game. By 1979, he had opened Gateway 26 with the Weiner family as partners and had 32 separate operations in Wildwood,…
Patriot Gaming & Electronics has a new parts distribution agreement with Grand Vision Gaming LLC in which Patriot will be an official distribution partner supporting Grand Vision’s “proprietary cabinets and games designed specifically for VLT-style gaming jurisdictions.” “When you have a strong product backed by great people, the partnership makes sense,” said Mark Komorowski, president of Patriot Gaming & Electronics. “By supporting Grand Vision Gaming machines, we’re further advancing our mission to be a true one-stop shop for our customers.” Grand Vision Gaming currently operates in Montana, South Dakota, Louisiana and West Virginia, and is “actively evaluating expansion opportunities in…
The IAAPA FEC Summit is scheduled for Feb. 1-3 in Glendale, Arizona, at the Wigwam Resort. Early-bird pricing ends today, Jan. 9, so be sure to register now if you plan to go. The 3-day event is a chance this year for FEC operators in colder climates to get a break in the sunny Southwest and also learn about different revenue strategies, operational efficiencies that save time and money and marketing tactics. There will also be plenty of time for networking opportunities. IAAPA members can attend for $499; non-members for $849. Learn more at www.iaapa.org.
TrainerTainment founder Beth Standlee will host the Jan. 15 edition of Peer Talk at 1 p.m. Central time. It’ll be an open forum session, so “bring your questions, concerns, ideas and connect with others in the industry.” A couple of other Peer Talk meetings are already scheduled for March and June and are titled: “When Guests Have Less to Spend: How Knowing Your Numbers Will Help You Make the Right Decisions,” hosted by Candi Kelley, and “AI Without the Overwhelm: Where to Use AI Today,” hosted by Sonya Terry. Click here to register for any or all of the free…