WTF? New arcade opens in Central California - Riverbank, CA

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I came across a neon green colored flyer today and it was an announcement for a Grand Opening for a new arcade on May 1st. 2010! I missed this grand opening debut but just found out today about it. Just passing the word along that there's a new arcade in town.

This is an indy arcade and not a corporate owned one either. However, the flyer was printed in Spanish...here it is in it's entirety:

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Gran Apertura! (Grand Opening!)

Sabado, 1ero de Mayo (Saturday, May 1st)

Beto's Arcade
2912 Patterson Rd.
Riverbank, CA 95367

Acompananos a la celebracion de apertura del de diversion en Riverbank.

Mesas de billar (billards or pool tables)

Footbolitos

Maquintas

Juegos (Arcade Games)

Gran venta de muebles para la recamara, comedor y sala, tambien se venden macetas, fuentes, colchones y cualquier otra cosa que nos pida.

Abierto todos los dias, si de domingo a sabado

Hours arcade is open: 11am to 9pm
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I'll have to swing by and check it out. Will report if it has any cool arcade shmups or not.

The very last indy owned and operated arcade was the Nickel Play arcade in Modesto, CA that closed it's door back in May of 1998. All the arcade games & pinball machines took nickels as the premire choice of credits rather than quarters. Most games were priced at between 10 cents to 30 cents per credit (which was pretty reasonable back in those days). There has never been another indy arcade whatsoever in the city of Modesto, CA since then.

It's been said that back in 1982, there were 22,000 arcades across the USA...nowdays, less than 2,500 American arcades exist and many are shutting down their doors for good. Several key factors are to blame for the closure of the arcade scene that once was prelavent across the American landscape. So if you see a new local arcade hangout open, by all means support it & encourage the owner(s) to carry the latest 'n' greatest arcade titles!

It's always good news to hear that another new arcade has opened up locally after about twelve years of no real indy owned arcade within the local city limits. I'll patronize it indeed.

There is the Merced, CA based "Oh Wow! Nickel Play" arcade located at:

100 W. Olive Ave.
Merced, CA
(209)383-1880

Don't know if this Oh Wow! Nickel Play arcade has any arcade shmups though. It would be a 45 to 50 minute drive for me to check it out though.

Actually, the best arcades to play at are those privately owned ones as featured in the Shmupmeet ones. Sad to say, but that is stark reality when it comes to playing arcade shmup titles that no local corporate or indy arcade will carry/stock anyways. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Gran venta de muebles para la recamara, comedor y sala, tambien se venden macetas, fuentes, colchones y cualquier otra cosa que nos pida.

"Big sale of furniture for the room, dining and living room. We also sell flowerpots, fountains, mattresses and anything else you ask us."

Now I know where to get my black market stuff .