Could a pinball museum work in Winnipeg?

[Yellowghost]

Just wondering what you guy thought. Mark, the dude that ran phatom amusements once said that arcades vanished not just becuase the popularity was getting smaller but also because niche things like arcades could not survive because small business taxes are so high. he said the cost of operating a similar place in Calgary was a third of what it is here. Does that explain why all other major cities seem to have at least one well stocked arcade. Surely a city of 600,000 can support one arcade. At least one. Now, if you can get classified as a museum or something charitable, can that be used to get around the tax? Maybe tournaments with proceeds going to chaity and such. What I am saying is, if you went into something like that, with the intention of only breaking even, after maintenence costs and not to get a profit, could it work? I am sure there are enough machines in private collections to keep a good rotating stock. I would donate mine a few months of the years if need be. At least it get used more often and enjoyed, hopefully by a new generation of people who have never seen a pinball machine.

[Pinball Loco]

I think the consensus is "no". I often ponder it with the buckets of money dumped into that monstrosity at the forks you would think that we could get a little for a pin museum. You would have to set up a non profit corp, elect a board then cost it out and beg for money...

As for an arcade I was thinking of taking the plunge but I really don't think I could make enough to keep the doors open. Would peeps pay to play EM's & 80s/90's SS's or would they expect a room full of brand new $$$ Stern games?

[Yellowghost]

It would need a few modern ones but not alot. Maybe something like family guy or simpsons, something that is identifyable with youths of today.

[prock]

Someone would have to have a significant amount of funding to pull it off I'd imagine. You need the right location, the right games, and the right atmosphere. Location isn't cheap and from the sounds of it taxes would be a problem. Perhaps going the barcade/restcade would work.. You would need a liquor license and serve food. Maybe the food itself would draw enough people into the place. You would have a fair number of pinheads willing to come down and play once in a while but I don't see them funding the entire operation just playing the games. Perhaps regular tournaments or a league would ensure the pinheads come down to play and hopefully have a bite to eat and a few drinks. It could work but it wouldn't be easy. Good luck finding someone willing to invest the amount of cash required to get the place started.

[paulohotline]

I would be willing to work the business model with anyone here that wants to try it out. Lets meet and brainstorm this puppy. I would also be willing to beat the bushes and find investors.

I would prefer 2 things to happen if this business went forward:

1) memberships - monthly rates, unlimited access to PINs, discounts on food etc. we also charge an hourly rates, no fucking tokens!
2) we need at least 3 stripper poles for private shows

Let me know if my services are needed.

Paulo

[prock]

no tokens = no casual plays. Members get unlimited tokens perhaps?

[Malibu-ss]

I have thought about doing this a few times,and even looked around for a building.Cool idea,but do not think it would fly here.

[Malibu-ss]

oh...and only Paulo would need tokens!!

[Yellowghost]

The location I thought would be best would be in one of those industrial malls between ikea and the box stores if it could be rezoned somehow. That area of town is where the money is. Theres two ways to aproach it and is to just make a museam theme arcade. Nothing glamorous. The pinball museam in Las vegas is no palace. The question is...do museums pay business taxes. Or the resterant-aracde route. Imagine half moon, but double the size, half of it being an arcade. If you served good food, not crappy bowling alley type food, people will come. Perhaps try to aquire the kelekis recipes and continue serving that. Have to cater to the baby boomers as well as a university crowd.

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