The storefront changed since I was there in 2003...obviously a last-ditch attempt to revitalize, and get people in from the street.  Did they expand into the "cheque cashing" place?





They've obviously done nothing to this collection of vids.  It looks the same as the more recent photo.

They also had a SWE1 at the front but who cares about that game right  

Who, would be able to buy all that stuff?? I heard len from starburst was in there as well. The only person I know in scarborough would be bumper action amusements or cenntennial coin

Huh. Looks like a Flinstones was there in 2003. Well there you go, they did make some changes.

Love the black goo on the green T mould on Galaxian. What a load of work that would require to clean up... it might even take something as challenging as a rag and some spray cleaner to get that off of there. It's always nice to put your hands on a machine and know that they aren't going to get stuck to it.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Love the black goo on the green T mould on Galaxian. What a load of work that would require to clean up... .

I think its paint overspray.  Probably their system of refurbishing games.

Sad the pictures, I remember it being wall to wall bodies that you had to jostle through to get to a game.

I took another read of the article and gleaned this gem for those who haven't read the article (turns out I am only 2 degrees separated from one of the people quoted in the article):

Quoted Text

"We could have stayed in the business because of where our location is, and because we own the building, but there weren't any new games, therefore there's little reason for customers to keep coming."

At its peak, Funland housed 225 arcade games. Today there are 81. "We used to get two games a month � now we're lucky if we get one a year," Budd says.

Interesting, I always thought it was primarily the high cost of playing the games (but maybe my age is beginning to keep me from understanding the current value of a dollar  -hey, I need a raise!), and the high cost of making new games (which is still likely why production is down).

BUT some creative thought could have been put to work at Funland.  A pinball/arcade  museum or turn it into a bar with all the old games that people nostalgically love (would that hold water?)

If you can't afford new, then you might want to consider putting a fraction of that into refurbishing what you have to at least compensate.

I know a few years ago at Downtown Disney they had a place that was all retro games and served food. It was busy when I was there. It had location and so did Funland. What it didn't have is a grungy atmosphere and decrepit games.

I say we rent small space on the strip in Niagara Falls and open seasonally. Who's in?

Is the great Canadian midway still open out there as they had some decent games when I was there a few years ago

Quoted from pinstocker

Is the great Canadian midway still open out there as they had some decent games when I was there a few years ago

Yes. It's open. I was there last month. For pins, they had a Sega HD and a HS2. I played one ball on the HD before the flippers died and it continuously fired a ball onto the playfield, drained and did it again. Over and over. I didn't try the Getaway.

I went across the street to the 'arcade' in the same building as the Rainforest Cafe and asked if they had any pins. They said 'No. They're too expensive and require too much maintenance.'

They were both working the last time I played them:









As far as I could see, there's only 3 pinball machines in Niagara Falls.  The other is a Rollercoaster Tycoon at the KOA.

I want that sign..... for my basement.

That's what an arcade sign should look like, but swap the bowling pin out for a flipper.