Entire Arcade Museum for Sale
EMGAMER
Due to a rogue landlord and the City of Beacon I have been forced to
close the Retro Arcade Museum. After 18 months of operation it seems
that the city has decided to enforce an arcane law banning pinball
arcades.
I am selling virtually all of my games as a lot -- no individual
games. If you are interested you can see the entire list at:
http://retroarcademuseum.com/Collection.html
I also have a huge collection of vintage consoles and handhelds (''72
- '87), lighting system, etc. Please contact me if you are a serious
buyer and are ready to move the machines quickly.
Fred
John Robertson
Hi Fred,
I am very sorry to hear of this! It was always a pleasure to do business
with you and to hear about what was going on at your museum...I do hope
you can work out something better than simply selling off the collection...
Good luck!
John :-#(#
--
(Please post followups or tech inquiries to the newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9
Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."
John Robertson
I did send a letter of support to your mayor...(Beacon, NY).
John :-#)#
Phil
>
> - Show quoted text -
So did I... I just read about the Retro Arcade Museum in the July 2010
issue of GameRoom Magazine.
John Robertson
I pointed out that jobs would be lost and a family destination spot of
interest would be gone...
John :-#(#
Jeff
Fred;
I'm surprised they did not somehow try and use civil forfeiture laws
and confiscate all you games.......
Jeff
Andre
voicing my opinion to the mayor too. Not sure what the story is behind
this? If you give use more info I'm sure there are others that would like
to help.
Andre
"EMGAMER" <fbo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:b05af563-e855-457c...@x21g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
ComputerSpace
> Fred - Sorry to hear about the problems you're having. I like to help by
> voicing my opinion to the mayor too. Not sure what the story is behind
> this? If you give use more info I'm sure there are others that would like
> to help.
>
> Andre
>
>
> news:b05af563-e855-457c...@x21g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Hi All
>
> > Due to a rogue landlord and the City of Beacon I have been forced to
> > close the Retro Arcade Museum. After 18 months of operation it seems
> > that the city has decided to enforce an arcane law banning pinball
> > arcades.
>
> > I am selling virtually all of my games as a lot -- no individual
> > games. If you are interested you can see the entire list at:
> >http://retroarcademuseum.com/Collection.html
>
> > I also have a huge collection of vintage consoles and handhelds (''72
> > - '87), lighting system, etc. Please contact me if you are a serious
> > buyer and are ready to move the machines quickly.
>
> > Fred
Wow Fred! I only saw your website a few weeks ago and your museum
looked to be fantastic! We had talked about my Cointronics Lunar
Lander awhile back. Sorry to hear about this. I wish you good luck
and hope that the city comes to it's senses. With all of the work
you put into this, could you not store your games and look for a new
location? Just thinking out loud...
Regards,
Tom
Eddie
Fred are you fighting? Can you draw up a petition for us to sign?
EMGAMER
all been so kind -- and I am very grateful to each of you. I will
provide an update in the next few days.
Fred
IG-88
Is there a dept of tourism/chamber of commerce in your town? I wonder
if they would like to know how I am telling everyone I know NOT to
visit their city!
And I agree with the above post. Store these if you can and find a new
location. I would guess the collection was hard gained....
Bob C
LMK when a petition / letter to the City is available to sign.
Bob C
Bob C
Eddie
EMGAMER
1) I am being evicted from my present location, but have moved my
machines into another location not far away, that could potentially
become the new arcade museum.
2) The Mayor and the City Council are drafting a new law to allow for
"vintage arcade museums" but there is no time line to passage.
3) A national press event about my situation is about to occur. I will
keep you posted.
4) I am running on fumes financially and do not know how much longer I
can hang on.
5) If there are any NY attorneys out there -- I need legal help TODAY.
6) As I have been financially obliterated by having to shut down for
the past two months and during the busiest season, if anyone is
interested in partnering in some way and if I am able to get the new
law passed, please contact me to discuss.
BTW -- I checked the laws in NY and the definition of an arcade in NY
City as it is the closest to me and the most detailed that I have
discovered. There are other definitions around the country that refer
to arcade devices as "coin operated" -- but NYC deems the following.
§ 20–211 Definitions. Whenever used in this subchapter, the following
terms shall mean:
a. "Amusement device" means any contrivance, open to the public, that
carries and conveys passengers along, around or over a fixed or
restricted course or within a defined area for the purpose of amusing
or entertaining its passengers, other than coin-operated amusement
devices as defined in subdivision b of this section.
b. "Player-operated amusement device" means any machine, contrivance,
apparatus, booth or other device intended as a game that one or more
persons are permitted to play by controlling the mechanical,
electrical or electronic components that are needed to operate or
manipulate the game in exchange for the payment of a fee, charge or
thing of value, and that provides amusement, diversion or
entertainment. This shall include, but not be limited to, fixed stand
coin-operated rides as defined in subdivision j of section 19-136 of
this code.
c. "Amusement arcade" means any premises wherein there are operated,
in any combination, five or more of the amusement devices and/or
player-operated amusement devices defined in subdivisions a and b of
this section.
Please note that they use the term "in exchange for payment of a fee"
as opposed to simply "coin operated." The point is almost moot as the
Beacon City Council has agreed in principle to change the law -- they
just can't say when..
Thanks,
Fred
On Aug 2, 8:00 pm, Eddie <streetandtr...@email.com> wrote:
> Whats the latest News?
John Robertson
> Here is the latest:
>
> 1) I am being evicted from my present location, but have moved my
> machines into another location not far away, that could potentially
> become the new arcade museum.
>
> 2) The Mayor and the City Council are drafting a new law to allow for
> "vintage arcade museums" but there is no time line to passage.
>
>
> Please note that they use the term "in exchange for payment of a fee"
> as opposed to simply "coin operated." The point is almost moot as the
> Beacon City Council has agreed in principle to change the law -- they
> just can't say when..
>
> Thanks,
> Fred
>
Hi Fred,
Perhaps you can get a variance in the meantime - that allows a business
to operate while a bylaw is being drafted or allows for a business to
operate in contravention to an existing by-law. Variances can usually be
done by a committee - there may be a Board of Variance in your city, ask
the mayor to put in a good word.
John :-#)#
>
> On Aug 2, 8:00 pm, Eddie <streetandtr...@email.com> wrote:
>> Whats the latest News?
>
captkirk
That would be a good approach. APPLY for a zoning and use variance.
Once you make application they should be willing to hold off on the
enforcement until the hearing is concluded. You should get an
attorney and you should find out if in NY and your municipality are
the zoning laws that will govern their decision the laws that are in
effect at the time of application or the laws in effect at the time of
decision? Could cost you twice for the fees if one or the other.
Will they allow you to operate while the law is being prepared for a
vote?
I still agonize over the effort and expense I needed to keep my arcade
open. But well worth it when I hear those machines playing :)
Keep up the good fight.
Feel free to email me with questions, I learned a lot in my battle but
that was somewhat different and using NJ laws.
captand kirk
EMGAMER
My story will be on CNN this weekend (Saturday August 7 and Sunday
August 8). It will run Saturday during the 1 PM show (at the very end…
closer to 1:50pm) and replay on Sunday at 3 PM (again closer to 3:50
PM), and probably several other times during the weekend.
Major newspaper is now involved as well.
As far as variance and zoning, that is now the issue. Although the
City Council has basically drafted the new law specifically to
accommodate my situation, I have yet get a definite date regarding
passage or how long it will THEN take for me to apply and get
approval. In the meantime, the funds dwindle and the prospect of
reopening becomes increasingly rmote.
Fred
getmbf
>
> - Show quoted text -
I just posted to a local lawyer/s forum Karl Romminger to see if he or
someone in the forum knows of a lawyer,
See:http://www.weekendappointment.com/showthread.php?2083-Vintage-
Arcade-Museum-being-forced-to-close-Anyone-know-a-Lawyer-near-Beacon-N-
Y
Wes
Phil
>
> - Show quoted text -
You can see the CNN story here....
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2010/08/07/pkg.chernoff.pinball.ban.cnn
Clams Canino
Hi All,
My story will be on CNN this weekend (Saturday August 7 and Sunday
August 8). It will run Saturday during the 1 PM show (at the very end…
closer to 1:50pm) and replay on Sunday at 3 PM (again closer to 3:50
PM), and probably several other times during the weekend.
_________________________________________________
I just saw your story on CNN.
I really hope that a "save" comes in time for your dream arcade to survive.
But if it does not. Remember this....
Someone. ie a real, identifiable, person or persons made a conscious
decision to enforce that arcane law *against you* many months after you
opened.
They had a reason, and they did it willingly, with afore thought, and even
(perhaps) malice.
You ought to find out *who* did this and what they were thinking. If thier
reasoning for destroying your personal American Dream does not measure up to
your standards - then you will be doing posterity a great favor by making
sure this person makes some front page news one more time. I'll say no
more....
-W
Eddie
still time.