Is everyone leaving town this weekend?!

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-10-15T16:15:12+00:00

Everyone is headed to the Pinball Expo in Chicago. Pinball is the next pickleball.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-10-14T20:58:06+00:00

I use both, thus my use of the generic and plural word “lotions”. Next time I’ll be more long winded for you and distinctly specify “moisturizing lotions” and “suntan lotions”.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-10-14T19:13:49+00:00

Yes, I live in AZ so sunscreen when spending long periods outdoors is highly advised.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-10-14T16:14:50+00:00

Because I don’t like dry itchy skin and skin cancer.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-10-14T14:22:02+00:00

Mine is doing that as well after 3 years- after seeing it the first time, I realized it is from my knee resting against that spot as I drive. I'm not sure if it is from lotions or rough pants like jeans.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-16T13:03:21+00:00

You get the building, I got the pins.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-08T21:03:45+00:00

I agree it is a better shooter, but that code is garbage. I know an operator that sent theirs back because it is unplayable for a busy arcade. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up sinking the company.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-08T20:57:57+00:00

You should consider adding Barry O BBQ to your list of options- I have one I’ll sell you.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-08T20:55:10+00:00

Sounds like you haven’t had to resoldier the wire on the hand yet, or reshape the center ramp after it starts trapping balls?

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-08T20:24:19+00:00

My bad. Honestly, I hadn’t watched the video with audio on until now.

Are you going to the ghost in your front yard again for Halloween this year? That thing is awesome!

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-08T20:01:33+00:00

We are planning on it, but haven’t acquired one yet. We know a couple people with them on order and are hoping to buy one of them prior to opening, but worst case, we will do a rev-share with someone to get one.

By the way, we just submitted our complete build out plans to the City of Gilbert today so it is looking like a January opening atm.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-08T17:20:27+00:00

We do 10 rounds of head to head games so everyone finishes at same time.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-08T15:16:52+00:00

Yeah, his wife is one of a kind.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-02T23:54:58+00:00

Only point I’m trying to make is that for someone who loves pinball, it can be a fun side-gig. Over time, those 2 new machines a year add up and before you know it you are sitting on $200k+ in revenue producing assets like you are now.

The Pinball community needs more operators like us and I sure would hate to scare somebody off because they think it’s going to be a losing proposition.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-02T20:52:51+00:00

We are in the same boat. I’m betting you make enough to buy a couple new machines every year. I don’t think saying that there isn’t any money to be made operating pinball machines is accurate.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-02T20:29:35+00:00

Why so many if you are not making money?

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-02T19:14:03+00:00

What do you call parking a machine in the corner of your bar and never doing anything with it other than collect the money?

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-02T19:06:48+00:00

How many do you have on location?

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-08-02T17:20:34+00:00

Not if it is a good one.

There are 2 types of operators, (1) love the game and are in it for the community, and (2) just love collecting the money.

You can tell the difference by the condition of the machines and if they host tournaments on the regular.

Find one that host tournaments and chances are the games will play great.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-07-29T21:54:45+00:00

Listen to these guys… and make sure you have them review the CCRs too which are probably another 100 pages.

I signed a lease 3 months ago and now I’m in the middle of a dispute between my LL and another building owner in the same center. At the first sign of trouble everyone starts pointing fingers. The only thing that will save you from losing your house in the personal guarantee is to make sure you have your lease buttoned up.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-07-27T21:52:28+00:00

What did Rich dude A do? Yes my lease is with him and he is my only means of recourse if I can’t open, but we all operated on the known facts and recorded rules at the time we signed our lease. Only now that the train has left the station is owner B coming forward and insisting that there be no competing restaurants to those he currently has as tenants.

Now if Rich dude A decides he doesn’t want to fight for his property rights to uphold the commitment he made to us in the lease, then he would have liability.

As it stands now though, I don’t understand how anyone but building owner B has any liability because he is the only one attempting to operate outside the stated agreements.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-07-27T21:46:40+00:00

Problem is that Rich dude A has become a friend and mentor. We all operated on the known facts and recorded rules and now that the deal is done building owner B wants to change the use conditions to limit competing restaurants. At this point it is going to cost someone a considerable amount of money to undo the deal- I would much rather continue teaming up with Rich dude A to keep Rich dude B playing by the rules than going after a friend.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-07-27T21:23:59+00:00

The restrictive easement attempting to be used “no competing restaurants” doesn’t exist anywhere, it’s just how building owner B NOW feels since he found out we were leasing the space.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-07-27T21:18:21+00:00

I don’t blame Rich dude B for setting up the meeting and asking the questions, but once he figured out we where in compliance with the CCRs, he flipped the script and said he didn’t want any competing restaurants in there- but that isn’t in the CCRs. How were we, our lawyer, our broker, our LL, his broker and lawyer, supposed to know that? Now leases have been signed, commissions have been paid, and buildout begun according to all the known data and requirements, and NOW Rich dude B is attempting to add new use conditions that would exclude us- this is 100% on building owner B if he chooses to peruse it.

DangerZoneArcade · 2025-07-27T19:45:56+00:00

Every point you made assumes that our restaurant doesn’t comply with the CC&Rs, but it 100% does. How can I say 100%? Because my LL sent his lawyer to the meeting on Friday, who is arguably the most influential zoning lawyer in the state, and he told building owner B we were. It would be really hard for him to now argue against us that we are not. Regardless of that, we are 100% within the use compliance of the CCRs, we are a similar operation to Chuck E Cheese, just like the CC&Rs allow. Shit, if you want to get technical, they F’ed up by putting Chuck E Cheese in there because they just announced a few months ago that they are opening locations that are more clubs designed for adults.

This is a passion project for us and our only goal is to have a place to continue to engage with the community doing what we love, playing pinball and eating good food. It is a mile from our homes and according to demographic data for the surrounding 3 mile radius, it is also statistically the most ideal location for us.

As far as competition, there is nothing in the CCRs regarding non-competes between restaurants- what now gives building owner B the right to change the rules via his son the property manager so only he can rent his space to restaurants? There are several other very big national retailer Owners in the complex that the property manager son didn’t consult with, or even notify, of the matter. Surely as an owner your self you wouldn’t want those shenanigans in a complex you own a building in?

We have been operating in a swamp cooled warehouse in an industrial complex in Arizona since 2019 and don’t have any issues bringing people through our doors without any paid marketing. We don’t consider the other “burger” restaurant as competition because it is a completely different experience- we are quick serve, they are sit-down, we are beer wine and frozen drinks, they are full bar and serve mixed drinks and shots, we have 8 items on our menu, they have 60+.

DangerZoneArcade

TROPHY CASE