r/SurpriseAZ • u/topdownyeti • Apr 29 '26
Does anyone know what happened to Player One Arcade?
Moved here about a year ago and I loved Player One arcade! It got me into playing pinball. I haven’t been in a few months due to money being tight but i was getting some tacos today and noticed it’s now permanently closed. Why?
5
u/Lemieux4u Apr 29 '26
They weren't making enough money to stay in business. Upkeep on the pinball and arcade machines plus rent was too much to keep it viable.
You may have noticed that they raised the price on the pinball a few months before they closed. They used to do a model where you paid for 2 games and got the 3rd free. Then they raised the price to a dollar a game across the board, no freebies.
I used to go with my kiddos in the afternoons because it was a fun, cheap outing. The kids played pinball and arcade cabinets, I'd get a beer and play a few games myself. Prices rose, and we went less. I can imagine that happened to more than myself, so customer traffic went down. Less customers means less money coming in.
3
u/Canon_Cowboy Apr 29 '26
They were constantly closing down randomly. I'm surprised it hadn't happened sooner.
1
u/Hovertical May 01 '26
We went constantly when they first opened and I want to say they were open for about two months and then randomly closed again for legit close to six months that first go 'round. And then, as you said, they'd randomly be closed when I'd come by so we just..stopped going. Last time I was able to successfully enter the establishment we were playing that light gun game right by the entrance and had dumped loads of money into it to beat the damn thing and it froze right in the boss fight at the end lol. Good times!
2
u/lpkzach92 Apr 29 '26
No way:( I just went there a few months ago and really liked it and was happy to see one in Surprise. That’s a damn shame.
1
u/ChrisIsUnavailable Apr 29 '26
Aw man I moved away a couple years ago and this is how I'm finding out :/ that place was awesome
7
u/weepalone Apr 29 '26
I don’t know why but I imagine you answered the question yourself. Money is tight for everyone and I can’t imagine a small pinball arcade making a lot with rising costs and video games.