kainemaxwell
12-05-2007, 07:42 AM
Game over for arcade as Pirate's Cove closes
Body: By ANTHONY CORMIER
anthony.cormier@heraldtribune.com
MANATEE -- It used to be that a thousand teenagers would walk through the door of Pirate's Cove Family Fun Center on a Saturday night.
Tokens were traded for a turn at the video games. Soda washed down soft pretzels.
And Spitfire go-karts kicked up black exhaust and took straightaways at 20 mph.
But times are different now, and Pirate's Cove and other family entertainment centers are not as popular, or profitable, as they used to be.
The venues are closing throughout the region, and others are struggling to stay afloat in Southwest Florida.
Higher business costs, from property taxes to gas for the go-karts, and a changing customer base are leading to the demise of mom-and-pop entertainment centers.
In fact, it is believed that only one go-kart track, at Livingston's Amusement Center in Sarasota, exists between Tampa and Cape Coral.
An arcade was bulldozed for a car lot in Englewood, and an Embassy Suites took over another go-kart track in Brandon.
The latest to fall is Pirate's Cove, located on Tamiami Trail in Bradenton.
Its owner, Craig Copeman, hung on for 23 years, even as the hundreds of teenagers who came on weeknights dwindled to a few hundred per week.
Copeman sold out to a developer, even though he did not really want to. But there comes a time, he said, when you have to cut your losses.
"It's tough," he said. "But you can only charge so much money to play video games or ride a go-kart."
On Saturday, everything will be auctioned off: Galaga, Star Wars, Dynamo Air Hockey, a chili/cheese warmer, two ticket shredders, five bar stools, 23 go-karts -- even the water fountain.
"And the lights, too," Copeman said. "If people are interested."
Industry experts say there is something nostalgic about arcades and small amusement venues, which long provided an outlet for youngsters whose only other hangout was the mall.
In their heyday, entertainment centers were popular along Florida's west coast. Now, though, they are a scattered breed.
Two years ago, Pelican Pete's Playland shut down in Englewood to make room for a car dealership. Two hotels were built on the site of Celebration Station in Brandon. And a gas station and self-storage lot are expected to take over at Pirate's Cove.
"Where are families supposed to go?" asked Ralph Perna, co-owner of Pop's Golf and Batting Center on Fruitville Road.
Many of the rising costs are being passed on to the consumer.
In most places, it used to cost a quarter to play a video game. Now it may take a dollar, or more, to land you a ride on Cruisin' USA, the popular racing game.
And increasing overhead costs struck hard at many businesses which saw attendance drop, said entertainment and toy analyst David Riley.
While you can only charge so much for a round of go-karts or a turn at a video game, the price of insurance, taxes, electricity and everything else has put many owners in a tight spot.
"People don't have the same kind of disposable income," said Riley, an analyst with The NPD Group. "It used to cost a quarter. Now it's $1 or $1.50 or $2, and fewer people are willing to pay it."
With all the growth in east Manatee, Copeman thought of building a new site near Interstate 75. It would have cost $5 million, he figured.
One owner, Perna, wanted to expand, but his plan to add a go-kart track at Pop's on Fruitville Road was rebuffed by Sarasota County planners who worried about noise.
Also stinging entertainment centers is the fact that children have so many entertainment choices now. Why would they want to hoof it out to the arcade when their bedrooms are stocked with Xboxes, iPods and a Nintendo Wii?
Riley, the analyst, downplayed the influence of video games, saying that arcades were more of a communal experience than just for gaming.
But Copeman says there are too many children who would rather hook up to their Xbox than stand at a machine and chase little blue ghosts.
The thrill, for many, is gone. And in the case of Pirate's Cove, it is not coming back.
"I guess it was good while it lasted," Copeman said. "But times have changed."
Craig Copeman is selling the land under the once-thriving arcade that has been in his family since 1984.
Body: By ANTHONY CORMIER
anthony.cormier@heraldtribune.com
MANATEE -- It used to be that a thousand teenagers would walk through the door of Pirate's Cove Family Fun Center on a Saturday night.
Tokens were traded for a turn at the video games. Soda washed down soft pretzels.
And Spitfire go-karts kicked up black exhaust and took straightaways at 20 mph.
But times are different now, and Pirate's Cove and other family entertainment centers are not as popular, or profitable, as they used to be.
The venues are closing throughout the region, and others are struggling to stay afloat in Southwest Florida.
Higher business costs, from property taxes to gas for the go-karts, and a changing customer base are leading to the demise of mom-and-pop entertainment centers.
In fact, it is believed that only one go-kart track, at Livingston's Amusement Center in Sarasota, exists between Tampa and Cape Coral.
An arcade was bulldozed for a car lot in Englewood, and an Embassy Suites took over another go-kart track in Brandon.
The latest to fall is Pirate's Cove, located on Tamiami Trail in Bradenton.
Its owner, Craig Copeman, hung on for 23 years, even as the hundreds of teenagers who came on weeknights dwindled to a few hundred per week.
Copeman sold out to a developer, even though he did not really want to. But there comes a time, he said, when you have to cut your losses.
"It's tough," he said. "But you can only charge so much money to play video games or ride a go-kart."
On Saturday, everything will be auctioned off: Galaga, Star Wars, Dynamo Air Hockey, a chili/cheese warmer, two ticket shredders, five bar stools, 23 go-karts -- even the water fountain.
"And the lights, too," Copeman said. "If people are interested."
Industry experts say there is something nostalgic about arcades and small amusement venues, which long provided an outlet for youngsters whose only other hangout was the mall.
In their heyday, entertainment centers were popular along Florida's west coast. Now, though, they are a scattered breed.
Two years ago, Pelican Pete's Playland shut down in Englewood to make room for a car dealership. Two hotels were built on the site of Celebration Station in Brandon. And a gas station and self-storage lot are expected to take over at Pirate's Cove.
"Where are families supposed to go?" asked Ralph Perna, co-owner of Pop's Golf and Batting Center on Fruitville Road.
Many of the rising costs are being passed on to the consumer.
In most places, it used to cost a quarter to play a video game. Now it may take a dollar, or more, to land you a ride on Cruisin' USA, the popular racing game.
And increasing overhead costs struck hard at many businesses which saw attendance drop, said entertainment and toy analyst David Riley.
While you can only charge so much for a round of go-karts or a turn at a video game, the price of insurance, taxes, electricity and everything else has put many owners in a tight spot.
"People don't have the same kind of disposable income," said Riley, an analyst with The NPD Group. "It used to cost a quarter. Now it's $1 or $1.50 or $2, and fewer people are willing to pay it."
With all the growth in east Manatee, Copeman thought of building a new site near Interstate 75. It would have cost $5 million, he figured.
One owner, Perna, wanted to expand, but his plan to add a go-kart track at Pop's on Fruitville Road was rebuffed by Sarasota County planners who worried about noise.
Also stinging entertainment centers is the fact that children have so many entertainment choices now. Why would they want to hoof it out to the arcade when their bedrooms are stocked with Xboxes, iPods and a Nintendo Wii?
Riley, the analyst, downplayed the influence of video games, saying that arcades were more of a communal experience than just for gaming.
But Copeman says there are too many children who would rather hook up to their Xbox than stand at a machine and chase little blue ghosts.
The thrill, for many, is gone. And in the case of Pirate's Cove, it is not coming back.
"I guess it was good while it lasted," Copeman said. "But times have changed."
Craig Copeman is selling the land under the once-thriving arcade that has been in his family since 1984.