SALAMANCA — Local kids now have the chance to experience retro entertainment at Cubz Arcade, a family-friendly fun at 28 Main St. that harkens back to the golden age of arcade games from the late 1970s to the mid-'80s. Masu.
Owners Jerome “Jovie” Bucktooth and his wife Carly opened their new business to the public with a soft opening on March 9th. Carly said the opening went very well.
Quite a few kids stopped by to check out the place that weekend. And they liked it because it was something different and fun. She said retro gaming is new to children, even more so than sitting in front of a computer or using a cell phone.
“People in this town often complain that there's nothing for the kids to do. This is a great way to get them out of the house,” she said. “Kids are interested in screens, so it gives them screen time, but it also allows them to interact with other people.”
Through the arcade, Bucktooths provides an on-town activity with family-friendly fun for local youth in the area. Curley said the arcade is not just for the community, but for all of the nearby communities.
Mr Curley said he was encouraging parents to stay at the arcade to play with their children and it was working very well. She doesn't charge parents to come with their kids, she said, because she wants kids to spend time bonding as a family.
“A lot of people don't have family dinners around the dining room table anymore. Everyone's busy, so go, go, go,” she said. “We're expected to have our kids on teams that play sports year-round, so we often don't have time to have dinner. It's a grab-and-go. That's what most families do. That's what our family has been doing for years.”
Carly said this is an activity that families can do together. Supervision is required for children under 8, but parents who agree to stay and play with their child can play for free, even if the child is in her teens.
The Bucktooths are well known in the area for their long involvement in youth sports, including coaching soccer, softball and football. Jerome announces his football games for the Salamanca Warriors Youth and Seneca He serves as president of the Nation Volunteer Fire Department. Outside of the arcade, Carly also works at the Seneca Nation Health Center.
The couple began considering opening an arcade last fall. Curley said the idea arose because the business space was vacant and the location was adjacent to another business, Bear Nugs Dispensary. This is where the name Cubs comes from.
Other than some electrical upgrades and repainting the walls blue to match the color of the game consoles, no major upgrades or modifications were needed, she said.
The couple was considering building an arcade when they saw a Facebook post about an auction in Ellicottville that featured a variety of games. Much of it came from a former arcade in Ellicottville. Cubz currently has 14 games, including a pool table and his Skee Ball machine, and he has two more games scheduled to be delivered this week.
“We've become very competitive with our Skee Ball games, and we even have high score lists. It's a lot of fun,” she said. “It's great to see parents come in and teach their kids how to play. That's been the best thing so far.”
There is a small room in the back that can be used for private gatherings, and the company is considering offering virtual reality (VR) headset games in the future. You can also add a dartboard if the dimensions of the room suit.
Other ideas include renting kayaks and canoes. Curley said there is a boat launch right behind the building, along the Alleghany River. They have a truck and trailer to take them back to Kaz.
A grand opening is planned for a later date. The arcade is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 8pm. Friday, 3pm to 10pm. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We will have extended hours during spring break and this summer.
Business phone numbers coming soon. Until then, you can find Game Center updates and current opening hours on Facebook.
