Pour a Pocari Sweat for Arcade Infinity...

Unfortunately the news has come that Arcade Infinity will be closing their doors on February 26th. This closing is not due to the turnout of their farewell party. No, in fact it was the farewell party that turned the somber moment into a moment of celebration as it seemed Arcade Infinity might be saved by the owners of Diamond Plaza (the location of the arcade). You can read the coverage of this past event over at Arcade Heroes.

Well, it wasn't long before the celebration turned back into a memorial. According to Eddie over at Bemanistyle.com,

L.A. County denied the application for a business license extension that was requested by the owners of Diamond Plaza. The County wants the Tao brothers to close shop, pay for a new license, and wait for all of the hearings and city council votes in order to stay open (this could take up to 8 months). Ken stated that it wasn't the money that was the problem this time, it's how long AI would have to remained closed while waiting for the final word, which would have likely been "no" anyway.

So the reason for the closure is not money, but ridiculous licensing fees and a lengthy sit and wait period while people decide the fate of your business. Considering our current economic climate and the struggles local businesses have had to face to just barely get by, it is crazy to think that even local government officials will not step up to the plate and offer help and assistance. This isn't the first time a business has been closed (let alone an arcade) due to licensing fees and local politics. A location in Beacon, New York went through such recent scrutiny with a similar result. I myself have been having a difficult time with my own arcade business venture due to local laws. For me, it was the requirement of installing a sprinkler system on all three floors. Add the fact that the building was considered a historical landmark that had small water pipes running to the building, requiring a rather pricey sprinkler system to be retrofitted. I am still working on opening up an arcade and will probably do another update post on my status next Monday.

Arcade Infinity is currently selling their arcade games here so if you're in the area and are looking for a little piece of history, be sure to check it out. Also be sure to head on down to Arcade Infinity for one last game and to express your thanks to the Tao brothers.