Arcade UFO

One year and three days ago today was the most devastating day of my adult life. I woke up with about 12 messages on my phone, so I knew it wasn’t going to be good news.

Einstein’s Arcade had closed suddenly and immediately with no forewarning to the employees, the manager, or the customers. A lot of businesses close every year with die-hard fans, but this was different. When a bar, club, coffee shop or restaurant closes it can be very sad for the regulars, but there are always other venues to migrate to. Everyone likes [insert thing here], right?

When Einstein’s closed, though, that was it. No other arcades to hang out at; the rest had all shut down. Einstein’s was the only arcade that held our dedicated patronage anyway.

The next few days after January 1st, 2008 held the defining moments in what, less than a year later, would become a new place to call home. Instead of sulking, my friends and I diligently thought of ways to bring our preferred haven back to fruition. The right people met at the right time, and several months of hard work later, we brought “Arcade UFO” to Austin, a vision directly from the hardcore gaming community to the people who care about it. Even the name is a dedication to my favorite arcade in Japan:

I’d like to thank everyone that helped and supported us through the transition on the way to a new business. The list is too long to name names, but you know who you are. Most of all, I want to thank the patrons of UFO who are keeping the scene not only alive, but flourishing. I knew that Austin was a cool enough city to sustain a dedicated arcade, and you guys have continued to help me prove it.

2009 is going to be the one to remember! We’re planning some layout changes to the arcade in February, and our first “major” tournament event in April with gamers from all over the country planning to visit. The ball will get rolling soon, so stay tuned to the blog and the home page for more!

Best to all,
Ryan Harvey
Co-owner, Arcade UFO