Location
Peacock Palace in Northbrook, IL was an arcade and ice cream parlor located in the Chicago area during the late 1970s and 1980s. Despite its name, the establishment was primarily known for its arcade games rather than its ice cream offerings. The building was a split-level house painted yellow, featuring hand-drawn images of Pac-Man and ghosts on its exterior. The interior housed approximately 40…
An early and very popular arcade located in Chicago’s Loop, next to a large record store (Downtown Records) that opened in March 1974. The name was a portmanteau of it’s owners, Steve Rubin and Gary Buslik, two young entrepreneurs. Sometime in the mid-70’s, Rubin and Buslik also opened a place called Rubus Jungle, which supposedly had bumper cars and was geared toward youth. After the arcade…
Originally located on the South Wing of Evergreen Plaza mall. Came and went sometime in the 1980s, most likely. Reference: https://charlesperformingarts.blogspot.com/2013/05/lessons-learned-from-eventual-farewell.html
Just Fun was a small arcade adjacent to a theater in the Berkshire Mall, formerly located in Lanesborough, MA. It was part of a much larger company called Weyman Enterprises (New Rochelle, NY), that operated 96 locations in the Northeast in the late 1980’s. Just Fun opened with the mall in 1988. It’s 53 games ran on quarters. No firm date of closure is known, but the mall closed its doors in…
Time-Out was a chain of arcade centers established in 1970 by Tico Bonomo, with locations primarily in shopping malls across the United States. These arcades were known for their distinctive tunnel-like entrances and vibrant interiors, designed to attract patrons. This location was inside the Center Ithaca mall in downtown Ithaca and opened sometime prior to 1982 and likely closed before the…
A popular arcade in downtown Ithaca from the height of the arcade video craze. Reference: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ithaca-journal-opening-of-great-game/170009406/ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ithaca-journal-the-big-arcade-bust-i/170009685/ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ithaca-journal-great-games-still-in/170009794/
A popular mall arcade from the height of the arcade video craze. Reference: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ithaca-journal-ithaca-arcades-1982/168951953/
Just Games Inc. operated a number of arcades in the Chicagoland area in the 1970s and 1980s. This location was situated near the Metra station and the Fox River, possibly within the Foxmoor Crossing retail center. Specific details about this location are scarce, but it’s remembered by locals as a notable arcade spot during its time.
Just Games Inc. operated a number of arcades in the Chicagoland area in the 1970s and 1980s. This location opened in 1973 and existed at least through 1990. Reference: https://www.kineticist.com/post/mike-vinikour-interview https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-just-games-wins-dispute/173622861/ https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-confirmation-just-games/173623568/