It’s the sound of pure joy.
Beeping, jingling, roaring engine noises and the bugling of “Last Call,” the tune played before a horse race, blended with the elated screams and giggles of children.
It’s the sound of Arcade Amusements, more commonly known as the Manitou Arcade, and for more than 90 years, through generations, that joyous chorus has echoed through Manitou Avenue.
It was on the verge of going silent. Alan Kerns, whose dad opened the place in 1931, has been ready to retire. Finally, a year ago, he got an offer. But the deal fell through.
Then John Weiss stepped in. Yes, that John Weiss, the guy who owned the Pikes Peak Bulletin, the Independent and other publications prior to a few years ago.
John, a long-time Manitoid, was looking for an investment, for tax purposes, and he gave a hard look at the arcade. He knew this beeping, jingling collection of more than 400 games, from a rare actual penny machine to modern video games, drew up to 3,000 visitors on busy three-day weekends.
That’s a lot of quarters.
But John says it was more than the money that attracted him to the deal.
“Look, I could have invested in a dentist’s office,” he said.
The decision to buy the arcade (for an undisclosed sum) was personal. This was the first place he’d take out-of-town visitors. It’s the place he’d take his kids when they needed a good dose of joy on a dull afternoon.
While the kids would play, more often than not, he would end up spending the afternoons with Alan Kerns.
My belief is that 75% needs to be maintained pretty much as is. – John Weiss
“I would hang out with Alan for hours,” John said. “He was full of stories about the arcade business and the photography business.”
Alan knew the arcade business so well that he would impress John by throwing a handful of coins in the air and know that two of them were rare silver quarters
John is determined to honor the legacy of the Kerns, keeping everything that tourists and locals love about the arcade: the kiddie rides, the Skee Ball, the Derby and the Penny Arcade with the Ray-O-Lite Shooting Galleries, Zoltar fortune tellers, one of the largest collections of classic pinball machines – more than 450 games from virtually every decade since it opened.
“This arcade epitomizes what makes Manitou so great. It’s historic, inexpensive, unique, interactive family fun,” John said.
“My belief is that 75% needs to be maintained pretty much as is,” John said. “About 25% can be significantly improved upon.”
To help with that improvement, John has hired folks at the Manitou Art Center to conduct a listening tour.
MAC director and city council member Natalie Johnson, who has a serious, untreated addiction to the Derby horse racing game, says job one will be to help John keep the arcade open.
“We have to make sure the transition goes smoothly,” she said. “We know this is being run by local folks who understand the economic importance of the arcade, but also the importance to our families … I mean, you can come here and have fun for a quarter!”
As for how to improve the arcade, she and John have been brainstorming some ideas:
● Eventually, replace the prizes with items or certificates that support the community’s businesses.
● Team up with local colleges to create a future-forward video game room.
● Add an area for live performances.
They want to hear the community’s ideas for how to preserve and improve the arcade.
“The Arcade is an integral part of our community story,” Natalie said. “The possibilities for partnerships, collaborations and workforce development are endless. We want to hear from you and work with you.”
They will begin community outreach on the arcade’s future soon.
Beginning May 16, the arcade’s summer hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
