Yesterday morning, Twitter was littered with folks trying to find out more information about the status of legendary New York City arcade Chinatown Fair. "#ChinatownFair" hashtags in-tow, rumor and speculation of the tweeters held that the arcade could be closing by the end of this week, with other reports stating March or later -- as it turns out, the arcade may not be closing at all. "I'm trying to see if I can relocate my business," owner Samuel Palmer told Joystiq last night.
According to Palmer, negotiations are still ongoing with his landlord -- a situation brought on by a failure to renew Palmer's previous lease agreement. "Samuel Palmer -- I'm not too sure if he had the lease renewed. So the landlord has an interest in raising the rent, and I guess he doesn't wanna pay it," manager Valentino Ventura told us, adding, "There is a possibility -- a remote possibility -- that we may be moving elsewhere. But we'll see how that goes. We plan to stay here."
Ventura further specified in a Facebook post that "[Chinatown Fair] may be relocating to Williamsburg, Brooklyn if disputes with the landlord are not settled" -- a notable move for an arcade that's been in operation on Mott Street in Lower Manhattan since at least the 1950s. But Ventura's not worried. He says that "the place makes plenty of money," and makes sure to point out, "We love our customers."
For now, Palmer is in ongoing negotiations for the store to stay put. And, at least for now, it's not going anywhere.
[Image credit: The New York Times]
Reader Comments (18)
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 6:18PM xiLeShadow said
This place is awesome!!
Long Live Arcades!!!
Long Live Arcades!!!
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 6:19PM VeeDeeVee said
That's the most un-New York looking place I've ever seen.
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 8:41PM Shoulda Been Steve Harvey said
@VeeDeeVee
Racists? More like it was down voted because you made an ignorant comment about it not looking some silly way. The place is world famous and you don't have to have ever been to New York to know what Chinatown Fair is; the same can be said of Manhattan's Chinatown itself.
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Racists? More like it was down voted because you made an ignorant comment about it not looking some silly way. The place is world famous and you don't have to have ever been to New York to know what Chinatown Fair is; the same can be said of Manhattan's Chinatown itself.
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 6:33PM adobe64 said
As much as I miss arcades, their closing is bittersweet. On one hand, they're closing, but on the other, they usually sell the cabinets hella cheap.
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 6:48PM PR0F3TA said
"Williamsburg, Brooklyn"... fuuuuuuuuu- it would only be one train ride away but i have to deal with the not-hipsters.
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 6:59PM oOWallaceOo said
@PR0F3TA
I thought gaming was too mainstream for the hipsters these days, or do they play them for the irony ?
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I thought gaming was too mainstream for the hipsters these days, or do they play them for the irony ?
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 7:09PM Benjamin Gilbert said
@PR0F3TA From my experience at Chinatown Fair last night, it seems you can find hipsters/not-hipsters all over that place as it is. Williamsburg might exacerbate the problem, but it's certainly not a symptom of it.
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Posted: Feb 21st 2011 7:25PM FriedConsole said
@PR0F3TA
Hipsters only play bad videogames ironicly. They only like videogames you have never heard of.
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Hipsters only play bad videogames ironicly. They only like videogames you have never heard of.
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 7:30PM flamingtoaster said
Looks like I have somewhere to go tomorrow.
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 7:36PM bamb0ostick said
Do they still have that "Play Tic-Tac-Toe" game with the live chicken?
Posted: Feb 21st 2011 10:55PM Uracat said
So I will never again be able to experience the true glory of world famos dancing and tic-tac-toe?! I can't go on... please... no... say it ain't so...
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 1:17PM white fir said
As much as I like this place I'm all for the move. A SSFIV AE machine in my borough is a good thing!
Posted: Feb 23rd 2011 10:48AM (Unverified) said
glad to see CTF is still going to be around. Hopefully it doesn't move, I love being able to stop in after work!
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