RETROVOLT ARCADE

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Aug 1, 2017

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.019

TL;DR

Retrovolt Arcade: New CA retro arcade with 23 restored pins, $10/hr free play model.

Summary

Retrovolt Arcade is a new retro-focused pinball and video game arcade in Calimesa, California that opened in April 2017, emphasizing classic gameplay without ticket/prize redemption games. The venue operates on a $10/hour unlimited play model with 23 pinball machines (late-'70s to mid-'90s solid state) and 40 video games, all meticulously restored and maintained. Owner Bob Elson designed the family-friendly space to recreate the nostalgic arcade experience from a bygone era.

Key Claims

Retrovolt Arcade opened in April 2017 in Mentone, CA but relocated to Calimesa after 3 months due to zoning issues
high confidence · Pinball News article directly states opening date and relocation reason
The arcade features approximately 23 pinballs and 40 video games, all set on free play with $10/hour admission
high confidence · Pinball News article provides specific machine count and pricing details
Pinball lineup focuses on late-'70s to mid-'90s solid state machines with newer additions being Star Trek and Ghostbusters (both Pro models)
high confidence · Article lists specific games and describes restoration work done on machines
Several older pinball machines have been converted to LED lighting while maintaining true-to-form appearance
high confidence · Article notes Attack from Mars LED conversion as example of restoration quality
The arcade is located in Calimesa, CA about 75 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, less than 90-minute drive
high confidence · Pinball News article provides specific address and distance details

Notable Quotes

“Southern California has a new 'retro' pinball and video game spot that focuses on the way arcades existed in a now-bygone era, without the domination of prize and/or ticket redemption games that are now the norm.”
Pinball News article @ opening paragraph — Establishes the core concept and differentiation of Retrovolt Arcade's business model
“And that's exactly how owner Bob Elson envisioned his place from the very beginning, with special emphasis on a family-friendly environment that preserves that same fun and magic that people fondly remember.”
Pinball News article @ early section — Describes owner's vision and value proposition for the venue
“Retrovolt Arcade offers a well-thought-out and well-done look back at arcade gaming the way it used to be, and this, along with the friendly and knowledgeable staff, is already earning tremendous player appeal based on reviews on the site's Facebook page and elsewhere online.”
Pinball News article @ conclusion — Confirms positive community reception and successful market positioning

Entities

Bob ElsonpersonRetrovolt ArcadeorganizationCalimesa, CAorganizationMentone, CAorganizationAttack from MarsgameGhostbusters (Stern Pro)gameStar Trek (Stern Pro)gameComet (Williams 1985)gameInland EmpireorganizationBanning, CAorganization

Signals

?
community_signal: Positive player reception and community engagement for new retro arcade venue based on social media reviews
high · Article notes 'tremendous player appeal based on reviews on the site's Facebook page and elsewhere online'
?
event_signal: New arcade venue opening in Southern California with retro-focused pinball and video game offerings
high · Retrovolt Arcade opened April 2017 in Mentone, relocated to Calimesa after 3 months due to zoning issues
?
technology_signal: LED conversion of classic pinball machines while maintaining aesthetic integrity and lamp color authenticity
medium · Article notes several older pins have bulbs changed to LEDs 'kept true-to-form in terms of lamp color and appearance' with Attack from Mars specifically highlighted

Topics

Arcade venue design and business modelprimaryPinball machine restoration and maintenanceprimaryRetro/classic arcade gaming nostalgiaprimaryFree play arcade operations and pricingsecondaryLED conversion and machine upgradessecondaryZoning and location issues in arcade operationsmentionedFamily-friendly venue positioningsecondarySouthern California arcade marketmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Article is promotional/favorable review of new venue, emphasizing quality of restoration, business model innovation, and positive community reception. No critical perspectives presented.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

**Date:** August 2017 **Location:** 544 Myrtlewood Dr., Calimesa, CA 92320, USA **Southern California has a new ‘retro’ pinball and video game spot that focuses on the way arcades existed in a now-bygone era, without the domination of prize and/or ticket redemption games that are now the norm.** [![The Retrovolt Arcade in Calimesa](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/01_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/01_hires.jpg) The Retrovolt Arcade in Calimesa And that’s exactly how owner Bob Elson envisioned his place from the very beginning, with special emphasis on a family-friendly environment that preserves that same fun and magic that people fondly remember. [![Retrovolt Arcade owner, Bob Elson](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/03_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/03_hires.jpg) Retrovolt Arcade owner, Bob Elson The appropriately-named [Retrovolt Arcade](http://retrovoltarcade.com/) is located in Calimesa, California, about 75 miles east of downtown Los Angeles (less than a 90-minute drive depending on the time of day). The arcade first opened in April 2017 in the neighboring town of Mentone but was forced into a 3-month-long relocation to its present site because of zoning issues at the original location. As of this writing, the arcade is open for business four days a week (Thursday thru Sunday); doors open at 4pm Thu & Fri, 12 noon Sat & Sun, and close nightly at 11pm (9pm Sunday). Retrovolt at present has approximately twenty-three pinballs and forty video games, all set on free play. Admission into the arcade is $10 (€8.47/£7.57) per hour per person, for unlimited play. Currently this is the only rate offered (no half-hours, child rates, etc.), but Bob says this may change in the future as the business gets more established. Upon pre-paying your time at the front door, you are given a large white sticker (like the kind used for address labels) that has your “end” time written on it with a Sharpie, and you apply this sticker to the front of your shirt. Customers’ time is overseen using a large LED digital clock that hangs high over the front counter, and the Retrovolt employees walk the floor at regular intervals, letting people know their time is up as is necessary. Additional time can be purchased anytime at the front counter (up until one hour before closing, obviously). The pinball lineup focuses on late-’70s to mid-’90s solid state pins, with some variation either way. The newest games presently on site are *Star Trek* and *Ghostbusters* (both Pro models). [![The main pinball row](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/04_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/04_hires.jpg) The main pinball row The pins have all had considerable cleanup and restoration work done on them, resulting in very good overall playability. (One small example that caught my eye was the presence of a brand-new ‘Dunk the Dummy’ drop target on the 1985 Williams *Comet* pinball.) Several of the older pins have had their bulbs changed out to LEDs and are, for the most part, kept true-to-form in terms of lamp color and appearance. (*Attack from Mars* looks especially nice in this regard.) The current Retrovolt pinball lineup: | | | | --- | --- | | * Attack from Mars * Centaur II * Comet * Demolition Man * Genie (w/PI-1 CPU board) * Ghostbusters (Pro) * Indiana Hilton Jones (Williams) * Judge Dredd * Jungle Lord * Jurassic Park * Lost World, The: Jurassic Park * Monday Night Football | * Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man * Ripley’s Believe It or Not! * Silverball Mania * Simpsons, The (Data East) * Space Shuttle * Star Trek (Stern, Pro) * Star Wars (Data East) * Stargate * Tales from the Crypt * Whirlwind * World Cup Soccer | [![More pinballs on the mezzanine level](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/02_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/02_hires.jpg) More pinballs on the mezzanine level The video games are likewise from the ‘golden era’ of arcades, and all the biggies are here (*Pac-Man*, *Donkey Kong*, *Mario Bros.* and *Zaxxon*, just to name a few). A small handful are modern-day recreations and/or outfitted with LCD screens, but many are vintage originals. There was even one multi-game cabinet that had 600+ games to select from (I believe it was called *Pandora’s Box 4*.) [![The main video game row](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/05_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/05_hires.jpg) The main video game row No food or alcohol is available on site, but sodas and bottled water can be purchased from a cooler kept behind the front counter. There is also a New York-style pizzeria next door to Retrovolt that specializes in pizza, pasta and subs for dine-in or take out. [![Two parted-out EM cabs form the front counter](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/06_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/06_hires.jpg) Two parted-out EM cabs form the front counter Retrovolt Arcade offers a well-thought-out and well-done look back at arcade gaming the way it used to be, and this, along with the friendly and knowledgeable staff, is already earning tremendous player appeal based on reviews on the site’s [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Retrovoltarcade) and elsewhere online. For those in the Inland Empire (or anywhere else, for that matter) that were part of those days – as well as those that simply can’t wait a full year for the next Arcade Expo show in nearby Banning – Retrovolt Arcade is definitely worth a look.